I am annoyed with Nicklas Bendtner. In fact, I cannot stand him any more.
With Chamakh being sidelined and brave Sir Robin leaving us in the lurch this summer, I had expected him to give us his all and fight for his place at Arsenal. He told us all frequently how good he is and how he will be the best striker in Europe as soon as he reaches the age of 24/25, and yet he was not up for the fight with Giroud and Podolski to claim the central striker position for himself this season.
Instead, he went on loan to Juventus, where he has played less than 1000 seconds of football until now, has been judged too fat, and is likely to continue to suffer a humiliating period at the periphery of the side-lines (not even on the bench).
Whilst digging up some background information re Nicklas Bendtner, I was quite surprised to see that the handsome pseudo-prince from Denmark has managed to play an impressive total of 157 games for us until now. That is 57% of brave Sir Robin’s total number of games for Arsenal and 15 games more than Adebayor played for us. He managed to score just 45 goals for Arsenal: 0.29 goals per game, and has a career total of a meagre 66 goals in 235 games: 0.28 goals per game.
He just is not as good as he thinks he is. He is okay, not more than that; and it is about time he realises this, so he can make the best of the rest of his football career.
Nicklas suffers from a graceless delusion of grandeur, from uber-confidence; and although, without any doubt, it has got him where he is today, I reckon it is now starting to seriously harm his progress. His strong belief in how good he is – that his ability is innate/inborn – seems to be keeping him from working hard; from doing his utmost to achieve success.
In a recent post for Arsenal Arsenal, I wrote about psychologist Carol Dweck’s theory on how we appear to look at talent and ability from two different angles. I quote Burkeman again, who summarizes Dweck’s theory as follows: “….our experiences of failure are influenced overwhelmingly by the beliefs we hold about the nature of talent and ability – and that we can, perhaps quite straightforwardly, nudge ourselves towards a better outlook. Each of us can be placed somewhere on a continuum, Dweck argues, depending on our “implicit view” – or unspoken attitude – about what talent is and where it comes from. Those with a “fixed theory” assume the ability is innate; those with an “incremental theory” believe that it evolves through challenge and hard work.”
The principle idea is that those with an “incremental” mindset are more prepared for, and more resilient against things going wrong, and are more likely to achieve sustainable success. Those with a fixed mindset believe strongly they will succeed and find failure “especially horrifying”.
Nicklas will become 25 years old in January, and I am wondering what is going through his head at the moment. Clearly, things are not working out for him and he needs a change of strategy tout de suite.
I reckon he should take an example from David Beckham. Here is a man with a given set of talents. He is not the best midfielder who has graced the world football pitches, just like Bendtner is nowhere near a top striker. There are some similarities between the two: both are handsome and media savvy, and have had managers in their early careers who believed in them, and helped them develop their talents.
The big difference, though, is that Beckham has an incremental mindset towards his ability and does not have an ounce of arrogance: he always works hard and gives his all, and is enthusiastic about every opportunity, as he knows that nothing is a given. Funnily enough, the same goes for Beckham’s wife, who has also excels in getting the best out of herself continuously.
I rate Beckham highly for that – despite him having played for the horrible Mancs for so long – and Bendtner ought to take his lead. Nothing is more appealing in a human being than him/her making the best of their abilities with great enthusiasm and a healthy dose of humility. Yet, Bendtner seems to arrogantly think he is entitled to success and that it will come to him sooner or later by itself. It won’t.
So, in order to save his career he needs to go back to basics: he needs to start working his socks off again, and achieve successes incrementally. He has to make sure he’ll either get played more regularly at Juventus, or find himself a new loan-deal at a club where he is wanted and can make a real difference.
In my view, he should have transferred to a mid-table PL team this summer, and proof us all, once and for all, how good he is. I am sure, it is still not too late to do that.
But maybe, deep down, he knows he is not that good, and would rather keep deluding himself as long as he can get away with it.
Total Arsenal.
Bergkampesque 
A fine Post, TA, and given the sorry state of affairs (no pun intended) that Bendy has found himself in, it would be fortuitous for him if he should happen to read your article and learn from it. 🙂
You put me in mind of a very famous quote, which a number of famously successful people have laid claim too.
Gary Player, a brilliant South African golf player, was once told he had been lucky with a particular approach shot he had successfully made. In reply, he said “It’s funny, but the harder I practise the luckier I get”.
That is true for all of us, but for an aspiring footballer like Bendy he would do well to apply the same principle to his own game and amend his attitude accordingly.
Hi RA, that is a fine quote indeed. If you don’t mind I will use it as quote/comment of the week?! 🙂 (see email as well).
Oddly enough, and I suspect you may not agree with me, but Bendy is not dissimilar to Theo.
Both have a god given talent to play football at a certain level.
Bendy has benefited from his innate confidence – some would say over confidence – which is essential in a public performer, he has a good physique and for a big man he has both technique and, altho’ not blisteringly fast, he has a very creditable pace.
Theo on the other hand lacks an element of self confidence, and has had a tendency to physical frailty thru’ injury, and perhaps also lacks a truly top class technical ability.
What he does have is a blinding pace, and a very good aptitude for finishing chances off when he is on form.
The major difference tho’ is that Theo seems to be a modest young man, prepared to buckle down and learn, and in doing so his confidence has been given a boost such that he might yet become a critically important player for us. Whether or not that happens is in the lap of the gods, but at least he is giving it his best shot.
Bendy is full of arrogance, is over confidant and appears not to be interested in learning either the tactical nuances of the game or, I suspect, to do what is required for the best interests of the team.
In essence I am hopeful for the success of Theo’s career, and I fear for Bendy’s.
All agreed Redders. There is one more big difference: Bendtner heaped high expectations onto himself – I guess to get attention – where Theo had to live with similar high expectations from the fans and the media, as a result of his early and very expensive move from the Saints to us.
I also think Theo has more confidence than he shows. To me, he appears to now have a thick skin and can shrug off disappointing performances, and subsequent criticism, relatively easily now.
Excellent stuff as always TA.
I think Bentdner reached a crosroads in his carear just before the purchase of Chamack. He could have knuckled down and showed the people at Arsenal what he was capable off, or gone on loan and done the same thing. Yes he did go loan, but hardly stood out did he?
His problem now is that, and ime guessing at this, he has probably been pampered since childhood and his delusions of grandeour are irreversable. Rather than see reality, he has got worse. Recent escapades off the pitch show a guy who has decided to continue his delusion and is fast becoming a charactuture of his own making.
It is a shame because even though he is no Pele, he had talent but as you and Redders have stated did not work on his game. Simply put then, the guy has character flaws that have stopped him reaching his full potential.
Terry 🙂
‘Fast becoming a caricature of his own making’. That sums it up nicely my friend. What a waste of talent… 😦
Hi Terry, 🙂
Well put my friend!!
Look, while you are on, the Glicster has asked me not to reveal your real Special Agent names, but I need to check with you before I can keep it to myself!
Apparently you are known as “Tug Boat Tilly” and he is known as “Deadly Doris” when on operations involving the telescope. Is that right?
Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone !!
Hi TA, I havent realy congratulated you properly for the creation of the site. Its realy begining to take shape, but obviously with you doing it is was always going to be the case.. If you can get it on that newsnow thingy them ime sure the gang will swell. hahaha
Hi Redders, you comment about half a mind yesterday was hillariously brilliant. That whole thread had me laughfing uncontrolably for ages. hahaha
Yes, the seceret agent names are true. Dont tell Cornwall i told you. hahaha
Say no more Terry, 🙂
Glicster will know nuzzing!!!!
You are spot on about TA’s site.
Of course you might not have been told by Deadly Doris that he found a suitable blog site ‘persuaded’ the rightful owner to clear off by showing him his mirror, and then handed it over to TA.
Thanks Terry, we’re getting there! 🙂
Just thinking of the GLiCster driving all the way to Stoke from Cornwall, listening hours on end to the T-shite makes me want to vomit! That nutbum has got some stamina, I tell you! 🙂
Interesting topic for discussion Total, dothed cap etc.
You’re right about Beckham, totally focused and driven, so much so, that he forced Capello into a complete U-turn at Real Madrid, after the Italian had written him off.
But with Bendtner there are more dynamics to consider Beckham was never played out of position, and okay he was a tad over-rated, be he recognised and relished the opportunity he was given. Given his frame, realistically there are only two positions Bendtner can play – either Centre-Half/Back or central striker. He was only given sporadic chances to make the number 9 shirt his own, and comparisons with Thierry Henry ought to be considered.
It is common knowledge that Juventus failed to unlock Henry’s potential, because they played him out on the left wing. Not a mistake Mr Wenger made. He was played as a striker and we reaped the benefits.But just as we accept that Henry wasn’t a winger, neither is Nicklas Bendtner! Playing strikers as wingers is not a new phenomenon, Johann Cruyff did it with Lineker, Ferguson did it with Solskjaer, Mr Wenger has done it a few times – Wiltord, Bendtner, Walcott??
Lineker hated it, I remember Sylvain Wiltord wasn’t over-enthused about it, and I’m sure the same applies to Bendtner. It’s a big shift in mind-set if one week all you have to think about is scoring goals, then suddenly the next you’re being asked to create them as well.
Hi Herb 🙂
You are making a very valid point about playing Bendtner out of position. On the wing is not ideal for him but with a lot of hard work he could have done better.
As far as I know, he was played mainly centrally at Sunderland and 8 goals in 31 games is not a good enough return (Fletcher has scored 5 in 5 PL games already this season).
I think he snookered himself by going for a loan at a club with a name, rather than one that guaranteed him first team football. He should have gone to Villa, Norwich or Swansea and try to achieve 0.4 goals per game on average this season. Now, if he is lucky, he has got vertical stripes on his chest and horizontal ones on his arse… 🙂
Incidentally, I just read a Dutch article about Francis Jeffers. Jawohl! Can you believe it, he is only 31 years old and currently hoping to get a contract in Malta…. The former Gunner looked so promising when he played for Everton…
Hi Herb,
I had forgotten about Bendy appearing out on the touchline.
I used to think he was being obdurate and doing that off his own bat to ape the later stage Henry who used to cut into the centre from out wide, as his pace started to go.
Of course I was wrong. Bendy had to have been doing that under instruction from the Arsenal coaching staff/AW.
It is not for me to second guess a brilliant manager like AW, but Bendy was often very poor when playing there. My best memories of bendy was when he scored great headers from passes from the wing including corners.
Very odd. On the other hand not too many other clubs rated him either!
TA,
Jeffers looked a really excellent ‘fox in the box’ player both for Everton and also when he played in the U21 team.
Just do not know what happened to him, unless he was being naughty in his off field living.
Hi Redders,
I am absolutely amazed he is only 31 years old. He is such a blast from the past, I thought he would have hung up his boots ages ago. He probably never should have left Everton, but hindsight is a frivolous thing! 🙂
I don’t know if staying at Everton would have helped, Jeffers.
He disappeared from the top flight many years ago, and as I have not heard about him having any bad, or career threatening injuries, I can only imagine his private life interfered with his career.
He went to Australia for a time didn’t he?
Yes RA, he played for the Newcastle Jets and he is now trying to get a contact at Floriana, currently seventh in the Maltese competition. It just shows you how a football career can go and Bendtner should take note….
TA,
We don’t always realise how our day to day lives can be resolved by basic math.
I was asked, last night to work out a simple footie question and I could not quite work out how to do something — it was very noisy — then I thought wait a minute this is basic algebra, and got the answer straight away.
Here’s how it went.
Person [A] – I belong to a small local footie club and we had two great strikers in who both finished their careers 1990.
My problem is that although I knew that George, player (a), scored 400 goals more than Michael, player (b), during his career and between them they scored 900 goals, I cannot think how many they each scored.
Person [B] (me) Doh! Turn that flaming music down — I cannot think.
Person [A] Hurry up. It cannot be that difficult!!
Person [B] Ok! Ok!
Look, x represents player (b)
x + 400 represents player (a)
So an algebraic solution would look like this;
x + (x + 400) = 900
2x + 400 – 400 = 900 -400
2x = 500
x = 250
therefore;
Player (a) would have scored 250 goals plus another 400 more = 650
Player (b) would have scored 250 goals
Together they scored 650 and 250 = 900 goals.
I know it is easy, but those were not the actual figures, there were 3 players involved, but the principle is the same.
Math eh? Even in football 🙂
Early in his career, he did a decent job at Birmingham, Total, and he has no problem scoring goals for Denmark.
Sunderland are quite bland and pragmatic in their football philosophy, they were under ‘Fat Elvis’ (Bruce), and it hasn’t improved greatly under Martin O’Neill, so perhaps Bolton or Wigan would have been better options for Bendtner to continue his apprenticeship.
Football is football, but the Italian culture is very different from ours, it’s not so long ago that Juventus were relegated for match-fixing, and 80% of their economy is Mafia-related.
But he joined at a time when they’re on top of their game, they equalled Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’ last season in Serie A, the mood at the club must be fantastic, so reports that Bendtner is over-weight suggest that maybe he’s losing his appetite somewhat.
By the way Terry, if you’re around, I think Big Bird from Sesame Street and Barry Manilow were seperated at birth.
Funnily enough, Herb, I thought Big Bird and Terry were twins. It’s in the eyes you know. 🙂
(Just don’t mention the beak).
RA 🙂 I just had a power nap and then I read your math comment…. now I have a headache! 😆
Herb, exactly: he had a decent season at Birmingham and subsequently he was given a lot of games at Arsenal. He cannot complain he was not given a proper chance. However, when he returned from Sunderland he should have fought like a lion to get into the first team, but he was never up for it. Very disappointing!
Hi Redders, hope everything is good with you.
With Terry being a ‘bubble’, I didn’t naturally associate them, I always thought GliC was Hyde to Terry’s Jeckyll.
hahahaha, yes Herbie, Redders is quite correct. I look like a very ugly Bubble version of Big Bird. With slighly less plumage. hahahaha
Hi Terry, hope you’re well.
Hi Herbie, yeah ime ok, thanks for asking. How are you?
We all have our moments Herb, ups and downs and all that. At the end of the day i guess its about counting our blessings. I try and be as positive as i can and hopefuly help others along the way. Even if i do look a sesamy street charachter. By the way, Cornwall looks like Ernie. hahaha
Yeah, same here thanks, Terry.
I can never tell the difference between Bert and Ernie.
Hi Herb,
If memory serves me right, Bert is the the serious/stern one and Ernie is the jollier/simpler one. But I could be wrong 😀
Fine post Total
I was excited as hell when we beat Sheff Utd 6-0 a few years ago, excited for Arsenals future and I thought Bendy was going to be a big part of it.
From memory, we also had Djourou, Song,Gibbs, Ramsey , Merida,Vela , JET, Jack, Coq, Frimpong all part of a young squad. I thought Merida , JET and especially Vela were going to make it. Watching that game is one of my best Arsenal moments, seeing most of those youngsters play with such freedom.
As a CF, imo Bendy is better than Chammy or Pod ( not sure what his actual position is ? ), it`s a shame Chammy wasn`t loaned out and Bendy kept as a squad player, as I dont think he`s even had a game at Juve !.
I love the Muppets !. Bert and Ernie, the two old guys, but I`m more akin to the nutcase on the drums…….Animal ! hahaha
Mr Hyde, he`s the nutty one aswell ! hahaha
Actually , Stretch is right, I do look like Ernie…..and if truth be known, he looks like Bert !. hahaha
Hi GLiC, how was your trip up-north? 🙂
I was at that Sheffield United game and I also believed we had a golden generation of footballers coming through. Agreed on Vela – he looked like the new Romario.
Bendy and Chamakh are different footballers. They have something to offer to a team, but ultimately they are not good enough to make it at Arsenal. I personally prefer Chamakh though – if I had to choose between the two.
Bendtner had 10 minutes at the end of a game. He has snookered himself in Turin.
Hi Total
I`m knackered ! 🙂
I`ve managed to cut out the Brazil/Irani part of OrcSport , theirs something about Brazils voice that grates me !, so I just listen to Keys & Gray, H & J and Drive time, the more Durham talks dirty about Arsenal the more I like it ! hahaha
I still wonder if Vela had got a long run in the team, whether he would have made it ?, his finishing was cool headed and I heard a rumour that only Theo was quicker !. I had a soft spot for him and would have kept him, Santi and Jack would have made him !.
Now off to do the thing that really annoys Mrs glic, my ability to fall asleep within 10 seconds of my head hitting the pillow ! hahaha
Night GLiCster,
Many people will envy you for that ability! 🙂
Morning Folks 🙂
Next post will be out around noon (12am). It will be something about the balance between the Bould-dozer and Wenger-Wings. 😀
Morning TA, 🙂
Sounds like an interesting Post coming up.
I hope so Redders 🙂
The interlull is giving me a writing challenge every day; and I am sure I am not the only blog searching for inspiration at the moment!
Morning all, caught up on a week’s worth of TA posts + comments. Great stuff, and as others have mentioned the sites really top notch.
Bendy Bendy Bendy. What a disappointment! After his Birmingham spell I thought he was going to be the next big thing at Arsenal (in fact I told everyone in ear shot he would be, even to the point where I altered his stats on Fifa because I didn’t think they accurately depicted his ability!)
He simply believed his own hype…which is okay if you still put in the hard yards and don’t rest on your laurels! He died in my eyes once he missed the opportunity to beat Barca. I’ve been angry a few times at the TV, but that was as close to foot through TV as it gets.
The thing that annoys me the most is that he has gone downhill fast, to the point where we are going to get bugger all for him because no1 will dare to pay his wages.
Wow a reply button!
Well said oz, I like you moxie kiddo!
Hey Oz, you MAD!
You must have been busy lately. I reckon the court case is up any time soon?!
Oz 🙂
That is a good point re not getting anything for him any more the way things are going. The Delusional Dane is laughing his head off 😦
All done and dusted TA, the judge just has written witness statements to get through in an effort to save time. Thanks to 26 i was armed and ready. They tried to make me look stupid by asking who am I to analyse this and that, but they were clutching at straws tbh. How was your trip?
I suppose it will be good just to get him far away and off the wage bill!
Oz,
What was the outcome then: guilty or not? Good to hear that 26’s advice helped you in your preparations and ‘performance’ on the day! 🙂
Holland was good but very short. I couldn’t be away for long, so was not able to visit many of my friends. It was good to be with my dad, and other family members though. My dad and I watched the WH – Arse game together which was good.
Thanks for asking.
Glad it was enjoyable, hope you can duck over for a bit longer next time and catch up with your mates. Can’t believe your dad isn’t an Arsenal supporter though, sort it out TA!
Still deliberating, he will be not guilty though. By the sounds of it he has been set up. Conveniently a camera wasn’t working on a bridge the night it happened. The coroner’s tape was stopped during the examination process (planting of evidence perhaps). Police corruption…thought it only happened in dodgy countries and in the movies.
if I go missing after this TA my internet has probably been bugged and my cover blown (GLIC could be a mole!), get the kids, find a safe house and lay low for a while. only come out to write posts about Arsenal under the codename: Klaus van Arsenal
New Post!
OZ, I will respond to your last comment in the new post. 🙂