Bent 'We've still got top players here'

[Rip Van We Go Again]

sportinglife.com

Aston Villa striker Darren Bent insists there are no hard feelings between him and his England team-mates who left the club this summer.

Wingers Ashley Young and Stewart Downing joined Manchester United and Liverpool respectively for a total of £35million, much to the disappointment of Villa fans.

However, Bent believes his international colleagues are entitled to move in search of major honours.

He said: "You're always going to be disappointed when you see players like Ashley and Stewart leave because they are top players, which is why the big clubs want them.

"But at the same time I wish them all the best and I hope they go on to achieve great things. Everyone wants to play in the top competition, which is the Champions League."

Bent, who moved to Villa Park from Sunderland in January, has backed the team's youth and fringe players to step up and fill the gaps created by the departures.

He said: "We've got top players that are still here and I'm sure they'll go on to do well as well, and we'll grow as a team.

"We've still got players here like Marc Albrighton who's coming through, Gabby (Agbonlahor), Nathan Delfouneso and Stephen Ireland's going to be like a new signing.

"So I'm sure this season will be better than last season."

Bent was speaking at the launch of Aston Villa's new home shirt, which is sponsored by Genting Casinos.

Hundreds of supporters turned out at Birmingham's Star City leisure complex to catch a glimpse of their heroes and Bent sees this as a sign that the animosity towards the appointment of former Birmingham boss Alex McLeish has well and truly abated.

"It shows by how many people are out there to support the players that the fans are behind Alex McLeish 100%," he said. "I think he's been fantastic.

"We haven't had too many sessions with him but he's brought a freshness to the place, told us what he expects of us and the lads are behind him 100%.

"It shows his character coming from Birmingham to Villa. The boys are behind him and we just can't wait to get going."

[Concrete John]

Darren Bent = Happy Clapper

[pablopicasso_10]

and the pr spin excercise begins....

[dave.woodhall]

and the pr spin excercise begins....

Yes, because it's absolutely disgraceful that a player should say he's happy or that the club should be positive. How dare they.

[PaulWinch again]

Thank you Darren for a bit of positivity, please don't leave.

[Ads]

Football is a simple game.

At its most simplest, you'd imagine that a man like McLiesh, given all his experience in the game, could fashion a defence capable of the fundamentals so lacking in last years un-cohesive displays.

You’d also expect that a player as good as N’Zogbia and one as good as crossing as Albrighton (the best in the league, bar none) would be able to supply enough quality into Bent for him to do what he does.

We have a top goalkeeper.

The elephant’s in the room is whether Ireland is sincere in his attitude. If so, then that most certainly is a plus. But the question remains about him and this can be expanded to Delph and Makoun. Can Fabian deliver on the high promise he has shown? Can Makoun become more attuned to the pace of the Premier league.

If the answer is yes, and I believe it to be so, then shy of a central nutcase to provide much needed steel, then Mr Bent is right.

The other elephant is the small squad, but then why change a habit?

[pablopicasso_10]

and the pr spin excercise begins....

Yes, because it's absolutely disgraceful that a player should say he's happy or that the club should be positive. How dare they.

i never said it was, or that they shouldnt...

it just appears to me that whenever there is what would appear to be some bad news, there is almost immediately a positive spin article put out to the media...

not saying that is necessarily a bad thing, merely commenting on the predictability of it all... and if its predictable, then that begs the question about its sincerity...

i hope that darren bent is right...

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Stephen Ireland's  going to be like a new signing

I hope that is based on something Benty has seen at Bodymoor Heath that so far we have never seen at Villa Park. 

[Rip Van We Go Again]

At its most simplest, you'd imagine that a man like McLiesh, given all his experience in the game, could fashion a defence capable of the fundamentals so lacking in last years un-cohesive displays.

But at what cost Ads?
Playing boring, sterile anti-football with 11 men behind the ball?

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Stephen Ireland's  going to be like a new signing

I hope that is based on something Benty has seen at Bodymoor Heath that so far we have never seen at Villa Park. 

I think he was referring to the fruitcake's multiple personality disorder.

[dave.woodhall]

and the pr spin excercise begins....

Yes, because it's absolutely disgraceful that a player should say he's happy or that the club should be positive. How dare they.

i never said it was, or that they shouldnt...

it just appears to me that whenever there is what would appear to be some bad news, there is almost immediately a positive spin article put out to the media...

not saying that is necessarily a bad thing, merely commenting on the predictability of it all... and if its predictable, then that begs the question about its sincerity...

i hope that darren bent is right...

That's the point of a PR department.

[Risso]

Everyone wants to play in the top competition, which is the Champions League."

Uh oh.....

[Ads]

I also think McLeish will foster a greater sense of togetherness, which I think the personalities in our squad need.

[Toronto Villa]

and the pr spin excercise begins....

Yes, because it's absolutely disgraceful that a player should say he's happy or that the club should be positive. How dare they.

i never said it was, or that they shouldnt...

it just appears to me that whenever there is what would appear to be some bad news, there is almost immediately a positive spin article put out to the media...

not saying that is necessarily a bad thing, merely commenting on the predictability of it all... and if its predictable, then that begs the question about its sincerity...

i hope that darren bent is right...

That's the point of a PR department.

so on the one hand when club doesn't do a good job with PR they get lambasted. Then when they send out something positive, they get lambasted. Oh, I see how it works...

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Everyone wants to play in the top competition, which is the Champions League."

Uh oh.....

Exactly what I thought.
He knows full well that he'll never make it with us.

A good season of around 20 goals and he'll be as good as gone, two minutes after McLeish and Fuckner announce he's not for sale at any price.