The Denmark international has signed a two-year deal at Nottingham Forest in recent days.
Nicklas Bendtner on the bench
Ex Crystal Palace manager Ian Holloway has been having his say on Nottingham Forest’s new signing, former Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner, and he had an interesting titbit on the Denmark international in relation to his time in charge at Selhurst Park.
The enigmatic former Blackpool and QPR boss has been out of management since leaving Millwall in 2015, and is currently involved in media work with Sky Sports among others.
Ian Holloway
And he told Sky Sports that he nearly signed the player for the Eagles in 2014, something that may or may not have gone down too well in South London depending on your opinion of the player.
“I actually really liked him as a person,” Holloway is quoted as saying on Sky this week. “If we had got the deal done, I reckon I could’ve got something out of him.
“He’s a Zlatan Ibrahimovic-type of player in terms of ability, the only difference is Ibrahimovic keeps himself fit and is able to keep scoring.
Nicklas Bendtner during training
“He’s a player that needs to feel wanted. I don’t think Bendtner has ever really felt appreciated. That’s the impression I got from him – he needs to be loved.”
Holloway did well at Palace, getting them promoted to the Premier League in 2013. Though their relationship ended early into the next season, Eagles supporters shouldn’t forget that it was the 53-year-old that originally helped them get back to the top flight.
But Holloway’s comparison between Bendtner and Manchester United star Zlatan Ibrahimovic may be a stretch for some, even if it is an oft made observation on account of both player’s confidence, physique and Scandinavian nationalities.
Of course, the fanfare around Bendtner’s surprise arrival at the City Ground, and the ease with which he has become the butt of a number of jokes among Arsenal fans in recent years doesn’t do justice to the fact that he is a player well worth taking a risk on, if the deal agreed is right for the club.
Picture Supplied by Action Images
A look at some of Bendtner’s achievements, in particular his excellent international goalscoring record, is evidence that he is more than just an object of amusement, despite recent reports of poor behaviour disrupting his career and leading to an early release by Wolfsburg.
The 28-year-old has struggled for regular football in his last few seasons, but if he finds himself trusted by Forest manager Philippe Montanier, and given the right kind of encouragement according to Holloway, he could well prove himself the Championship’s Zlatan – not in the same division as the Sweden but a tier below. And to be honest, few players are in the Swede’s league.
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