http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jan/21/darren-bent-edin-dzeko-scout-reportTor-Kristian Karlsen
guardian.co.uk, Friday 21 January 2011
Scouting report: How Darren Bent and Edin Dzeko measure up
A football scout runs the rule over the new strikers at Manchester City and Aston Villa
Finishing
Bent 7
Often arrives at goalscoring opportunities at the end of strenuous runs, be it after outpacing a defender with the ball at his feet or pulling away from his marker to, ideally, slot home a cross or a through ball. Technically this makes his finishing quite rushed and harder to execute, which may explain the odd sloppiness and missed sitter
Dzeko 8
Delicately placed beauties with either foot, long-range screamers, perfectly measured headers – the Manchester City striker typically finds the net through finesse rather than power, instinct rather than laborious effort
Pace
Bent 8 Sheer speed is arguably his No1 attribute. Bent's acceleration, sharp and direct running on and off the ball, as well as his ability to exploit space, forces the opponents to play with a deeper line
Dzeko 6
By no means a sprinter – as you'd expect at 192cm – but the £27m man is hard to stop when he gets into his stride thanks to his great balance. Deceptively agile
Heading
Bent 7
Should arguably be even more dominant in the air given his size, though his all-round athleticism allows him to leap well and make his presence felt in challenges
Dzeko 8
Ironically for a striker of the Bosnian's height, he's more renowned for his technical skills than aerial prowess. Yet the former Wolfsburg man is more than capable in the air. Adds another dimension to the Man City attack
Body strength
Bent 8
The combination of speed and muscle is what Steve Bruce will miss the most from his departed striker. Even so, not the ideal hold-up forward; not for lack of power but Bent has to play facing towards goal to hit maximum performance
Dzeko 7
Lacks the aggressive edge often seen in British forwards of an equal build. For what he holds back in throwing himself around, he makes up for with first-class balance
Technique
Bent 6
As with most English forwards, Bent possesses a practical skill base rather than one full of flash touches or trickery. Maybe not eye-pleasing, but it suits its purpose
Dzeko 9
It won't be long before Alan Shearer points out that "this fella has a good touch for a big man". In this case Shearer would be wrong – Dzeko has a great touch for any man. A complete striker who's useful in all facets of the game
Tactical awareness
Bent 6
In many ways a one-dimensional forward who's reliant on space. Ideal for counter-attacking but loses his impact when what's demanded of him becomes too complex and the trajectory of his runs involve more than finding the quickest route to the opponent's goal
Dzeko 8
As is common with players from the Balkans, the Bosnian has a natural, almost instinctive, perception of the game. Understands when to keep, when to release. Can anticipate a pass as well as picking out a team-mate
Experience
Bent 8
For all the criticism he is an established Premier League star who's proven capable of scoring consistently for three different top-flight sides
Dzeko 6
Like all imports, he needs time to adjust to the Premier League's frantic pace. Integration and cultural adaptation might still become an issue
Verdict
Bent 50
On last year's form the closest you come to an English 20-goals-a-season striker in the top flight. Ideal for any team that plays on the break or employs traditional attacking schemes without sophisticated collective patterns of movement. He has probably found his rightful home at an upper mid-table Premier League side
Dzeko 52
A complete centre forward who masters all sides of the game. With his excellent technique, smooth movement, top finishing skills and advanced vision he would not look out of place up front for the likes of Real Madrid or Internazionale
Tor-Kristian Karlsen is International Scout for a leading European club
