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Bentley can take the baton from Beckham
11:07pm Wednesday 26th March 2008
Comments (4)
IT WAS the night that one DB' had been waiting for - but last night could have been the final time David Bentley plays second fiddle to David Beckham.
As widely tipped, David Beckham replaced the Rovers star on the right hand side of midfield to win his 100th cap.
And Bentley had to watch from the bench as his colleagues went a goal down, thanks to a Franck Ribery penalty following David James' foul on Nicolas Anelka after 32 minutes.
But the 23-year-old, who started in Fabio Capello's first game in charge against Switzerland last month, replaced the LA Galaxy man after 63 minutes - in what could be the end of the Beckham era.
Bentley had a few good moments but ultimately couldn't inspire his country as the French ran out comfortable winners.
And former Skipper Beckham was understandably a very proud man to clock up his century of caps.
He said: "I'm very honoured. Straight from when I started playing for England I never dreamed I'd get 100 caps, and hopefully beyond.
"I'm happy but like I said during the week I want to carry on. Of course things can change but I want to carry on playing for my country."
This was the midfielder's first competitive match of the year because Major League Soccer is still in the off-season, and Beckham was pleased with his showing after being omitted from the squad for Capello's first match.
The 32-year-old is now only eight caps short of World Cup-winning captain Bobby Moore, who holds the record for most appearances by an outfield player.
Meanwhile, manager Capello said: "I'm actually quite happy because I have seen improvements. We played against a top-level team and I think we did well."
"The way we played, we didn't let the opposition play too much and especially, the way we played with personality."
Your Say YourLancashire Telegraph
Jamie Wrexham, Season ticket holder says...
8:13am Thu 27 Mar 08
A D wrote:David Beckham is a never was?? Are you sure??
Capello is supposed to be instilling a winning mentality into the squad. How can you do this by having one of your better players on the bench and starting with the has-been (or some would say the "never-was") Beckham?? Sentimentality is no excuse for not winning!! Bentley should be starting every game for England. Honestly, makes you wonder if Capello is a dingle. Kinda explains the interpreter.
Lets look at his sporting titles and awards
Individual
PFA Young Player of the Year: 1997
Named in 1998 FIFA World Cup All-star team
FIFA World Player Of The Year Award finalist: 1999, 2001 (runner-up both years)
UEFA Club Player of the Year Winner: 1999
UEFA Club Player of the Year Finalist: 2001
BBC Sports Personality of the Year: 2001
Named in Pelé's FIFA 100 list of the greatest living players.
Club
Manchester United (19932003)
Premier League - Champion (6): 199596, 199697, 199899, 199900, 200001, 200203
Premier League - Runner Up: 199495, 199798
FA Cup Winner (2): 1996, 1999
FA Cup Runner Up: 1995
UEFA Champions League Winner: 199899
Intercontinental Cup: 1999
UEFA Super Cup Runner Up: 1999
Community Shield Winner (4): 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997
Community Shield Runner Up: 1998, 2000, 2001
FA Youth Cup Winner: 1992
Real Madrid (20032007)
Primera División Champion (1): 20062007
Supercopa de España (1): 2003
LA Galaxy (2007present)
SuperLiga Finalist: 2007
Ye he needs to pull his finger out AD.
Dont get me wrong Im a Bentley fan but lets not talk silly. Rovers has never had a player in their history whose achieved half as much as Becks.
TC, Blackburn says...
9:08am Thu 27 Mar 08
More the reason why Bentley feels he needs to move on. At Bentley's age Beckham was winning medals for UTD and an England regular.
If he acheives a quarter of what Beckham has in the game then i would class that as a very good career. But unfortunately he wont get to those heights with rovers.
The balls in his court and I think 2 factors will come into play for him leaving.
1 If Beckham retains his position in the England team, maybe there wont be as many suitors for his services in the top six of the prem.
2 Will he be happy playing 20 games a season for a top six club or garanteed first team football at Rovers. He has got into the england team on merit by playing for Rovers.
Its a big decison for the lad but maybe his head will rule his heart.
Either way we get to keep one of our key player or end up with the best part of 20 million in the bank. Its not a bad position to be in is it?
jamie wrexham, Wrexham says...
10:53am Thu 27 Mar 08
Personaly I think he'll go to Liverpool or Chelsea for £16m ish in the summer. I think we'd may have some concerns over losing Santa Cruz to one of those 2 also. I think losing one wouldnt be catastrophic, losing both would hurt us though.
Be prepared to have to fight off bids of around £10m for Santa. If I was Bennitez/keegan/O-ne
il/Erricson he's the first one Id go for.
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A D, Blackburn says...
11:59pm Wed 26 Mar 08
Bentley should be starting every game for England.
Honestly, makes you wonder if Capello is a dingle. Kinda explains the interpreter.