Veteran's View - how bad is Nicklas Bendtner? (Updated)
By Samuel Mowbray
Virtually 26 years to the day, Arsenal signed whom I consider to be one of the worst players I have ever seen grace the red and white shirt.
His name: Lee Chapman and the fact that he then went on to win a Divison One Champions' medal with Leeds shows you how much I know about football and footballers.
Stop reading now if you want - as I am sure many readers from my generation have their own differing views (about our worst ever player). According to records, he played 23 games for us and scored 4 goals. He cost the very princely sum (in those days) of £500,000.
I don't mention all of this as a rant against Terry Neill, the manager at the time who signed him - but the fact that I'm writing this after returning from the Twente FC match - and I think I have seen a player who runs him close.
Yes, stand up Nicklas Bendtner!
Checking records, we took on Spartak Moscow at Highbury on September 29, 1982 in the first round of the UEFA Cup. I was there. We had lost the first leg in Moscow 2-3. Creditable.
In those days, for reasons, I don't think I have ever know, the home teams played in their away strip.
Someone that year had decided our away strip was green and blue. Yes, green and blue. Far worse than any concoction of yellow and blue - and we know there have been some bad ones in my time - which at least have been associated with our away strips.
I won't go on.
I have always loved European football. If I read the stats right, it was our first at Highbury for four years.
We lost 2-5. Somehow playing in green and blue shirts made the defeat even worse.
I don't recall the scoring sequence. But I do recall the fact that Lee Chapman was dreadful. Dreadful. Even though he scored one of our goals.
At least, last night we won.
Bendtner scored too. I rest my case.
If this player ever scores 20 goals in a season for us, I will gladly write again on Arsenal Addict that I know little of football and footballers after watching for 45 years.
I truly hope he does - and proves me wrong.
Does Arsene (always) know?
Samuel Mowbray responds to comments:
Fellow Addicts. I never suggested NB was the worst ever player I have seen play for our team. I suggested, on the evidence of last night's game, he was running Lee Chapman, on his current form, close.
Evidence?
Put through by Cesc in a pass of sublime vision and precision, he failed in a relatively simple one on one. Watch his assist for Theo's goal, and it is clearly a fortuitous stumble/mis-kick. Unlike many I have never and I will never leave a game early or boo an Arsenal player. I just don't think he is a talented enough player in a small squad to win us the title
Of course he will have his moments. He is a professional sportsman. An international. He's young. We didn't pay much for him. These shouldn't be excuses - they highlight part of our dilemma.
I truly hope I am wrong but I doubt he will ever score 20 goals for us. If he does, I will post on AA out of joy - and humiliation. It will be a pleasure. But I don't see what Arsene sees him - any more than I ever understood what he saw in Aliadiere.
My opinion.
David Alexander
Reader Comments (147)
n i only say Nik had a bad day coz his 1st touch wasn't spot on against twente.....but footballers have days like that..... ugh.....ignorance.
This post can be summed simply by just one word: Rubbish! And knowing that you have walk earth for at least 45 yrs makes it even worse. Unproductive comments and unnecessary views. If I see another stupid post like this, I will definitely stop visiting this site.
I agree that he just isn't good enough. Yes he's young and yes he was cheap but does that justify consistantly below par performances? I think not.
Hi I am a manchester united supporter probably not welcome on here. I am sad too for writing on a rivals blog.
Anyway I cannot think there is any doubt the reason for the article is to get comments and views like mine. Well done. I am sure he knows he has written shite. Its all part of the game of getting hits.
If u really meant the article, let me tell u one personal thing. 2 years ago I think it was when me and my Arsenal mate saw him in one of his first matches I think in Bergkamp's testimonial and we both were sure he will become a very good player.Even back then. We saw the same things I see still which are his excellent touch, vision and passing ability and his ability to hold the ball and pass it on.
I for one would love to have him in our squad.
What utter toss.
Author says he has watched for years, perhaps he's weary of it.Nicklas Bendtner in a 4-0 win scored one and gave assists on two others, I tire of these ridiculous ranting critics who attend games and see nothing. True, you don't have to be an expert coach to watch a match, but after years attending you'd expect a modicum of perspective.
ps check NB26's goals to game ratio!
bedtner to me is of no use in the club coz today he plays well the next 4 matches he is useless including blocking a shot on target from the all time inspirational fabregas.but i agree with those who say abt ebue he is absolutely useless i even wonder what had wenger seen in him.why am i sayin all this its coz for a footballer u shud try to b consistent like fabregas infact i dont remember any day cesc made any wrong pass in the last 2 seson.for BEDTNER TO SCORE 2 GOALS in the thente game i think thats not indication that he is improving just wait for the next game u will see his blunders together with ebue.Asene shud sign a super star if we are serious abt winning any trophy this seson or what do the gooners say??
how can you judge a player on one game we weren't even that bad players like van persie were worse open your eyes mate your site is shit as well fuck off and support the spuds there more your stamp
you are an utter joke...
a 20 year old striker blasted for one bad performance?@#!@#!
You need a psychlogist.in medical terms we call it DeJa vu.
Areal veteran like me can kemember the inept early performances from strikers of the past like Frank Stapleton (who went on to be the best centre forward I have ever seen) and Paul Merson, who could barely trap a ball, who became a hero. Other players sometimes had to change position to fulfill their potential. Michael Thomas was a very poor full back before becoming an international class midfielder.
Bendtner is an outstanding prospect who needs a run of games and to be trusted by both his team mates and the fans. This boy is a gem that needs polishing not roughing up. By the end of this season, if he makes as much progress as he made last, he'll be worth a fortune.
really cannot believe those of you praising Bendtner for his first touch and vision. Did you follow the games?
Stop saying "he's 20". Stop saying the author wrote this article based on one match. I, totally a stranger to him, think he's feeling the same frustration with me when seeing the same poor performance from Bendtner as all the game he appeared in last season. This one game is just the last drop of water overflowing the glass.
It's not about the goals he scored. It's not about he had a bad game. It's not about he has the potential. It's his touch and ball controlling that is unacceptable to be a Arsenal player.
and for those saying he gave assist to Theo's goal, you definitely did not watch or felt asleep during the game.
I honestly don't understand some of the so Called Fans making comments on this site. They seem intent on picking on Bendtner and saying how he is crap. This after one game where i can think of other players "Van Persie" who had an even worse game. Why feel the need to slag of players just cause they had 1 bad game (set up 2 and scored 1). NB was brilliant Pre season yet he has one game where he wasn't at his best and he gets slated. NB and Van persie and all our forwards will get better and better as the season goes on, and i bet that at the end, all the NB haters will be saying how great he is when he scores the winner agaist the spuds for us again.
We are all Arse fans and should be supporting the guys not slagging them off after 1 bad game and saying how crap they are. Unless you talk about Eboue.
The Italian Giants were after him over the summer and he turned them down to be with us. So get behind him and the rest of the players. As all this negativaty about our great club and players is stupid.
ive watched football for a few years too, and ive thought some of the worst writers about Arsenal have been the likes of HArry Harris and ol' Myles Palmer, but we have a new victor...
Yes, stand up Samuel Mowbray!
What an idiot!
Chill out freaks, its just his opinion. I do like bendtner myself, and would love to see him make it.
How mutch did you all like adebayor a year ago. Everyone was calling him Adebadbuy :S Give the lad some time he is still young....
You people are poor!
NB MADE THE NASRI GOAL.
Without his commitment to the cause nasri would never have recieved the ball!!!
You have adebayor, the guy on 80k who wants more and things he is the dogs bollocks when it was the first time in his career that he scored over 15 goals in a season.
NB has a better touch than Adebayor, he is a better passer, better finisher especially with heading and a better understanding of the game (hence he will never be offside 90 times when he plays a full season)
the only reason NB does not play regular in the first 11 is because he doesnt have the power and pace of Adebayor yet and Ade has been on good form. Just like flamini was on good form and the better player Diarra had to sit on the bence even tho wenger knew MF would walk in the summer. he dont break a winning team.
Your 20 goal comment is bull, Any half decent player leading our line for a full season would hit 20 plus for us. EASY! Ian W did it year in year out, Nic A did it, henry did it and now Ade, thats a history going back what? over 15 years??
Bendtner is so young! he was voted young dutch player of the year last year!! so that says it all!! he has so much promise!! If you really want to talk about shyte arsenal players then start with Igor Stepanovs << he was unique and also looked like a shrew!!
Young Dutch player of the year? Shit, he must be good, seeing as he's from a different country. I would have thought Holland had its own crop of young talent.
gunner2008, you are a tit
lol i dont think i had my cereals this morning! he was voted danish player of the year!! which is some achievement lol! Thanks for the tit remark!
heh! (tit remark)
I remember seeing Lee Chapman making his debut - strangely against Stoke away. One of the coppers in the back was in hysterics about how much Arsenal had paid for him. But although it didnt take long to see why, what I couldnt understand then - but do better now as I think Neill was a poor manager and judge of players - is why we brought Chapman and then played the ball oon the ground, rather than adding a winger and putting in some decent crosses.
PS I believe NB is a better player than Adebeyor personally.