Bentleys losing their va-va-voom | Darragh Collins

I had one of those moments the other day when you suddenly think of a player and wonder; “Oh yeah, where’s he gone?” This player was David Bentley. Signed by Tottenham Hotspur for £17 million in 2008, Bentley now lines out for Rostov FC, an average Russian side on loan.This made me ponder, why do so many English players such as Bentley seem to fall by the wayside long before the traditional peak years of 28-29? It is a common debate, with perhaps the most relevant cause being the British media.As we know all too well, the English national team go into every tournament with lofty expectations of winning it out when in reality they are not suitably prepared to be victorious. With players having to cope with these expectations is it a wonder they don’t reach their potential?These young stars seem to begin their careers a quite a young age where some fantastic performances and earn themselves a call up to the national squad. Touted as the next big thing, then the problems begin. Expectations become too high and suddenly they must step up and be one of the main players on the big stage. Often discovered as not being the player which the media thought that they would become, the most common outcome is that they rot in the reserves before heading back to where they began their career in the first place.Take Jermaine Jenas for example. He began his career at his hometown club Nottingham Forest where he became one of the hottest starts on the transfer market. He was snapped up by Newcastle for £5 million and then Tottenham for £7 million while still young. Where is he now? Right back where he started; on loan with Nottingham Forest.  Jenas managed to attain 21 caps for his country in the course of his career but in the end he was deemed simply not good enough. His talent at a young age was there for all to see however he is now there for all to see in the Championship where at 29 years old he is struggling for Forest.Arsene Wegner has experienced this phenomenon too. Francis Jeffers, once one of Arsenal’s biggest signings, was found out not to be the “fox in the box” everyone thought he was going to be and now lines out for Floriana in Malta, after moving clubs 9 times in the process. Jermaine Pennant was purchased by Arsenal from Notts Forest and at the time was the most expensive teenager in England. However Pennant struggled with the Gunners and subsequently at Liverpool, causing serious problems off the pitch throughout his career.It’s quite unfortunate for these players, however when they do get their moves they seem to enjoy the extra cash that comes with a new contract. Rather than getting their heads down and doing the hard work, they lose sight of what really matters and why the big clubs went out and bought them in the first place. They begin to believe their own false hype which the media have created for them, and in the end all they’re left with is regret.Over the last 10 to 15 years, only Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand and Frank Lampard have been the successful English players to grow from a big money move, and they are certainly a wonderful example to follow as they managed to improve their game to the next level to become established European stars.Even in more recent times we see the likes of Andy Carroll and Jordan Henderson are struggling to make their mark with Liverpool; one must wonder will they be at the head of the next generation to fall into this downward spiral.As long as the British media continue to create these pedestals for players then things shall only get worse, as the moves get bigger by the transfer window. The English media claim that they are in a period of ‘46 years of hurt,’ and if they continue this frenzy it may go on for much longer.