David Bentley Part 1 | Wenger’s Schlong

24:39Terms and more at applecard.com. This episode is brought to you by Google Chrome. You think you know a browser, but Gemini and Chrome? That's new. It can help you with practically anything on the web, like restoring a vintage motorcycle from a 50-page restoration block, or finally break down that long article you've had open for weeks. Gemini and Chrome is here for it. Ready to make anything online make sense? There's no place like Chrome. Check responses set up required compatibility and availability varies 18+. this might contradict my point though but I always remember you as a number 10 yeah but wasn't that coached out with you back in the day it was yeah so it's kind of it was still going on back then yeah yeah you end up getting moved out the right wing when I just you know as a number 10 that wasn't a position so I think my question is do you think you'd in a way be more suited in today's game in terms of the positions yeah

25:31David Bentley:it would have suited my game a lot more yeah to have that you know these inverted sort of wingers you can come inside I could play the 10 role or whatever they call the team you've got these two lads that are sort of sat outside but you can come in or even part of the three in midfield with top of the diamond but I tell this story when I was growing up at Arsenal I was number 10 I played up front my whole life or as the 10 you know in behind and I found the perfect fit at Arsenal because they had a Bergkamp in the team that was playing that and I just tried to emulate him and you'll see from my first goal from Arsenal at Ivory in the clock end where I used to train in the JVC.

26:09David Bentley:I chipped and literally all I did was try to recreate Dennis Bergham's chip. That's all that goal is. And that was a great day. I loved that. Coming home on the train, I went home on the train and I was on with all the fans with my big hoodie on, listening to all talk about me. Surreal moment when you think about it. And that was before social media. So I knew no idea what publicity you'd get after. He had no idea. I just did that moment. There it was. I woke up in the mornings all over the papers, you know, like my old man rings me, says, you've got to go and get the papers. I said, why? And he went, no, you're all – and then I remember having them all over me living room floor, like paper, you know, like unbelievable experience.

26:50David Bentley:But being on that train – Great wank. Hey, great wank. That's in the wank bank. I brought it up now, haven't I? But that was a moment that was just, yeah, unbelievable. but I was emulating Burkham and then I went on loan I come up I needed to play first team football and I went to Norwich I got promoted to the Premier League and I went with Nigel Wormington I was getting pushed on the wing and I remember playing Real Mallorca pre-season now biggest con ever is I was playing Real Mallorca I was just getting it you know they were just playing the Spanish way and I just slotted in I was like this first team football is like Spanish fag on I had me Monte Cristo like that.

27:33David Bentley:And a week later, we got Crystal Palace at home, Andrew Johnson, remember that team, Andy Johnson, all that. I didn't touch the ball. Game pass and bye, I didn't touch the ball. Didn't really do anything. You know, didn't do nothing. Couldn't do nothing. He said, and then the next game came and it's very similar. And then I looked at who plays that role. Beckham played that role. He said, what's he do? He's not got much pace. He does this. He gets back, covers his fullback, gets up. Always an option. when he gets a ball, one touch, deliver, and good on set plays. So that's what I did. That was more like making a career for myself, not really enjoying.

28:08David Bentley:And at times I was always having conversations with managers, move me inside, move me inside, move me inside. Yeah, for 10 years, didn't really get that luxury. But it was very, remember when we were playing, it was very 4-4-2. 4-4-2, everyone was playing that. So to slot in there, I think if I was going to play that 10 role, the manager would have had to really build the team around playing that 10 role because you had two big guys up front. But when I scored the hat-trick against Man United, I played with Shefki Koochee, big lad up front. I was playing centre-forward that night. I scored hat-trick against Man United.

28:39David Bentley:Rooney, Ronaldo, Bosh. Sit down, park yourself. But it was that full team. And I played that night as that guy. Because Eddie Nedswicky, the goalkeeping coach, he was my reserve team manager at Arsenal. He took me to Blackburn, so he understood that. But I became more productive as a team member to be on the right-hand side. It's one of them, isn't it? I think Gareth Bale, on a different level, was a left-back. He had a great game. He got put left wing and then ended up centre-forward. You know, like for the team. Do you ever think that, though, that you'd be more suited to there in a way? Because if you, going back to you said Bergkamp, that's the elite team.

29:29They can build the team around Bergkamp. But even you look at Southampton, now they're trying to play.

29:33David Bentley:Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'd have got more of the ball. I'd have been able to, I mean, half the players now got fag on, didn't they? Because it doesn't really matter as much. When we were playing, you were under much more pressure than they are nowadays. Much more pressure. Because if you find yourself out of the team, you criticise more than they are now. Now you're a squad player. it's part of yeah the rest having a rest I'm not in the team today cheers was that the case even the reason you left Arsenal was that because you simply wanted to play yeah wanted to play I signed a five year deal and left after six months Wenger was like nah do this he had a plan didn't he but I couldn't see that plan I didn't trust it potentially could have stayed or should have stayed because remember like the young lads come through Cesc because I made my debut with Fabregas full debut absolute unbelievable performance I mean we beat Wolves 5-1 at Highbury can I call it a mullet was it when he had the long he scored he dominated the game 15 years old unbelievable I've never seen it and I was I think I was 17 I was a couple 18 months older or 2 years older it was unbelievable have you got any crack on Staggy Graham Stag Staggy that you can tell on here probably not yeah the ones that spring to mind he was a good lad Like, he's, hey, you want some stories, don't you?

30:58David Bentley:Please, Dave. You're looking nice to me, Dave. Yeah, I know, I'm looking nice. Oh, Steky. I'm trying to find ones that I can say. Right. What was the one? Was it Woburn? Yeah, we played the end of season golf tournament. And he, what do you want to hear? Yeah. Him and Ashley Cole drove the buggies and we were banned from playing at Woburn. and he he drives a buggy into the lake him and when he was playing yeah when he was playing yeah that's one that springs to mind yeah tell us a story it might have been Stachy but it might not have been Stachy just a story from that Stachy yeah I'll tell you some stories but I don't know about Stachy yeah the three the three or four that are in my mind I can't tell and he's got one that just happened last year I don't want to say nothing

31:52dropping people in it yeah yeah we don't want that we'll come back to that era you know talking about personalities being coached out yeah some would say that Wenger was the first real change in football was he not like that no chance

32:08David Bentley:that's what's said about him but not a whiff no all his team you look at because I was part of that invincible squad yeah and obviously it wasn't the Premier League thanks but good job you're reminding people because you're a you're a pointless answer something I'm proud of I played at Portsmouth for about half hour but yeah tough left to go tough left but yeah no it was a great year that was open top bus parade you know what you say now it must have been unbelievable being around just being around it mate every day it was a fight every day it was a fight we talk about personalities no chance you've got Ray Parler loves it like lunatics Beautiful man.

32:49David Bentley:And you've got Martin Keown, Bergkamp's an animal, he'd kick crap out of everyone. Fran Bronkhorst, I come off with black eyes, he used to play up against him. He used to elbow the life out of me, my bloodied eyes, fights. Pascal Sagan, Kolo Turi, best fight I've ever seen on a training ground. Two animals going age. That's what we want to hear. And, you know, Vieira stamping on me, fights. I mean, I squared up to Thierry Henry, whipped off me gloves. Come on, let's have it. because Wenger was what they did Wenger, Pat Rice and I think it was Bojan or so I can't bless him I can't remember his name now but anyway like the coaching staff used to put on seven asides every day seven asides you'd keep the same team so you would be more honestly the dressing room was more concerned about winning the seven asides tournaments than the game on Saturday it was hell for leather and it was just slight tackles like fighting you know especially like in the last game, that's where I squared up to Thierry, bless him.

33:51What for?

33:52David Bentley:I'd have got a good hiding. What did you say? Was it them, the thin gloves? Yeah, yeah, a little glove. Yeah, I was wearing gloves when I, but. What about the Sigan Torrey? Was that proper? Yeah, just going for it. Yeah. They squared up, punted like, proper, like fight. And to try and break them up, I remember, you know, like everyone, like the whole team, but they were just like, it was hard breaking them up. One of them where you thought, oh, we'll just give this a minute. We'll watch it for a minute. Yeah. So, like, I'll give it a bit of banter as well with Martin Keogh. And so I was playing up front and I'd give him the old, like, you know, that one.

34:28David Bentley:Boom. He'd glance the header in. I went, Martin, getting a bit old now.

34:37Worst thing I could have ever done.

34:42Because he... Like, look, he's one of them, isn't he? complete and he's gone he's gone but I'm thinking whey he's gone I'm going to look mustard now because all he's going to do is kick me but he grabbed me

34:54David Bentley:so the ball's coming you know when the ball's coming he's shielding it he's grabbed me by the neck and thrown me and my shirt has ripped like that from behind from behind but like grabbed the neck and all my shirt and bib had ripped and I'm going gaffer Pat you know Pat Rice gaffer get on with it you know like so you're talking about personalities no chance so how old he's not rich in my new shirt i'd have had the right um if you didn't hit that one how old are you when you were squaring up don rey 18 17 18 i was training with him 16 17 18 19 yeah so and did he not pass to you or well there's a few things like i mean with patrick it like obviously patrick as well so we're talking about personality in vengo i've got to defend him to the never it's an absolute never yeah so we're at austria it was my was it my first or second we used to go to austria to this training camp where they always wanted to go up in the mountains like out of the way and i had no idea but it was my first time so i've come down for breakfast and uh there was a what happened at arsenal which probably happens everywhere you had French table the English table and and everybody used to kind of sit with people that you get on with you know I mean and I've come down me being me I'm just want to be friends with everyone I'm I think I'm mates of everyone which you know right French tables there I think it's Wilton Perez and whoever and it was a seat and I went I'm sitting there just imagine with your moseley putting it on tell her bonjour bonjour bonjour bonjour

36:40bonjour I've stepped in and I've sat down and I'm like morning lads you alright you know like what were you up to last night have a good wank and all that you know like trying to be there mate and you're what 17 yeah 17

36:55David Bentley:18 and I go and now I'll give it because because I don't like silence as well, you know, like if they, because they can do that, can't they? It can be all calm. And I'm like, hey. Is that your best friend? Yeah, yeah, yeah, me bean. Like, oh, chef, that, hey, they'll wake you up.

37:15David Bentley:And as I'm sat there and I've looked around, I'm going, these are like a lot, like they're smirking. I'm going, they're on me, I'm going to have to like back myself up. They're mugging me off. And I've just got a big slap like that. and I'm sat like this and I've looked up and Patrick, club captain, get out of my seat. You're in my seat. And I've just gone, you know, and you're like, oh, fuck, I'm going red. I'm red. And in that moment, I remember it, in that moment, I thought, if I say yes, I'm going to look like a right mug. and if I say no, I'm going to look like a ripe mug. I can't win. So I went with the option of no.

38:05David Bentley:And he went, get up, this is my seat. This is my seat. I went, no. Worst thing I could have ever done. I think I've gone for the other book. The safe option. You know when you're like, no. Red pill, blue pill. Why I did it. You know, I mean, me and him are good mates now, and we were after, and he quite liked it. But for three, four months, I weren't allowed to go out on lads' nights out. I weren't. What, because of that one? Yeah, one thing. I was kicked. Honestly, every training session, he'd snap me. He'd snap me. But I used to love it. I used to play with it. But yeah, yeah. I used to go, Patrick, where are we going tonight, Sam?

38:50I think I turned up a couple of times. I know I'm not invited, but shut up. But getting that tap and looking up, going, oh, no. But I love that. When I think back, I want to go and relive that moment. You know that? Just, oh, my gut went. Like, you know, just like that. And how did it end? Did you not move? No, didn't move. That was the point. Yeah, I didn't move. And he had to go and sit. Oh. Oh, it makes me like, oh. And he had to go and sit on the other table. I assume that you said no, but eventually you've gone. No, I didn't move.

39:24David Bentley:I didn't move. I didn't move. It didn't do anything for, yeah, it helped me actually. It did help me. So if you did go back to that moment. I'd do the same thing again. Do the same. Yeah, yeah, yeah, definitely, yeah. Yeah. That's why we were invincible. That was one of the key ingredients. See, that actually surprises me a little bit, that there were the French table, there were the English table. Not that there were, but... There weren't a divide though. Yeah, that's what I mean. There weren't a divide. That was just, it was still together. You'd still have the banter on both sides. That was a real hardcore dressing room.

39:57David Bentley:I'll tell you another story, right? Talking about that Austria trip. They had saunas and I'd never, because I grew up, I didn't have much growing up, so I'd never been in a sauna. I'd never, I went, well, I'm going to try this sauna out. So I got in. So what do we do? Go in the sauna, don't we? So I'm like going with me flip-flops on and that, me shorts. and I walked in and Wenger's there and Pat Rice just naked in the shower. Sausage hanging out. He had a decent story on him as well. Don't worry about that. Wenger's got a slum.

40:32But I remember walking in. He started putting a butter bit in the way he is. Don't worry about that. He's got a bit of butter. He's suave as anything. He's feeding. He's just feeding in, isn't he? Oh, get the baguette. Oh, bless it. Oh, yeah, baguette. Bonjour. Walking in as a young lad, and I think, like, I look at my boy and go, imagine that, like, and then you think,

41:02David Bentley:can I go back and relive their moments, you know? I always think that. That's a beautiful thing to go, not have any regrets and go, I want to live your life again. And I'd love to live that moment again, just walk into that sauna and the feeling I've got. You know, as soon as you open the door and you walk in and you're stuck in there, you're like, I can't. I'm so uncomfortable. What do you want? Bangers there like that and I'm going, you all right, son? And then you have to make, like, because, again, going back to I don't like silence, do I? Yeah. Where people, I'm terrible at that. I don't like silence.

41:37David Bentley:Silence is horrible. I think silence, you should talk. and he so I've got in there and I'm a bit silent and I've sort of sat like oh it's hot in there and I've started I can't remember what I said but I've just started oh it's hot in here you know like what a bit of water I've got to make a conversation you're alright Gaffer do you want it massaged you know you've got a family deal I might make a claim here what have you got on yeah what have you got on are you in your trunks yeah no I'm in my shorts because I'm thinking I don't know this it's like naked sauna isn't it like in foreign countries so are you thinking should I well well if I'd have done that it could have been a claim you've got Pat Rice as well bless him like legend and the other guy yeah and you're just like oh yeah that was a moment like when you go back and think oh I could relive moments the naked sauna we are some venga the naked sauna ah venga gentlemen we have got We've got a special message from Saley, which is the new eSIM app from our very good friends at NordVPN.

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44:37AppleCar.com. This episode is brought to you by Google Chrome. You think you know a browser, but Gemini and Chrome? That's new. It can help you with practically anything on the web, like restoring a vintage motorcycle from a 50-page restoration block, or finally break down that long article you've had open for weeks. Gemini and Chrome is here for it. Ready to make anything online make sense? There's no place like Chrome. Check responses set up required, compatibility and availability varies 18+. From athletic stuff Like a full court Pick up game Swish To athletic-ish stuff Like a half mile stroll Get those steps in Head to Sierra Or Sierra.com For the brands you want At the prices That let you do it all From athletic To athletic-ish Sierra's got it But you know On Venga Obviously you've got The proper old school As you said Ray Parler and all that The drinking school And all that Could you see him Sort of Not elbowing it out but trying to get rid of, get away from all that.

45:35Yeah, because he got, eventually he whittled the players out, didn't he? No, but he didn't.

45:39David Bentley:It was just the age got. It was the age. It wasn't nothing to do with it. They loved it. He managed it so well. Absolute legend, Venga. And I know Parler was an unbelievable player. Was there a bit of it like, he liked Parler around the place? He liked what he did with the team? Yeah, Parler was an absolute, he'd bring people together. You need personalities like that. You don't need every individual just focused on themselves, do you? You need to bring people together. So he'd bring chef and the physios and the masseurs. Everyone felt part of that football club. That's why they won it. That's why they went unbeaten.

46:11David Bentley:You've got ability. We know. Loads of teams have got ability. You've got to have so much other stuff that goes under, under creating something like that. Parler was unbelievable. I just loved being around him. It was unbelievable. It was just, I mean, when I first went in, because you had Adams there as well, you know, and he went through, because I was there when he went through his transition from, you know, when he was a party boy, sort of on the drink to being like, I think it was like Born Again Christian, or whatever he was, but you're seeing all that banter flying around, and Ray was all over it, that's the way he did, but Parler produced, but his biggest asset was creating that sort of environment, And Wenger did that.

46:57David Bentley:Wenger played him, loved him. So, yeah, look at me. I'm on Wenger's defence. So when it came to leaving Arsenal, like you said, you just signed a five-year deal. I'm assuming Arsenal's having the conversation with you. You're a massive part of the future plan. Yeah. So I come back. I was on loan at Norwich for a year. Come back in for pre-season. Got left out of the Community Shield match. I won in. I went mad banging on his door it was like David we're like who do you take out the team to put you in was that the one when Cesc played Lundberg Perez Bergkamp Monmory you know was that the one when Cesc played was it against United when he ran the show as a 16 year old or someone might have been it might have been around that time so I was fuming I was fuming I said well if I'm not going to play I need to play I've got that even though Norwich it went well for me but not for the club and a beautiful I love Norwich like all the Malcolm McKay was Captain Craig Flynn he's a cunt

48:06you've got to do a noise there's someone else that didn't like it oh yeah people don't well and then we had Jim Brennan Canadian

48:15David Bentley:he sent his missus he'd done her a visa didn't he he sent her back and then like Jim Brennan what a ledge and he was and he had Phil Morion remember Phil Morion yeah he's going for a top job isn't he well bosh I'm expecting to see him in the Pope he drove a red Ferrari he used to pick me up used everything like everything a rock star would do you know what I mean and now he's going for the Pope he could be Pope one day yeah it's unbelievable but yeah he was at it yeah his missus turned out to be one of the big YouTube sensations makeup artist his girlfriend at the time yeah I was good fun I could tell some stories about that Gary Dock Gary Dockety Ginger Pele oh Gary Dockety me and you used to go grey armour to the casino right there we used to go out right Ginger Pele he was with a foot model yeah she was a good looking bird a foot model yeah lovely pair of plates yeah yeah yeah here you go lay away she was she was from Stork took us off with her from Storkwave she was up that neck of the woods yeah this is new missus Hello, look, he knows it.

49:22No, no, I get on. She's shrunked out, did you? Listen to me, Missy, look at her feet first. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

49:28David Bentley:Oh, I have your street, yeah. What a legend he is. Yeah, it was a great club. But then when I come back, I wanted to play. I'm playing every week. I'm playing Premier League. I've got to play, I've got to play. And so I said, well, I've got to go. And then Eddie was under Mark Hughes, who was my reserve team manager at Blackburn. They come in and I went, yeah, straight away. What were the visa story? Oh, the Jim Brennan-Vaser story. He sent his missus back. He was with his brother. So, you know, when you get a little community, all the girls, Delia Smith used to get all the girls together, like for cookery classes and take them out and took them on the Jonathan Ross.

50:02David Bentley:And that was the year that she went, let's be having you and all that. Yeah, yeah. So she was, so you had like a good community there. So like all the girls were, you know, like proper footballers' wives sort of stuff, you know. And Jim sent his girlfriend back to Canada and then cancelled her visa so she couldn't come back.

50:26Cassie! And then sent all her stuff. Packs it all up and send it back. She's like... The old visa trick. Because everyone was friends. We were all involved, weren't we? Drama. I was like, what? It's the laugh, isn't it? The laugh after. It's traumatic. God bless her. Just tell him it's not working out. Yeah, no, no. He didn't have the bottle, did he? He's like, he's done that. Oh, it's smoothie, isn't it? When you think about it, it's smoothie. I don't like that behaviour. No, it's very good. It's very good.

51:08Oh, don't. So, yeah, there's the visa story. How was your relationship with Nigel Worthington? Because there was stuff in paper. Did you have a bit of a...

51:17David Bentley:Yeah, we did, yeah. Well, Nigel was a left back as well, wasn't he? Yeah. So, which story? I'll start with. So, like, the team started not... found it difficult in the Premier League getting results. So, he started doing loads of weird stuff. So, he had his training on a Friday in our green kits, like our full kits. So, we recognised each other on a Saturday, you know, just stuff like that. And it's... Just paranoid managers. Talk about losing the dressing room. And he's, even though it's a great speech, it was when I put, he used to play Al Pacino's any given Sunday as the team talk. So he'd do his team talk and then put that on.

51:58David Bentley:And it's just like, it lose the dressing room. Like the lads are just not. It needs to be a one-off hit that. Yeah, like maybe it's a one game kind of like, you know, get you up for it. But he just did stuff like that. And then obviously losing games and it was hard, but he started going up against me in training and lifting me and stuff, you know, to try and get me at it. He probably tried to get me at it, which I was, but it wasn't about the game. It was about him. I felt like it was him competing against me. You feel like you've been singled out? No, no, not like that. It was more me versus him.

52:33David Bentley:Like, he was a left back. I'm doing a bit, and he's like, I'm a good left back. I'll show you. Willing to step up to the point. Yeah, no. But there was one incident that, we used to do a keep ball you know you do a circle two in the middle like before training so we used to do it so he'd join in every time he got every time he got the ball he whacked it at me like up here and then he said get in and it was a Friday before the game so all the press you know when the press are there Friday before the game they have like press with a lad to film training and then I'll just he kept doing it he kept just whacking it at me and then I kept whacking it at him get in there and then And then, final time, just lost my head.

53:14David Bentley:And I just destroyed, like, bottles and, you know, everything. And I got all the balls and I started whacking them at the press. Have that, have that. And then before I was on the back of the pipe. And it was around the time Peter Kay, have it. You remember the advert? Yeah. So they had me on the back of it. I love it. So it caused a little bit of a, yeah, it was only a little domestic, wasn't it?

53:35David Bentley:But all the press were sort of there. So that's why it came out, yeah. but Nigel he was alright and he had was it Livermore the Liverpool legend under him he was a good lad yeah Doug yeah he was quality but Norwich was beautiful club good people good area that gave you the taste and the fire when you went back to that yeah so when I went back I just couldn't accept it yeah it's like your heart over your head isn't it yeah I've got to play and you're wired up like that as well back then what are you in 19-ish 20 18-19 yeah I think it was 18 leading on to my 19th birthday yeah so you just so like now you'd be like well just bide your time yeah a couple of years you probably give you a few quid you know i mean like which they do now and then you're yeah you've got a different mentality now haven't you you'd probably be like just sit there come on now and again i'm not really bothered because you always feel like i think when you're footballer you always tuned in to being the best you know you always back then as well and if you don't play I was offended I was like but at 18, 19 no but do you not think oh we all were well yeah Pennant was exactly the same we had Pennant on recently and he had exactly the same attitude that he felt he should have been playing at 16 17 yeah but I think you've got to be like that haven't you yeah you've got to think you're the best haven't you you've got to think you just say I've got to play and then you just feel embarrassed you feel embarrassed to like you know phone your mum dad or your mates are you playing nah I'm on the bench but you went on loan to Blackburn so why was it not just a season loan well I did I went for a season loan and I signed I signed full time the night before the Man United actually but what brought on that signing well they got a 50 % sell on because I wouldn't have it I said I've got to be here full time they got 50 % so when I moved to Tottenham Arsenal got half of it so in the grand scheme of things in the Tottenham Tottenham Tottenham Tottenham It's that sauna.

55:36In the grand scheme of things, the fact that you're not playing for Arsenal, as Arsenal were obviously still now, but in the grand scheme of things, you've got a four or five-year contract. The fact that you're not playing at 19 is not actually the end of the world, is it?

55:50David Bentley:No, it's not now. You're like looking in the... Yeah, looking back, it's not now. And it would be more accepted now. But back then, I'm picked by and having it. Yeah, would you do the same now if you could take yourself back? Yeah. I wouldn't change nothing in my life, yeah. And that's a nice place to be. There's certain things privately I'd do differently, but not professionally, no. I think that you leave it all out there. I think the fact that I did everything my way, you've got to cue to the sort of Sinatra. But I've got no regrets on that. Definitely not. There's nothing worse than looking back like that.

56:32David Bentley:I'm comfortable with that. I fall asleep at night like happy. Because who knows if I'd have made a different decision and my life wouldn't have panned out. Everything's like, I can't really ever say that. I don't believe in that. On the theme of music, did you see you sang for Marty Pellar? Was it Marty Pellar? Oh, Paul Weller. Paul Weller. Fucking Matt, where are you? Whoa, whoa. You can't put Marty Pellar in with Paul Weller. That's him, isn't it? That's him. Someone criticising me on music. What about that? What? What, what, what? I fucked up there didn't I that's like that's like saying Jedward and fucking Beatles yeah that's up there even though Wet Wet Wet do have a couple of decent stuff I like Wet Wet Wet feel it in your fingers yeah she felt it in her toes yeah that's it that's it foot model so Paul Weller shout out to Chazzy Wheeler best chef best chef he's a chef now but he's a musician as well but his old man was Paul Weller's So growing up, he was one of my best mates.

57:35David Bentley:So Kenny Wheeler was road manager for Paul Weller for 27 years. And now Chaz's brother has taken over the role. So we used to go with Paul Weller and Oasis, see Oasis at Wembley, went backstage and all that, like the old Wembley, and work with Chaz. But this one day, you get a phone call, don't you? you want to come? Like, well as that, roll out, oh. I'll be honest with you Dave, I've never had that phone call. Oh, yeah. Well as it, roll out, do you fancy it, Barky? Yeah, fuck it. No, I've never had that phone call. So I'm like, yeah, yeah, of course. See, I finished training, one o 'clock, fire out the door, straight up there, meet in the boozer before, and then we'll go, we'll go in.

58:23David Bentley:So we've had a few drinks, and he says, oh, it's well as birthday today, so we've got to be there a little bit earlier, because everyone's like doing a bit. So I'm like, yeah, yeah, sweet. So I've come out and like the Royal Albert Hall's like a circle, isn't it? It's like a circle. So we've gone in to the, where the chain you're in, the walking man. And as we're a little bit late because we've enjoyed ourselves in the bozer, a little bit, we're a little bit late. So as I come, as I'm going to the door, a woman's coming with a cake and she's just gone, just like timing. in she's handed it to me And I've gone...

59:02Have you come with the hands first? No, no, no, no. I'm just like, oh, alright. You know when you get... And then my mate's got the door for me, and I'm just sort of... And as I've got... You know when you go through the door, it's all... Happy birthday. I'm singing out of your... All his family in the house going, oh no! People Weller Weller Weller don't really know me that well He's looking at me Why is he carrying my car He's got all his family and his kids and everything Happy Happy birth I see you We're all out with old Paul Weller legend I'm like what I just got that Michael McIntyre like McIntyre, you know, like when they come out and then there's just a big crowd.

59:57Yeah, yeah. It's like that, yeah. Did you wait until he blew the candles? It was just, you know, one of them moments where you're just like, oh, I just got to go. Make a wish. Yeah, just like, oh. It is right, though, if you've got the cake in your hands and you walk through the door, it's like, that's the natural progression to start singing. Oh, fuck that.

1:00:14David Bentley:Yeah, so the young girl who brought it, handed it, she went, oh, right, and it was like, you know, nothing. And then just walk in and, yeah, I mean, that is that's a bit of a legendary moment isn't it to sing I don't know what it was his 50th or his 60th but it was a big birthday as well and I'm the guy I'm the guy who carried the cake in yeah but classic yeah I remember speaking to all the staff of Blackburn about your time there and they didn't speak about your football they just spoke about your parties yeah the parties were good legendary by the way were there anybody else in apart from Blackburn eh Was anybody else in for you apart from Blackburn?

1:00:53David Bentley:When I went to Blackburn? Yeah. Yeah, there's a few, yeah. What do you mean before I signed for him? Yeah. Ah, yeah, there was quite a few, yeah. Was it just because you were enjoying it up there? Oh, you mean when I left Blackburn for Tottenham or when I went... No, when you were leaving Arsenal to go to Blackburn? Yeah, there was a few clubs that I could have got. I can't remember exactly which clubs they were. Well, the family Northern thing, a bit of a pull for you then? Yeah, it was, yeah. A lot of your Southern boys don't like coming up North, do you? Yeah, so the fact... That's it. I mean I loved it up there I had a great time Manchester, Liverpool great great people great night out and just loved it yeah so how would you get it was a great squad Blackburn squad unbelievable but I was just drawn to it they were in Premier League and they had you know ambitions of what they were going to do and went and done it fair play and Husey and the team there was yeah it was good you felt like that's a good place for me and the fact that Eddie was there I mean I reserved him so he kind of knew what I could do I just thought I've got to go there got to go he'll know and it worked out in the end, yeah.

1:01:53David Bentley:But yeah, there was a few teams, but yeah, no, there was... And then obviously the family being up there as well, which helped me out massively. I've got my uncles and aunties there and my cousins and everything. And it's nice to have that environment in and around you, you know? Come play, you know, down to snoot the club and just switch off and get in the trouble. But yeah, no, it was all good. And how did you get the point of organising these parties? At the party. He loves a party. He was. Sorry about, sorry about, sorry about asking where anywhere else in Korea could have gone. But at the parties, the parties were, yeah, they were just, again, they were, they were just to bring the club to get, like, I've always felt like, oh, I just want to, like, felt like they were paying me a few quid and I want to give a bit back and you always felt like, oh, it's for parties and you know what I mean?

1:02:44Are these house parties, organised events?

1:02:46David Bentley:House parties used to have, What age are you when you sign for Blackburn, sorry? 19.

1:02:53At 90, I'd have felt that responsibility as well. Me at 90, I need to get this whole club together.

1:02:59David Bentley:Yeah, and yeah, it was just inviting everyone from, well, everyone that was involved in day-to-day life at the football club and anyone that's involved, yeah, from board of directors to people obviously working in the kitchen. They're the people that really, they're the essence of the football club. They're the ones that make it tick. Players come and go, don't they? But yeah, it just felt like, I don't know, yeah, it was just, well, you want to have fun, don't you? Like I said, you ain't got long, have you? Before you know it, you switch off, you're gone, ain't you? Why not enjoy it? So like them, that's what I mean, creating moments.

1:03:31What made these parties special? Well, they were like weddings. Don't talk to entertainment.

1:03:34David Bentley:Weddings every week, weren't they? Weekly wedding. That's like my restaurants, yeah, they were designed on wedding features. You see, because for me, the wedding is the best party. La Sala, by the way, La Sala. Because it brings everyone together, doesn't it? no matter what you're into, what music, everybody has a good time at a wedding. Yeah, so we'd have tables. I think one of the ones was the Winter Wonderlands. I mean, this has got like 100 white Christmas trees all the way from, and then you led you in and all that. And then we had the marquee in the garden with like live bands. Are you making an entrance like the winter?

1:04:10I agree.

1:04:14It's all about me. Main character syndrome. Thank you. but it weren't

1:04:21David Bentley:it was about bringing I remember like getting all the booze in and that Winter Wonderland party was after Newcastle games so I scored I had to we were 1-0 I had to score so I scored a free kick and scored one drilled one from 30 yards just so my party would go alright just so the mood wasn't flat yeah I was under pressure everyone's coming to party after well so you watched a bad vibe yeah I was like come on have a day out come on we'll party it'll be alright tonight but But yeah, we had a live band on, DJ, everyone up, get up on the stage, do a bit. So we had a stage and like a wedding. So after how long been at the football club, did you have your first party?

1:05:00Nine months.

1:05:01David Bentley:Yeah, nine months probably. And then did you think, right, I need to make it a fucking good party now. I put a lot of press on myself. And then going forward, you thought, maybe went too big first time. No, no, no, just go big every time. Go big or go home. And what about that? We're big every time. you're still like dear fever that's all he used to talk about your parties how did he bless you he's a great lad yeah he every day he's just just got a good spirit and a good energy love being around him like in the drink you know in the uh physio room physio rooms brilliant like robbie savage like craig bellamy in there day food don't even just used to love it i remember going in there as a young you know when you're a young lad and you're just like ah just waiting in the background this because because the physio rooms were where you'd hear all the stories like what went on what are they doing who they're getting involved with you know i mean shagging but uh because i remember tony adams coming in and it was at the time when he was banging caprice wasn't it and uh he was telling the stories and i was a 15 year old boy in the chair you know and she was front member fhm and all the magazines she was number one wasn't she she was like the big one tony adams the old horse

1:06:14David Bentley:well he's not like not the best looking Tony no no but he's got a bit about him yeah down there but yeah no in the physio rooms that's where it's like life and soul of like where you where the where the training session where the football club the I'd say that's the heart and soul of the football club do you remember because everyone's getting treated and all the banter's flying and you've got shit going on. You know, young lads, you're making them sing and dance. And I've had to do all that. I remember singing a song for Arsenal. Sorry, mate. Go on, mate. I keep cutting you up, didn't I? Come on, it's not about you.

1:06:50It's not about you. There's a song there, isn't there? Yeah, there is, yeah.

1:06:55David Bentley:But, yeah, singing songs and all that. You had to do it at Arsenal. Yeah, getting up in front of all the lads, singing Christmas songs and all that. That's what it's all about, isn't it? Would you embrace that? Would you look forward to it? Yeah, I'd look forward, yeah. Because we've spoke about it. I can imagine you wanted to be in every group. Yeah, yeah, come on, let's go. Luke's got to do it properly. I mean, you still get nervous. You bring it back in, singers in. Got to go, got to go. That's it, go big or go home. Yeah. Yeah, I used to love all that. And they're the kind of things you miss.

1:07:19David Bentley:You know, they fever. I miss him. Like, you know, seeing him every day and seeing that, being in that environment. But that's where all the stories and, ah, it's brilliant. You remember the whiteboard with all of his things on? Were you there when, I think Dunny's told the story. He's professional, right? He was, that was his Bible. He had all the scores from workouts and strength scores and from 20 years previous when he was at United. I think it was Dunny. Yeah. Went mental. I think I was there. But he's taken a picture of it beforehand and wiped it. Was I there? But I'm sure, remember, Dunny told the story.

1:07:57And honestly, Dava would. He'd have killed him.

1:07:59David Bentley:Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, he's got a bit of it. He was professional, wasn't he? He was one of them, again, like, great personality, good person. But professional when you need to be professional and a human. You know, he's got that, like, both sides to him. So, like, yeah, very professional, but, like, yeah, the banter, yeah. You were at Blackburn, you were at Blackburn, yeah. So you were with him, yeah. Was he there when you were? Yeah. Yeah. Great lad. Good, wasn't he? Yeah. Good. Yeah, he was. I loved him. I absolutely loved him. How did you get on with Bellows? I got on with him, yeah. Because I can imagine he's quite serious, fellas, isn't he?

1:08:35He can be. You know, if you've got to beat 3-0. Oh, yeah. And you're pissing about on the coach in a quarter past five. No, he's like, fucking shut up, you little cunt.

1:08:44David Bentley:Yeah, but when he came to us, he was red hot. He scored, I think he scored, saying, like 27 goals in the season. We were flying high in the print. So I only see the best of him. I can imagine when things weren't going right. He used to do it. He used to be late for training. He used to turn up in the helicopter. It was classic. So we're warming up and he's just like coming over in his helicopter. Yeah. Because I think he used to venture up from Cardiff or something like that. Or whatever. Like, you know, on a Monday, you know, that weekend sort of, a couple of days off, he'd come in and he'd be late and he'd come up.

1:09:16David Bentley:We'd all be warming up and Bella's used to come in on his helicopter. Yeah. It was classic. I loved it. But I got on with him, right, because, but yeah, no. There was no, did I ever have a round with him? The only time, I remember being sick in his hat at Christmas party. Sick in his hat? Yeah, Freddie Cougar hat, yeah. So Andy Todd and, where were we? I was at Blackburn's Grand and then we were going out after and it was a Christmas party, fancy dresser at Wings. We were starting at Wings Restaurant in Manchester where everyone does. And on the way, Todd, he's like, I'll pick you up. And he was with Dominic Matteo.

1:09:54David Bentley:So them two heavy hitters. Heavy. Dom's a great drinker. Just machines. Yeah. Benz we got you alright come on in so I've gone in by the time I've got the wings they're feeding me aren't they and I remember just pulling turning up I was lucky because we were late and they had a big table and I remember pulling his hat because I just found myself going and I pulled his hat off back on is it Freddy Cougar I had that back and I didn't he might have got the hat with me then I can't remember to be fair I think I might have been an old day I might have done but I mean they were good times that dressing room was the squad yeah I was lucky in my I was lucky in my career that I had good dressing rooms I had good people in all the dressing rooms no good people that you can feed off it weren't only me you know it weren't like I was just having to instigate and lead everything you had others that were there that were you know like when you go from Tottenham you know Woodgate and Crouchy and you know you've got a full decent like squad of like proper gazers and then and then Blackburn and Norwich and Arsenal I was lucky really did you ever did you ever see sorry Chrissie did you ever see Toddy go yeah because he's got the eyes hasn't he go yeah fully go yeah just fully go tell us about it mate if he if he hit you good night you're gone what you want to yeah yeah yeah nah nah nah he might come and get me Johnny I love you but me and him got on really well he was my club captain at the time so we had we used to go out drinking and go out together and he used to be he was funny obviously Eddie's dad was a legend wasn't he and I think I don't know where he is now but he was in Ireland doing a bit of coaching and so on but great lad great lad but don't get on he'd just switch he'd light switch and just lever you quite quietly as well yeah quiet well you got the parking you got the old manager haven't you well he'd done him Phil Brown yeah Phil Brown yeah I mean that's a great story that goes around football that yeah it was that party toilet or something yeah but then then went back for a drink and just sort of calmed down yeah it was alright and then and sort of went he ain't had enough and then went back again didn't he yeah so Todd is he's out that's public knowledge though everyone knows that So, allegedly, Phil Brown stitched his old man up, has seen him at a party, he's followed him into the toilet, gave him a bit of a Ronan Keating.

1:12:33I didn't know about the fact that he'd gone ahead and drink and thought, fuck it, I'm going back in. Yeah. Yeah. Quick pause and play, gentlemen, to bring a special message from our bestest of friends, O 'Neill's. Love the hat, by the way. Thank you. By the way, you know what the kits I've seen that are over here in Ireland? They're all quality, aren't they? They're all really nice kits. yeah but none better than the big dog oh yes that's the fella in it like we've said many many many many many many times if you if you've got your own team grassroots looking to sort yourself out with a kit get in touch with orneils four to six weeks from design to delivery and it's not and when we say design you design you can design it yourself just the little details It's not like you're just turning out in a red shirt, black shirt, white stripes or whatever.

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1:15:40David Bentley:I give you, so we had a strong dressing room like Stephen Raid as well. I'm bolting away. I remember him getting Robbie Savage by the throat and lifting him up, you know, because Sav was giving him. So you had strong dressing rooms, you know. So you can only survive. You can only survive. And I like that. You know, like proper geezers, you know, loyal, respectful, have the banter and be respectful when you need to be. So it's probably going back on the weave, going right back to when you said, like, piss about. Never pissed about when it comes down to, like, the sort of money side or the professional side of things.

1:16:15David Bentley:So I think never had issues with players ever looking at me. I don't think there'd be ever a player or manager that would say, he's slightly off his nut, but when it come down to it, he'd always be ready, sort of willing and able. It was never take the mick on the pitch. Do you know what I mean? I was never not fit. I was never not ready. Never, never. Was Mark Hughes good for you, personally? Well, usually he wanted to play high intensity football. He loved, he had that old United way of playing. So he wanted expressive players. We had Benny McCarthy at the club, Santa Cruz, two guy. We had good players.

1:16:55David Bentley:I mean, where they finished, like finishing fifth and sixth in the league for like two or three years was massive for Blackburn. Especially where they were at. I know they won the league years ago. But their consistency then, we were one of the top teams, yeah. Is that where you played your best football, do you think? Yeah. Yeah, it's where I had most freedom, yeah, and sort of just loved it, yeah. Loved being in and around the players, loved being in the football club. The football club was great then. I don't know what it's like now, but just the people, the community, you know what I mean, just loved it, just loved it, loved it.

1:17:34Do you think, obviously, Blackburn, you said the community and everything, were that totally different to what Arsenal looked like that? yeah

1:17:41David Bentley:I think I was lucky was Arsenal got like Arsenal I think Arsenal are a unique Premier League football club that do have a sense of community they do look after each other they do they look after everyone that's in the football club they do do things properly yeah I've got I hold Arsenal quite high in the way they do things yeah when you said community I thought you meant like the fans and everything but when you said do you mean like within the football within the football club yeah yeah Yeah, I have, when you find yourself in a bad, like bad club, I went back to Blackburn on loan under Michael Appleton.

1:18:18David Bentley:The whole club was just completely different. Just absolutely, people weren't there anymore that were there before. Club was just like all the physio staff would change, you know, he was just totally different. Players, way. That hurt a little bit because you were expecting. I wanted to go back. I thought, oh, this could reignite me. Going, yeah. Get the marquee. Yeah, yeah, get the marquee back up. That's exactly it. But yeah, went back in there and the whole club was totally on its head. So I do think players, if you find an environment that sort of suits you, you do look at that around football at the minute where players find themselves in an environment where, you know, when you look at United and you look at the players that come in, come out, Anthony goes there, can't, I mean, if you watch him, it looks like he can't control it.

1:19:03David Bentley:It looks like a 14-year-old kid trying to play football. and then he goes well I'll bet it looks like it looks like a world beater you know like the best player in the world and you think well it's not just football it's not just because if it's just football it's the same it's the same playing with the same ball it's got to be more than that you know what I mean there's more around it there's more of a feeling and if you can create that environment that's within business life or your family or whatever if you create a nice environment you're only gonna like might excel so i was lucky that that's what i mean i was lucky i helped other people helped create that environment and i found myself in good environments and also that i engaged in in participating in creating a good environment so you got the parties and you got the like like all that but it was all it was all by design yeah it was all because i think that's the way life should be.

1:20:02Did you ever catch Trevor the chef walloping Janice the... Oh yeah. I found a few people. Of course I did. Mate, woke up that day I found people

1:20:12David Bentley:in the bush. What, the parties? my mate, one of my best mates is just sleeping in the bush. There's people at it. Yeah, the whole house. That's why the legendary... I was like, I did it though, wasn't I? I've got it all on camera. Woohoo!

1:20:31Trevor Declan has been a model. She's at it again. What's the best practical joke you've played or had played on you?

1:20:40David Bentley:The best one that's been played on me is, I've spoke about it before, but it was the England call-up one with McLaren. Have you heard that one? Robbie Savage. So back when we used to, when you always, everyone, you knew you were getting called up before you get called up. and the managers used to it used to be a thing around football everyone knew you got phoned at 8.30 in the morning between 8.30 and 9 o 'clock you'd go through the full list of players so everyone knew before the press was released to the press so he's a bugger isn't he? I don't expect any bugger it's that northern thing he's a bugger isn't he?

1:21:25David Bentley:so we're expecting a call and it's all in the press isn't it and Bentley's going to get called up Your first time? Yeah, all the lads are on me. So McLaren's manager. And 8.30 comes Friday morning and I know I'm going to get a call because kind of through the – you're 95 % going to get a call. So I'm there waiting. Fucking come here. Oh, it's ringing. Hello. So I've gone in. Robbie Savage has pretended to be Steve McLaren but he's just done him off like beautifully and I'm there and he's got me on record on the recording thing in the changing room he's at the training ground he's got me on record he's going you know David you know you've been outstanding this season and all that and I'm going oh thanks you know I'm giving it I'm going thanks you know gaffer gaffer and I said something I said oh Gaffer you know I've run through brick walls for you you know all that

1:22:35I've just gone proper melting you know McLaren I love you what are you doing at United I think you're going to revolutionise England and all this shit and they've got it all and they've got it all so he's done that

1:22:50David Bentley:that's 8.30 like bang on like a couple of minutes past 8.30 15 minutes later Phone goes. So I'm like, you know, to Mrs. Oh, babe, I'm in the English squad. Oh, I'm ringing everyone. And I get another call. Who's that? It's the real Steve McLaren. And I'm like, hello? And he went, David. And I went, who's that? He said, oh, Steve McLaren here, just to like to inform you. I said, you've just called me. So I've just like, I've not clocked. I said, you've just called me. you know thinking you've already called me he went no no no I haven't

1:23:34was the penny anywhere near dropping? no no because you're just like it's just a classic like vulnerable moment no you are I was on all fours I was on all fours like like vulnerable like

1:23:52you're pissed him you're calm this team You called me, Steve. And then I'm going, oh, my God.

1:23:59David Bentley:And then I think I've come up. And then what happened? And then it was about 15, and I got a phone call with everyone laughing at me. And I think Dave Fever and everyone just going, ah. And I've gone, you know what I mean? And I've gone in, and they've played me. Listen to you, you melt. So that's probably the greatest moment. It's helped a lot that you actually got the call. Yeah. You know, if you hadn't got the call. Oh, yeah. You slip to Steve and change his mind and you turn up. Yeah, yeah. Mishamabu. Oh, bless him. But he had some unique management ways, McLaren. He had a guy called Bill Beswick, which was like a spiritual healing kind of coach, visualisation coach.

1:24:48David Bentley:It was difficult meetings I found myself in with that. I bet it worked for him and all mate Michael Owen I remember being in one with Bill Bez like and he was trying to do this you know all this mind stuff which is more relevant nowadays but back then I've got Stephen Gerrard Michael Owen who's the others I swear it might have been Frank Lampard or somebody and I'm a young lad and there was another young lad and I'm like fair enough with me like 22 like get this but he's trying to tell them how to visualise and play the game talk about losing dressing room talk about losing camp but yeah no they had some weird sort of ways but yeah that's probably again creating the environment why we got knocked out to Croatia I'll tell you a story after the crisis look I've gone off on one Croatia Wally with a brolly remember I'm bless his heart because he didn't want to get his little tough bit like went so I'm on the bench and I've clocked it when he's got the brolly I said mate he's going to get Kane for that so I'm on the bench against Croatia and Crenshaw scored didn't he against Scotty Carson was in goal, I think it was.

1:25:51David Bentley:And it was the qualifier to get to the Euros of the World Cup. I've not played, but like the rain that Wembley comes down, like funny, like gets you soaked. So he's there with a brolly and he's like, oh, he's going to get kind of, you can't have a brolly, like as a manager. Never seen it in my life. But that night, so we get knocked out by Croatia. And after that, I've got to go back up to Blackburn. I got a Range Rover and in the car I got all my stuff because my missus had come down it was before the kids and I had two dogs and all my stuff in the car I got pulled over didn't I they'd clocked pulled me over someone used to sort out my cars you know when you get a geezer they sort your cars out or something and whatever but they weren't taxing insured the car and we'd gone out the old Bill knew obviously gone out I had my tracksuit on and everything.

1:26:46David Bentley:And he left me on the M1 service station, impounded my car and left me there with me two dogs and missus after the Croatia game. I was the one leading the services.

1:27:02My missus was like, oh, it's gone well, innit? England, blah, England's a dream, innit? Knocked out the World Cup. I'm there on the M1 service station. There's one in the morning with me dogs. With the two dogs. me little King Charles Spaniels you have a brolly you have a brolly I'd serve them so I was the wally yeah performing in the services I did he says there was no moving him you know I've given him all the jar someone else sorts my car out and it just made it worse didn't it like

1:27:37David Bentley:that's that's minging isn't it someone else sorts my car yeah so you think they were England football fans They're like, fuck him. Yeah. Well, I got booed on my debut for England, didn't I? Which? Which would come from the Stuart Pearce debacle when I pulled out of the under-21s, which wasn't my fault. Well, it was my fault because it was, but I was getting told to pull out of that. It was quite a difficult moment. I remember I went on Talk Sport. Why were you being booed? Because I pulled out of that under-21s tournament because he threw me under the bus, really, because he'd come out. He'd give it all this fight for your country stuff, So there was stuff for me in the papers.

1:28:15David Bentley:People fight for the country, you know, during the war and all this sort of stuff. And I'm off, like, not playing, but that weren't the case. I got told I weren't allowed to play. That was it. By Blackburn. Yeah. Because that tournament starts early, doesn't it? Yeah, so we had a, I think we had a European, I played 60 games that year and then went in, I played for the England B, then played for the England squad. I got from the B and then went straight into the England squad because it was like a week before and then got called up for that. And then I would have stopped early June, you know, like June the 10th or something.

1:28:54David Bentley:And then the tournament started, it would have taken me into July. But Blackburn, we were in the total cup, you know, like finishing 6th or 7th back then, wasn't it? It was like you had to go into them qualification games. And they started on June 28th. So I just went, you ain't going. So I had to sort of front it up. I fronted it up. So I'd love to come, but obviously I feel like I'm not going to be in the best. You know, I'll give it all that. I don't think I'm in the best condition and stuff, you know, going in. And mate, absolutely front under the bus. Geyser just went out and crucified me.

1:29:29David Bentley:And then the public have seen that, and then I remember getting booed and clapping and being like, yeah, well done. So the public, their perception is he's played with the squad, the team. Yeah, and he's too good to play. No, I'd have gone. I'd have gone. I'd have loved it. Because like I said, Victory Shield playing for England all the way through, loved every minute of it. And going on tour with all the lads. All day long I'm going.

1:29:57David Bentley:So, yeah, no. So to pull out was for, I was advised not to. And then that was it. I was like, oh, lucky. How were you? Yeah, yeah. it was a weird I always had a weird career like that you know a little bit of a like one of them because of stuff like that and sometimes it's things like that are out of your hands you know what I mean like even how are you going sorry yeah a little bit yeah but you've set away your personal you've got on the offensive yeah yeah yeah because that's what you've got to do because that's what you're trying to do that's what my brain does like if you're going to hit me I'm going to hit you harder so but yeah you're gonna do that in your clapham you know you know all that and yeah it don't bother me but it does it did bother me at the time yeah definitely it does doesn't it england debut all your family friends are there and you're getting booed because they don't really process it people only see things like in you're living it they only see the flashpoints don't they are yeah you pulled out that's the way well you know stewart pierre said that and that's all right but even i remember being at my granddad's because he lives at a blessing he lives over in spain don't he loves it he's been shacked up in a minute with a German bird loves it beautiful yeah yeah no no bless him God bless God bless my nan yeah he lives over there and I went and stayed I was with him so I've gone over so from there I've gone to my grandad's just I'll go there for a lot of breaks just be over there and I'm getting phone calls because it's different like now to relate like back then I've got phone calls saying you're going to have to mate you're getting hammered and I'm going what you know like you're getting hammered you're all over talk sport and so I rung talk sport I rung them straight up because I was because I started listening to it I thought it was on sky or so it was on sky back then or something anyway I was listening to it I was going I can't stand this they're literally a full show on me pulling out and all this I'm sure Carragher was on I was just like are you a bunch of mugs you know what I mean like didn't matter people just you know i mean they just made their decision back then as well you read papers didn't everyone read the papers yeah that's the kind of thing that'll stick with you that you know the deception from people and perception is always a nightmare perception is always like that it's normally by boring people yeah but perceptions perception is like you you create a perception of something or someone or something and we stick to that perception but you don't understand behind it it's a bit like that in it how are you going well i suppose not just going into the english sometimes perceptions right as well you are a fucking lunatic yeah but throughout your career yeah because we talk a lot with other other lads we've had on like yeah self-confidence imposter syndrome stuff like that definitely have you ever have that going into the England squad or any other and post the syndrome definitely have that I think everyone has that post the syndrome definitely because with the self confidence that you project I think certainly like in the modern world you do have that because you're more aware of what you're doing like back then you don't you don't have it as much I don't think but you certainly do yeah post the syndrome is like part of because you think especially when you get so much pressure you know like the press and the bubble that he's created around you you're just like I'm just I'm just like me mate you know but you're not you know what I mean So you're like, who am I?

1:33:26David Bentley:Like, am I like that? It is something that, yeah. I think a lot of players have to deal with that. Because you match that well. Yeah, you have to though, don't you? I can't imagine anybody in that England squad would have thought, oh, he's got imposter syndrome here. Yeah. Everyone deals with human emotions, don't they? Let's get serious now. Shall we get serious for a minute? Everyone deals with human... Everyone's got the same human characteristics and you have to... It's how you deal with it. I tell my children, it's how you deal with it. How do you deal with it? Like you said, you go and get booed.

1:34:02David Bentley:Yourself, I'm going to hit you. You're going to come at me, I'm going to hit you back. Well done. Or some other people go under, wouldn't they? But we all suffer them sort of characteristics that can take us under or you build up a defence mechanism to be able to deal with that. And other people deal with it in different ways. and that's what's the beauty of human beings, isn't it? My way of doing it is to go boom. And that was always like drilled into me as a kid, I think. I don't know. That's the way it was. You have your personality, but you enhance it and project it to protect yourself, don't you?

1:34:43David Bentley:I do think that is, everyone does that. That's what you do, right? I think I always describe it because people say, because like you got like obviously if I'm with my children I'm like you know I mean like it's different isn't it you act different if I'm at school pick up you know I mean I'm not wearing knickers and like well I might be but you get like different levels to yourself don't you and you yeah everyone's everyone's got especially when you're in the public eye you get different versions of yourself different versions of yourself but i think we all deal with that but they're just heightened because you're public you you're on camera yeah and i'm sure he's just yeah talking about this bence but you know the crack with capello yeah what version was this you know the postman oh the old bullard what are you thinking he loves his story doesn't he but it's true yeah but you talk about imposter syndrome I'm thinking if it's any of us will I I just speak keep your head down are you the opposite is that a defence mechanism yeah yeah yeah because you you're not gonna I'm not showing weakness I'm not I don't I thought this sounds like you're thinking it thinking about it it's calculated because I don't overthink so yeah like was I aware of what nah I just did what I just went in I don't know it's alright just keep asking him where his black cat was oh black cat thing was funny but what was your black cat because he couldn't speak he couldn't speak English could he so it just made it worse so like you know we were talking about yesterday like I've found that bit and I can't let go can't let go this is so funny in my in my world this is like hilarious I don't care whether anyone thinks this is funny where's your black my cat woohoo so would you be speaking about football and then just chuck in a oh where's your black mic up yeah but this wasn't I'll tell you what this again wasn't to disrespect Capello this was to like get the lads going because when you go into that environment it's the most boring environment ever and I think Southgate done a good job is bringing bringing it together but I was part of the golden generation he grew up and like no one talked it was weird you know what I mean it was like everyone just backed into the room didn't really maybe they just didn't talk to me but but you're trying to create a bit of a you know like what you did Club mentality Yeah yeah yeah everything that we talk about you're trying to create it there and I think you know when you're talking about creating a winning mentality and we talk about Wenger and Parlow and people like that they create there's more to just playing good football you can see that with England you know there's something that takes you over the line you don't know what it is there's something there's an ingredients that you don't see that are just the technicalities of just playing football um so then you went into that environment to try to do that and like one of the big stories was well the two big stories are the ones i think jimmy says it goes around everywhere doesn't it about the crossing sash and like where i went i'm the best cross for it you know like and then the black and white cat one but yeah it's all true it's all true and there's more as well but but you're like it was all to create i don't like silence i don't like people not talking and you understand that you have to create an environment which everyone's happy yeah and don't disrespect anyone just create an environment where everyone's happy and you accept everyone's differences so that was the lads love that the other lads yeah yeah lads were loving it yeah loving it I can see Capello thinking it might be a bit disrespectful you know when somebody told him because he's probably gone what's he saying what's he saying like they've probably gone he's asked where your black and white cat is he's like what is cat you know cat but he'd do the meetings but he put He come in and did the, you can only eat when the captain sits down.

1:38:41David Bentley:You can only leave when the captain says you can all leave. You know, no ketchup. You know, like rule. Talk about losing the dressing room again. And he did. Didn't do nothing, did he? He was like, it was manky, wasn't it? It was like manky England. Whereas like Southgate's come in, fair play to him. What was the one thing that he focused on? Is it ability? You probably look at the team and go, well, the players were better than them, weren't they, really? If you look at the teams, better. what's he focused on creating an environment inclusive catch up can have a bit of a banter you see all the videos coming out with them playing basketball and like their modern form of banter you know what I mean and then which is great you know create a decent environment which has led them to finals and semi-finals and you know what I mean so the Black and White yeah it's all it's all true there's not a not a lie in there yeah that's exactly yeah like the McDonald's because I used to get my mate used to drive for me because I was banned from driving.

1:39:40David Bentley:It wasn't my fault. Somebody else saw it out. Somebody else saw it out. Some dick had been put in some car. It actually might have been on the back of that. Yeah? Yeah. It would have been. It would have been. So I was, after that incident in the Croatia game, I got banned from driving for that. So then my mate started working for me. I said, come work with me. He can drive me about. He was a good mate of mine, Memsey. Go on, Memsey. Loves it. He works for the Saudi Prince now. He loves it. Driving him about? Yeah, he started with me. He ended up with the Saudi Prince. Look. There you go. I bet it's not quite a little bucket car.

1:40:19He gets a lot more. He gets a lot more bones. Bonuses are much better.

1:40:24David Bentley:So then he... So I used to go, fucking lads are starving. Like, get us... Like, we need feeding. It's like 10 o 'clock, you can't eat. You know where they do this, like, European, we can't eat after 10? but everyone's starving. Like back in the day, we used to have three, if you went away, you had your - Snacks. Snacks. You know, remember the snacks? Like half nine, ten o 'clock snacks. But bang. And then, no snacks. Screwing. Lads, lads, lads are like screaming. I said, don't worry boy. No, I'm thinking I'll - Get in. Fuck it, I'm in here. I'm in here. Sort of at McDonald's. Stevie G will be camp.

1:40:57Benji's my man. So, I mean mates,

1:41:02David Bentley:so at the, because we used to stay at the Grove golf course over near Watford is where they stay and then they have these long rooms going down but they're all on the ground floor but the windows are out used to have security on the doors I'm like they ain't checking the windows don't worry about that used to park the car and then used to get anything in anything you want who's biggest order? car I must have spent 300 quid on McDonald's for everyone sorted out everyone just get the lot yeah just get everyone sorted out cheeseburger who wants cheese cheeseburger room room 222 cheeseburger put us down for three div hey he's still trying to find his black and white cat

1:41:49who said my fucking chicken sandwich oh don't and then yeah so the McDonald's

1:41:56David Bentley:and then all the stories yeah just like I remember like we were in Barcelona I don't know we were playing I can't remember whether it was Spain or somebody, but we were, it weren't Spain, but we were in Spain. We were playing the game and then the hotel was, the posh hotel where the rooms faced inwards or the balconies, you know, where you're facing inwards to the courtyard. All that. We had a 10 o 'clock curfew for like bedtime. You know, fully grown guys. I don't go to bed till like one o 'clock, something like that. And so we had table tennis. me and Jim had just started a table tennis comp but we're getting right into it so he's tight games 21-20 you know Jimmy Bullard oh so we're playing but it's like 10.45 and everyone's out on the balcony we've got a 10 o 'clock curfew and me and Jim but then we started playing up to everyone's out on the balconies watching it's like Jimmy go on so like you've got Team Bentley Team Jimmy I was going wallop wallop and it was like tight you know the camera's like oh can't can't so we're going to half 11 like 12 like just full blown like everyone's watching like it's like at any point are you thinking this might hamper my England career this nah because you live for the minutes and moments what's all that about you can't think like that calculate think with your head when you think about it yeah potentially yeah obviously damaging but I won't do it any different because everybody enjoyed that moment you get a sweat on playing tennis what are you living for then because what you get another cap or something or live the best cap of your life or get four that you don't whatever were you yeah no I fully enjoyed it did you come out on top though or did you beat him most of the time I don't I can't actually yeah I think I did win that one yeah that's all that matters Jimmy just sit down I'll bet you I'll bet you everything that'd be that'd be a good one wouldn't it a little series me versus Jimmy a different sport yes golf is doing alright at golf now because he's like he's trying to get on the league he's all serious isn't he well he's thingy isn't he he's one of them Jimmy who anything that he does he seems to be really obsessed and really good at brilliant guy fishing golf beautiful human being just absolute love him absolutely love him but he but yeah golf at the minute he's going to get on a tour, isn't he, fifth day?

1:44:29David Bentley:He's all like, I'm going to speak to you now, look at you. Are you all serious? He's all serious, you know? And he's like, ooh, look at my gear and that rig. I'm having a lesson getting on a speed bar. I think you've got these speed things, haven't he? He's like, oh, I've gained another 10 yards. Shut up, Jimmy! God love him. He's a beautiful human. He's trying to get on a tour. He's wearing a lot of yellow at the minute, isn't he? Yeah. Oh, yeah, he's got all the gear. yeah yeah yeah the best one I seen was a a Cluffy Green Adidas number did you see that yeah yeah yeah it was decent yeah decent he's got some club and he's getting giving it isn't he because he's all like posh in there look he's like promoters but yeah he might get on the tour he's a good player though he's a good player were there any truth in Capello saying were there any truth in Capello saying you needed to leave Blackburn yes for your England career Baldini told me Beldini's number two says you won't play unless you leave simple as that fire him under the bus that's what was said that's the truth yeah by the way he said Blackburn have finished in 6th 5th 6th yeah yeah yeah but he says you're not going to play you're not going to push yourself into the squad or the team which he plays into that media narrative that unless you're playing for a big club yeah it's 100 % true because it's just that's where you're at so you're looking at it going because you do you get into that you're wired up you sort of I've got to play for England a bit of new you're saying I've got to move when I think about it I wish I'd never left Blackburn you know what I mean I loved it there yeah loved it but that was one that play a big part yeah a big part yeah because you look well that being said we were we were on so we played I played for England we were over in a tour we were in Trinidad and Tobago and that was a shit tour wasn't it oh okay now Not much football play But yeah No we played two games One in I think we played One at Wembley And then flew to Trinidad For like On the flight back After having a meeting With Mark Hughes After Baldini Said this to me In April Or whenever it was One of the camps He said that to me I've gone back to the club I said I just was like As I said Hughes just told me I need her What's happening at the club Like where are we signing next year What are we doing and we're going to push on, this, that, the other.

1:46:55David Bentley:Yeah, we're going to do this. We're going to move you inside. You're going to play this role. We'll bring in this geezer and this geezer. Sweet. So after Baldini said that, Husey said that. I've gone with Husey. I've gone, right, sweet. I'm on that plane on the way back from Trinidad. So Husey said all this. Husey's gone to Man City. Well, I'm on the plane on the way back to Trinidad. And that was it. I was like, ah. Done. I'm going. Get me out of here. Get me out of here. This club's going to... You knew that from that point that the Blackburn thing was over. Yeah, it was difficult, yeah, because obviously loved everyone at the football club and loved everything about it.

1:47:37David Bentley:But you knew at that point, like, you didn't... It was, again, that feeling of, if I stay and I just... But you have ambitions, don't you? You think, oh, I've got half a chance, I've got a sneaky chance of playing here. Like, World Cup's coming and all this sort of going. you're thinking, nah, I've got a, Baldini stuck it on me. Can't, can't. And you're thinking Blackburn's going to decline. It's only going to decline me. It's not going to help. I've got to go. And then you're looking around and then obviously Tottenham, always wanted to play for Tottenham. Obviously first, first club I sort of really loved.

1:48:10David Bentley:What with Gaza, first club I ever went and watched live. And all my mates are Tottenham fans. And then Ramos comes in, new stadium, new training, all that. And I was like, right, I'm going. That's the place for me. I'm going to be part of that job. So did you put a transfer request in? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I was on the phone with the chairman. Yeah, it was minging. Bless him, John Williams. Good guy. Great for the football club. But yeah. Yeah, I regret the way I left. But you probably had to do that. Because I had to fake, you know, not fake injury, but like Carl Robinson, who was managing in the charity game, he says, hey, you had...

1:48:48David Bentley:He said, you're the only player who's had a groin strain, a hamstring strain back injury you know what I mean an ankle problem all in like seven day because you just sort of don't want to get injured you don't want to so I was trying to force a deal through but it wasn't that beneficial for Blackburn to sell me because Arsenal got 50 % sell on so shit did that make it all yeah and plus the structure of the deal because Martin O 'Neill I met with Martin O 'Neill to go because Villa were flying high at the time weren't they sort of pushing Champions League and they were going to pay because they had that American owner who was going to pay 15, 60 million cash, like cash straight up.

1:49:25David Bentley:You know, the way they struck the deal was like, and I just thought, I went, because Wanda Ramos, I thought he was like the new Wenger, you know, like they're going to be like players and then winning. And it was like, he was like banger, wasn't he? He wasn't banger. Like a bongal. Yeah. And it was just, it was carnage. Like, it was just like terrible, terrible few months. Was he shy then? Yeah. Just no clue. Completely shy, yeah. He had a tennis coach. as his number two or whatever it was or one of his just stupidity and then he just started doing silly things making bad decisions you know what I mean like just I don't think you could deal with the pressure of the Premier League you know like and there was a lot of decisions then because Berbatov had gone to United they were trying to keep him he'd sold and they'd not they'd not replaced the players quick enough so they sold Berbatov I think Keno went and it was it was just carnage yeah you're walking into a bit of a mess actually yeah and it's like deal with that you know cheers and you try and have the best effect you can we did well in pre-season with him on the nothing but going into the Premier League we were so I remember Middlesbrough away just being it was remember Giovanni Dos Santos he was like 17 or he was playing up front away at Middlesbrough and Middlesbrough just like was just like a boy you know what I mean just like the big lads can't remember it was just went Eccchio yeah sit down son so then and then we're gone it was a hot day as well and my mates had travelled up because they were all big Tottenham fans and then we'd lost and then it just started you know like decline Monday and then he just next game just random decisions you know where he's just panicked making weird decisions Do you know from your point of view as well we said Blackburn was your favourite spell and a lot of it was probably the way Tottenham was as well but the way you Hughes got the best out of you yeah did that change when you went to Tottenham was there no arm around your shoulder oh yeah there was no sport you're in london deal with it yeah like there was none of that i think tottenham could be better at tottenham football club can be better at that they can um looking after the players being a being um and that's just not me that's just obviously reviewing players since and speaking to people i think they could be a little bit better at that and supporting and helping the players because ben like when that remember were you there with ben anick yeah keeper yeah he moved down as you yeah he was there when i was there and it's same thing happening that he just got but you're just in your house and you're like turn up try and go on you're like trying to trying to get everyone around and that's where it was we got it in the end because we had a good time if you speak to Jimmy Walker and you know come in and crouching people like that they'll go yeah we got it in the end because we had a great changing room and it's hard to get a central property I imagine you can get a gazebo in the garden in London you have to have a big one

1:52:19David Bentley:Yeah, and we did it because we qualified for the Champions League and that's where the ice bucket over our way. So going in, I went into that football club to get in the Champions League. That was the remit. That was what we're doing. You're coming in to get us in the Champions League. And we did it. So I was buzzing. I was like, I've come in to get in the Champions League and I was a big part of that. So like being in and around, even though, because it does go like that in my career. Like being in Arsenal, being part of the Invincible, even though you weren't playing, I was still training every day, being in a party, travel with a squad, being at Blackburn and how well we did and being at Tottenham, even though it was up and down for me as an individual, being part of it.

1:53:01David Bentley:Unbelievable, yeah. Next time on Under the Gosh. She still says, look, David, can't you just tone it down? Can't you just straight slow down? I go, no. I've never seen someone so of you. What's that? Yeah! It's like, woohoo! Woohoo! I'm all right for you, clickbait boy. Look at you. I'm a producer. Clickbait boy. Yeah, just picked up the balls. Bang, you have that. Put a bit slice on it as well. Then I faded it in. Just to tease Almoona. Come on, get on there. You nearly get to it. I crowd surfed at Kings of Leon. Nothing like with me shirt off at Wembley. You know what I mean? Got carried all the way through.

1:53:36David Bentley:Then I went, hey! If they got a new card, nick it. I nicked the community bus. Mate, I got in so much trouble. The geyser went off his tits. Yeah, can't do that. I'm like, yes! And then I was just in the... You know when you're just like, I think football's... I don't know whether it's for me anymore. Teenage daughters texted me. You've gone viral.

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