Nicklas Bendtner: a dirty secret
Thursday, 4 March 2010
Some caveats. Bendtner is a div. He is arrogant beyond his means, and he backs that up with the attitude to match. Above all of the things I'll discuss in this post, he must learn some humility and develop a better grasp on his own limits. His opinion of himself to date simply isn't realistic, and getting a grip on that will be his first step to redemption.
But I've been giving the Danish striker some thought lately and I think he's a very decent player. This blog post has been a few weeks in the writing, and began way back when I accepted a wager with my podcast co-host Gary after bullishly insisting that Bendtner would score at least once during Arsenal's two-legged Champions League tie with Porto.
He didn't score in the away leg that week, but he has been in the goals since, with three in three for club and country. He scored as Arsenal defeated Sunderland at home on 20th February and headed home the crucial equaliser in the Gunners' 3-1 victory over Stoke City on Sunday - and a bloody good header it was too. Last night, he scored Denmark's only goal in a 2-1 defeat to Austria.
Despite this good little purple patch, Bendtner will remain the butt of jokes and the target of criticism. So what is it about him that makes him so easy to dislike?
For starters, he clearly thinks he belongs in the 'big four' and hasn't quite lived up to that with what he's achieved on the pitch. He demanded a late change to his squad number so he could take number...er...52. And we've all seen his pants.
But there are also playing factors. Bendtner is lambasted for failing to turn a good number of chances into any kind of scoring record. He's scored just three Premier League goals this season, supplemented by one in the Champions League against Standard Liege and one against Liverpool in the League Cup. And it's not just about the quality of opposition; Bendtner's scoring record in the Championship for Birmingham was better, but hardly breathtaking.
Two international goals in two games earned Denmark two points against Portugal and Albania in September, but they were Bendtner's only previous international goals. So it's understandable that Arsenal supporters get frustrated with him, and his attitude doesn't help his reputation outside North London.
But I think big things will come from Nicklas Bendtner if he learns to wind his neck in. He's got a great deal of quality and that shows in the goals he does score. He's good in the air and great on the deck, and many of the chances he squanders are created by him, usually quite brilliantly. Just imagine how good his record could be if his finishing clicks into place as he gets older.
I'm not saying Bendtner is a perfect player waiting to burst out of mediocrity, or that he will become a world-beater with one or two tweaks to his game or outlook. What I am saying is that I'd love him at my club because I think he does an awful lot exceptionally well and would offer a huge improvement in quality for teams who don't already have contributions from the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Robin Van Persie, Denilson et al.
Bendtner might not stand out at Arsenal, but he most certainly would at another club. And perversely, if he were to be the focal point of a Europa League standard club rather than a bit-part player at a Champions League club, I actually think his development would benefit and he'd score more goals by virtue of an improved scoring rate and more playing time.
I think I might be in a minority of one this time. Anyone with me?
6 comments:
I actually agree. He gets a lot of stick probably due to his arrogance and reported lack of professionalism whilst not really delivered consistently. But he does have quality and isn't the clumsy token big man in Arsenal's team of miniatures that he is billed as. I think he'll eventually prove why Wenger places so much faith in him.
I'd agree. A comment I'd actually make about a lot of players, especially younger ones, is that is they just got their heads down and played instead of thinking about how good they're going to be one day, then they might actually be as good as they think they are. Er, if you see what I mean. And I'd certainly apply that statement to Bendtner.
I think for most fans who actually go to the games live he has won them over long time ago. With his link up play and his option as a let out for a long ball more than with his goals. This is more difficult to apprecaite if you only see the games on the telly. He still need to get more composure in fron of goal but that will come wiht experience.
So your biggest gripe against him is his unshakable self belief?
He needs to learn humility, you say. Maybe, if he wanted to become a missionary or something, or perhaps win some personality contest.
Look at how Man U and Chelsea swagger in self belief. Thats what wins them title. Drogba and Ronaldo are very easy to dislike as people but their track record stands for all to see.
I think Arsenal are too humble, too meek and I love Bendtner all the more for his natural assumption that if he works hard enough he can be the best. Good on him!
Just a possibility, but perhaps he talks himself up as part of some NLP technique to help improve his own self belief and composure in front of goal.
Yes, that's my biggest gripe against him. Which kind of adds up to an overall very positive post about a player I like a lot and am expecting huge improvement and lots of goals from, wouldn't you say?
I don't have a gripe about his touch, his ability, his potential or even, really, his goalscoring record. Because I believe he's a fine player.
I like Bendtner a lot as a footballer, and I've tried to write a positive piece about him.
I'm used to Arsenal fans crying when the club is criticised, but to go on the defensive so quickly when faced with a very favourable post about a much-criticised player is frankly bewildering.
As an Arsenal fan, I am still on the fence when it comes to Bendtner. While he does have moments of brilliance, it is only to be let down by his lack of quality when it comes to finishing (i.e against Burnley). However I do still have belief that he will develop that quality with a bit more work from Wenger. I hope that he plays at the same level against Porto, and actually finishes some chances since Cesc will not be starting tomorrow. GO GUNNERS!!!!
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