Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: montague on January 19, 2011, 02:02:58 PM
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http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/6390/38/[url]] (http://[/url)http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/6390/38/http://
I think its called Karma.
Steve Bruce is not the man to criticise Darren Bent
19 January ~ Maybe Darren Bent did move for the money. Maybe being Sunderland's highest earner wasn't enough any more. Lest we forget, bigger and better strikers than Bent have kicked up a fuss and handed in transfer requests this season in order to bleed more money from their employers.
Although he won't publicly say so (or tweet in his case), Bent is entitled to defend himself against those who have claimed he is a mercenary who only joined Aston Villa for a bumper wage increase. And let's face it, even if he did join Villa for an extra zero on the end of his bank balance, he isn't the first and he certainly won't be the last.
Steve Bruce said he felts "let down" by Bent, but he knows a thing or two about going where the grass in greener. His first job as a manager was with Sheffield United, where he stayed for a grand total of one season before quitting due to a "lack of transfer funds". He lasted a similar amount of time at Huddersfield who accused him of "having an ego to feed".
Bruce's first stint at Wigan looked promising but he duly quit after just two months in charge to join Crystal Palace, where he stayed for a matter of months before walking out again to join Birmingham City.
At Birmingham, Bruce finally showed some loyalty – mainly due to the club's success – and got them promoted to the Premier League before staving off relegation the following campaign. But it wasn't long before his feet were twitching again and when Newcastle (his hometown club) came calling, it looked like Bruce would be off again. Birmingham owner David Sullivan eventually "priced him out of a move" but Bruce's desire was clear.
Bruce eventually left the Blues due to Carson Yeung taking over the club, and he joined Wigan for a second time. Naturally once Sunderland offered him the chance to ply his trade further up the league, Bruce upped and left. The fact that Bruce is a Geordie obviously didn't influence his decision when Sunderland presented him with a bigger and better contract.
Now obviously Bent has joined an out-of-form team in Villa, but he hasn't walked out on a club in the manner that Bruce has so many times before.
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I think he is a good manager, done a pretty good job at Wigan (x2) and Sunderland especially, and even made Brum look like an above completely shit unit. I also think he is licking his wounds. He is pretty upset he has just lost his number one asset, and he is speaking from the heart. Mwah hah hah!
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Official Villa statement putting the record straight...
We understand Sunderland Football Club's need to explain to their naturally disappointed supporters why Darren Bent has been allowed to leave their club.
It is disappointing, however, that Sunderland should try to besmirch the reputation of the player and Aston Villa Football Club in the process.
We wish to make clear that at no time did Aston Villa make an inappropriate approach to the player or unfairly compromise the business of Sunderland Football Club.
Darren only became aware of his possible transfer AFTER Sunderland's game against Newcastle on Sunday and AFTER we had agreed with Sunderland the essence of the deal which led quickly to Darren's arrival at Villa Park on Tuesday.
It is only because of some comments emanating from the Stadium of Light that we have felt compelled to respond and set the record straight.
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....and if you don't believe us, see you in court.
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Club statement
We understand Sunderland Football Club's need to explain to their naturally disappointed supporters why Darren Bent has been allowed to leave their club.
It is disappointing, however, that Sunderland should try to besmirch the reputation of the player and Aston Villa Football Club in the process.
We wish to make clear that at no time did Aston Villa make an inappropriate approach to the player or unfairly compromise the business of Sunderland Football Club.
Darren only became aware of his possible transfer AFTER Sunderland's game against Newcastle on Sunday and AFTER we had agreed with Sunderland the essence of the deal which led quickly to Darren's arrival at Villa Park on Tuesday.
It is only because of some comments emanating from the Stadium of Light that we have felt compelled to respond and set the record straight.
http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2270821,00.html
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http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/sunderland-afc/safc-news/2011/01/19/safc-eye-john-carew-to-fill-void-left-by-bent-72703-28014155/
Now they want Carew. Interesting.
Sorry if already posted.
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Carew, £5m please, seeing as they've got cash to burn now!
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Na, £8m. Just out of spite.
surly that just BS though. Otherwise it would of been in part of the negotiations? Wouldn't it of made sense to say cash plus carew? Or is that just common sense?
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Where have Sunderland suggested we have tapped him up?
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Carew to Sunderland would be a good deal for everyone.
Not overly impressed with villa's statement, I'd have preferred us to have thanked them for conducting the transfer in the correct manner rather than having a pop at them. Especially as I hadn't even read their allegations anyway.
Hey ho. Nothing to see here...
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Surely by now brucie should be used to villa rubbing his nose in it- I bet he's hurting even more because it is villa.
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Where have Sunderland suggested we have tapped him up?
Bruce's comments yesterday about "I wondered why he'd been so muted the last few weeks, now we know why" - went on to imply that this was about us tapping him up.
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Howay man, Sunderland can't afford Carew and why would he go there... etc.
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Sorry, hadn't seen it already mentioned, have merged topics.
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They can have Carew for nowt if Bernard Cribbins / Fistface goes on TV and admits that he has a face like an unmade bed.
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they are more than welcome to Carew.
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Carew to Sunderland would be a good deal for everyone.
Not overly impressed with villa's statement, I'd have preferred us to have thanked them for conducting the transfer in the correct manner rather than having a pop at them. Especially as I hadn't even read their allegations anyway.
Hey ho. Nothing to see here...
I agree that our statement is rather childish, particularly the use of the word 'besmirch'. In the face of unfounded allegations, silence is usually a more dignified reaction.
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I think they did the right thing.
It says something to other targets about how quickly a deal like this can be done, fully above board, if we want to sign them and they tell their manager that they want to come.
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I think they did the right thing.
It says something to other targets about how quickly a deal like this can be done, fully above board, if we want to sign them and they tell their manager that they want to come.
a certain midfielder from a certain North West holiday spot ?
UTV
The Doc
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I think they did the right thing.
It says something to other targets about how quickly a deal like this can be done, fully above board, if we want to sign them and they tell their manager that they want to come.
a certain midfielder from a certain North West holiday spot ?
UTV
The Doc
Interesting point, that.
This is after Holloway mouthing off about us unsettling Charlie Adam, I suspect that had something to do with the decision to release the statement.
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Seems they have drawn attention to an issue few of us were aware of.
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Also Niall Quinn quoted as saying:
"Two or three weeks ago maybe, I went into the training ground and there was something up with him.
"I looked at his demeanour and I thought, 'It's not right'. Having been in the game, you kind of know when someone's got something going on in their heads.
"It transpired that that's what had happened. They were setting him up to try and come and he took the bait...."
Look we can't know for sure what happened, I'm sure we'd all like to believe that the first contact was with the club. However we all know that football doesn't really work like that any longer, and it is possible that a contact was made through his agent. I just hope that it isn't true.
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This Sunderland thing with Bruce and Quinn I reckon is a load of bollocks, harping on about the Villa....in all the time Randy has been at the club our dealings in the market have always been above board just ask Leeds and Newcastle.
UTV
The Doc
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Lets be realistic here, I'm sure that someone acting on our behalf might have spoke to his agent to ask whether he might be interested.
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Lets be realistic here, I'm sure that someone acting on our behalf might have spoke to his agent to ask whether he might be interested.
I am realistic to think that it could or may of happened, but when you compare our transfer dealings to say Liverpoo and 'ol 'onest 'arry then we still come out clean.
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Good old Quinny. One of the players a bit quiet during training two or three weeks ago? He must have been tapped up! What else could it have been?
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Lots of sour grapes from Sunderland, unfortunately the media are taking their side at the moment.
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I have been a bit quiet today in the gym, but no one has tried to tap me up .......
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They can have Carew.....As a straight swap for Henderson or Gordon.
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Feel sure I have read somewhere that there was a "release value" clause in Bent's contract. If that is correct then we were perfectly entitled to say to the Mackems we are prepared to pay that amount. They then have to tell Bent about the offer and it is up to him.
No doubt his agent would have let any interested parties know about such clause!
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Quinn has no claim to the moral high ground after diving to win a penalty at Maine Road in one of the early Venglos games.
If you want to gob off, you better have a good memory.
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Never liked Steve Bruce, especially after he scored a couple of late goals against Sheff Wed, then he went and managed up the road,
i mean he does make it hard to like him
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I dunno what the big deal is about 'tapping up' anyway.
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What happened on Sunday night was the following and this is why Sunderland are upset:-
Villa Park: "Mr Lerner, theres a Mr Quinn on the phone for you".
RL: "Ok, put him through".
NQ: "Hello Randy, I was just calling to ask if you are willing to sell us young Mr Downing for 10M pounds?
RL: "Sorry, Niall he's not for sale. I'm glad you called actually as I want to sign Darren Bent, how much do you want for him"?
NQ: "Hang on a Sec (covers phone) "Hey Brucie, the Yank wants Bent (ha, ha), how much shall we quote him, to get rid of him (ha, ha)"?
SB: (In background) "Tell him 18million, they wont have that kind of money"
NQ: "Randy, you can have Bent for 18 million (much laughter)".
RL: "Ok, not problem, who do I make the cheque payable to? Oh and I'll add an extra 100 pound so you can send him down tomorrow in a taxi"
NQ & SB: "Oh shit, what have we done"
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I like it JD.
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Very good, JD.
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quote author=Nev link=topic=41938.msg1683205#msg1683205 date=1295460393]
Quinn has no claim to the moral high ground after diving to win a penalty at Maine Road in one of the early Venglos games.
If you want to gob off, you better have a good memory.
[/quote]
Damn straight Nev, we battered 'em as well.
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In fairness wasn't it last Friday or so, certainly well before Sunday when Bent handed in his transfer request, that Pelty and possibly Dave were saying we were working on a big signing?
Surely Bent was aware of our interest at that stage despite saying in the press conference last night that he found out after the Sunderland-Noocassil game on Sunday.
Wrapping up a transfer like that in less than two days rarely happens, especially when so much money is at stake. If we didn't tap him up I think he must have known before the weekend that we were wanted him.
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Do like Bruce. But he really has not got the past record to give "our" Darren a morale lesson .........
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I do get the feeling Bruce and Quinn are rubbing their hands behind the scenes despite all this bluster. They've doubled their money on Bent and already have a potential replacement in Gyan.
I can appreciate the fans frustration mind, they're just on the cusp of something sitting in 6th and their top scorer fucks off to a club (albeit a bigger club) who are having a mare of a season.
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I do get the feeling Bruce and Quinn are rubbing their hands behind the scenes despite all this bluster. They've doubled their money on Bent and already have a potential replacement in Gyan.
I can appreciate the fans frustration mind, they're just on the cusp of something sitting in 6th and their top scorer fucks off to a club (albeit a bigger club) who are having a mare of a season.
If you swap the 6 points lost to Sunderland this season in the two matches we should have won , we would be level on points.We would be viewing this move as pushing on for Euro qualification.
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He'll be speaking on SSN in a few minutes regarding the move.
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Its already on their website, doesn't say a lot other than they are looking forward rather than backward.
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Its already on their website, doesn't say a lot other than they are looking forward rather than backward.
SSN said there was going to be fireworks. How disappointing.
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Steve Bruce has said his piece over the Darren Bent transfer - before urging his camp to move on.
The Sunderland boss admits he was shocked by the timing of the transfer request made by Bent, who joined the club from Spurs for £10m in 2009.
The striker made his move to Aston Villa earlier in the week after informing Bruce of his intention to leave the club.
And while the Stadium of Light chief has been frustrated with the circumstances, he says he is concentrating on moving the club forward.
Sunderland currently sit sixth in the Barclays Premier League and as far as the manager is concerned, the squad will move forward as a unit.
Speaking exclusively to safc.com, he said: "I think it was a shock to us all. The timing of it was the worst things for me.
"If you get an indication that a player is desperately unhappy then you put plans in place to replace him.
"As I said in the statement I gave out, we're all bitterly disappointed, from the staff to the supporters and most importantly his team-mates.
"I feel he has let them down by basically walking out of the club with us in such a strong position.
"But there you have it - it's history and we will move on.
"It is vital we draw a line under this now. My most important focus is on the players who want to be here and who have achieved so much this season up to now.
"It's important we make sure we're fully focused. Let's not kid ourselves - we've lost a good player but as far as I'm concerned I'd rather concentrate on the players I've got sat behind me who want to play."
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he is still cowardly hinting that we tapped him up...
but he isnt brave enough to actually come out and say it...
cock nobbler...
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Disappointed in Houllier as he hasn't had a phone call from him.
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does he want flowers as well?
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He really is bitter and twisted.
You've got £18M just go and spend it for goodness sake.
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This is quite unbelievable Bruce moaninag that GH hasn't even phoned him.Quite amusing to see him wriggle out of why he didn't turn down the transfer request.Didn't want to keep an unhappy player yet didn't stop Mancini turnring Tevez down inititally.Intimated Bent had had head turned with his recent attitude.Did we go on like this over Milner/Barry sagas.Classless !!
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The chairmen do the deal , i dont see what bruce and holloway are both moaning about this afternoon , bruce has shit on more than one previous employer in the past and can bleat as much as he wants - life goes on!
Bent said yesterday he was told after the game and the first he heard of it was sunderland had accepted a bid and it was from aston villa. and he said he was interested- in which case why would he put in a transfer request if as he says sunderland had accepted the bid - someone is telling a porkie.
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Steve Bruce admiring a picture of Darren Bent, thinking what might have been.
http://topbiographymovies.com/20075-elephant_man.jpg
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He really is bitter and twisted.
You've got £18M just go and spend it for goodness sake.
He hasn't though. Villa are paying in stages - the £6m downpayment will cover the sell-on clause owed to Spurs according to Niall Quinn. The next 6m will come in a year.
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He really is bitter and twisted.
You've got £18M just go and spend it for goodness sake.
He hasn't though. Villa are paying in stages - the £6m downpayment will cover the sell-on clause owed to Spurs according to Niall Quinn. The next 6m will come in a year.
In fact, the majority of that £6m they are giving to Spurs is just money they still owe him from when they bought him originally.
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So Darren Bent has "had his head turned" eh? Just like Bruce had when he left Carrow Road to join the Mancs.
Same scenario the only difference is that Bent is deemed a good enough player to represent his country unlike Bruce. :P
My fave Bruce quote of all time though is still "If Ashley Young is worth £12 million, how much is Gary McSheffrey worth??? - 'bout tuppence ha'penny and I'll expect change :D
Everyone loves a clown, Steve.
~Native~
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Disappointed in Houllier as he hasn't had a phone call from him.
Apparently it's the norm for managers to call their opposing number to let them know. A bit rude rude from Houllier but no big deal.
As for tapping up Bent, even the Sunderland supporters had a laugh at this one, what with Bruce's record of tapping up players. Shawcross and A. N. Other were the examples given.
My guess is we called his agent and asked was it worth giving Sunderland a call if we were to meet their asking price. Is that tapping up?
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Just listening to him on SSN now, you can understand him being upset at losing his best player but it didn't take Bruce long to decide he wanted to double his wages so why should it be the case that Bent takes longer? His dig at Houiller was pathetic, the correct way of doing things is the Chairman or CEO dealing with his opposite number. I've always had a lot more respect for Bruce than others like Holloway etc despite his previous allegiances but hinting at things without saying them outright is a shithouse trick.
Just get over it you fat, ugly twat.
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Waah waaah waah.
We took your money, but its not fair waaah, waah, waah!
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Tough!
We have him so just accept it and shut the **** up!
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I listened to him and I think he getting very close to saying something that could be construde as being libellous !!!
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Fuck off Fist Face
Bent is ours
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Cheer up Stevie Bruce
Oh what can it mean
To a sad jealous bastard
and writ for libel in the post
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FACT - Sunderland could have turned down our bid.
FACT - Sunderland could have rejected Bent's transfer request.
FACT - This transfer happened very quickly so both clubs must have been satisfied with the deal.
If you ask me, Sunderland are just trying to smooth things with their own supporters for taking a big pot of cash in exchange for their best player.
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How is this any different to any other transfer. His agents talk to our representatives both of whom are at arms length to the club and player. Positive noises both ways. Feedback. Tacit agreement. Transfer request. Transfer.
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Or maybe as he now has only one striker as welbeck now out for 6-8 wks following knee surgery day after bent sign. Karma or what ?
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Just listening to him on SSN now, you can understand him being upset at losing his best player but it didn't take Bruce long to decide he wanted to double his wages so why should it be the case that Bent takes longer? His dig at Houiller was pathetic, the correct way of doing things is the Chairman or CEO dealing with his opposite number. I've always had a lot more respect for Bruce than others like Holloway etc despite his previous allegiances but hinting at things without saying them outright is a shithouse trick.
Just get over it you fat, ugly twat.
He does seem to be clutching at straws. One of the journalists should ask him what his reaction would have been if Ged had asked Bruce.
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And now Welbeck is out for eight weeks. Ouch.
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After admitting he has been concerned for a number of weeks about Bent 'he hasn't been his self in training' any manager worth employing would have approached the player and had a chat about this, especially as he had to convince the player to stay in the summer. This would have given Bruce and Quinn time to sort a replacement. As for his comments about GH it shows the bloke lacks class. Infact I might send Bruce a Villa handkerchief to blow that bosted nose on!!!
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Just listening to him on SSN now, you can understand him being upset at losing his best player but it didn't take Bruce long to decide he wanted to double his wages so why should it be the case that Bent takes longer? His dig at Houiller was pathetic, the correct way of doing things is the Chairman or CEO dealing with his opposite number. I've always had a lot more respect for Bruce than others like Holloway etc despite his previous allegiances but hinting at things without saying them outright is a shithouse trick.
Just get over it you fat, ugly twat.
At one point I thought he was going to cry. "I never knew".
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Sit down potato head.
I think the media in general are getting a bit sick and tired of his constant whinging. He talks about 'loyalty', he is the man that walked out on Wigan after they finished above Sunderland... only to go and be manager of Sunderland. He is the man that runs onto pitches when his team score a late goal. He is the man who plays Lee Catermole.
We didn't approach Bent illegally - Darren Bent has a mind of his own and decided he wanted to join Villa, he was the one who wanted to hand in the transfer request etc...
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Ok ..... for GH to go after another teams top striker without having a word with his counterpart is a tad naughty ....
However...... cards on the table.
Who on here would have thought we were fishing in such a pond when it broke we were interested in signing Bent ?
Could it have been that Bent's agent went though the league table and identified a big(ish) club, struggling a little at the moment, in desperate need of goals and for some reason contacted Villa.
It could be that Villa never made the approach !!!
Also, does anyone else think that by signing Bent, and possibly the others we are being linked with, is not just in response to our current league position. Could it be an attempt by Randy to convince the likes of Downing and Young that Villa long term is the place to be.
If they left.... yes we would get the money but finding quality players aint easy even if you have the cash.....
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Brucie is replacing Bent with Ricardo Fuller; He of one knee fame. :o
Brucie is clearly mental, ignore the shit he spouts.
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A fair number of Mackems fans think Brucie is talking shite.
http://www.readytogo.net/smb/showthread.php?t=561290
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if we really did something wrong they could report us to the F.A, i bet they don't
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Someone at the Sun has your card marked Brucie (http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/sunsport_columnists/3363234/Steven-Howard-What-does-Steve-Bruce-know-about-loyalty.html)
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heheheh, lovely stuff.
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A fair number of Mackems fans think Brucie is talking shite.
http://www.readytogo.net/smb/showthread.php?t=561290
Oh dear:
"Because Villa are now a devious club.
That's probably the reason why MON walked out as he wouldnt have anything to do with underhand transfer tactics. In my opinion he walked out around the time that they started tapping bent up"
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Some bitter photoshopping on that board as well:
(http://i738.photobucket.com/albums/xx28/safc32/bent-1.png)
(http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/674/judas.jpg)
(http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/5904/bentycunt.jpg)
(http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/5889/greedlander.gif)
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A fair number of Mackems fans think Brucie is talking shite.
http://www.readytogo.net/smb/showthread.php?t=561290
Oh dear:
"Because Villa are now a devious club.
That's probably the reason why MON walked out as he wouldnt have anything to do with underhand transfer tactics. In my opinion he walked out around the time that they started tapping bent up"
Ha ha! Now, I'm still pretty enamoured with O'Neill as I haven't heard his side of the story yet, and I doubt that it's as straightfoward as 'he was a spiteful little bastard' - although I do accept that it could be partly that.
But that comment is a genuine, rare, LOL-inducing step too far in the beatification of Bishop Martin!
Again, ha!
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Get over it Sunderland fans, time to move on.
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A fair number of Mackems fans think Brucie is talking shite.
http://www.readytogo.net/smb/showthread.php?t=561290
Oh dear:
"Because Villa are now a devious club.
That's probably the reason why MON walked out as he wouldnt have anything to do with underhand transfer tactics. In my opinion he walked out around the time that they started tapping bent up"
Ha ha! Now, I'm still pretty enamoured with O'Neill as I haven't heard his side of the story yet, and I doubt that it's as straightfoward as 'he was a spiteful little bastard' - although I do accept that it could be partly that.
But that comment is a genuine, rare, LOL-inducing step too far in the beatification of Bishop Martin!
Again, ha!
indeed. Obviously in Sunderland, tapping up is one step further up on the seriously underhand ladder than discussing taking over a job still held by another manager
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Hard not to feel sorry for Sunderland fans really. If Dazza keeps banging in the goals like we want him to and in 18 months time when Chelsea come calling and he fucks off for the last big move of his career the shoe will be on t'other foot.
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Hard not to feel sorry for Sunderland fans really.
Really?
i couldn't give a fuck.
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Hard not to feel sorry for Sunderland fans really. If Dazza keeps banging in the goals like we want him to and in 18 months time when Chelsea come calling and he fucks off for the last big move of his career the shoe will be on t'other foot.
That's football.
Niall Quinn isn't absolved from talking shyte either.
Unlike Bruce, Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn said he foresaw a situation with Bent after noticing a change in his demeanour.
"I had an inkling," he told Kildare TV on Wednesday.
"Darren's a terrific guy; he's been great for us as he's done loads of work for the club over and beyond just playing football. He's bubbly, he's always on form.
"[But] I could tell there was something up with him, that he was not right.
"It transpired that they [Villa] were setting him up. They tempted him and he took the bait. It's hugely disappointing for us, and when the transfer request came in that probably was the final nail. We could have tried to stop it, but we heard he was already down there.
"It was really difficult. A real tough one for us to accept.
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Bruce and Quinn should just each grow a pair and get on with it. Pathetic squealing big girls blouses.
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Bruce and Quinn should just each grow a pair and get on with it. Pathetic squealing big girls blouses.
It's just a distraction, in case Sunderland supporters start asking out loud why Darrent Bent isn't happy at their club.
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Bruce and Quinn should just each grow a pair and get on with it. Pathetic squealing big girls blouses.
It's just a distraction, in case Sunderland supporters start asking out loud why Darrent Bent isn't happy at their club.
Wasn't Damon, wasn't :-)
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Ah yes. Past tense.
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Hard not to feel sorry for Sunderland fans really.
Really?
i couldn't give a fuck.
Ditto.
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Unlike Bruce, Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn said he foresaw a situation with Bent after noticing a change in his demeanour.
"I had an inkling," he told Kildare TV on Wednesday.
"Darren's a terrific guy; he's been great for us as he's done loads of work for the club over and beyond just playing football. He's bubbly, he's always on form.
"[But] I could tell there was something up with him, that he was not right.
"It transpired that they [Villa] were setting him up. They tempted him and he took the bait. It's hugely disappointing for us, and when the transfer request came in that probably was the final nail. We could have tried to stop it, but we heard he was already down there.
"It was really difficult. A real tough one for us to accept.
Well spotted Niall. I presume the clue might have been when he handed in his transfer request in the summer.
Hard to remember such an outpouring of humbug cynically designed to deflect the flak from the supporters. I think after the initial shock has died down a little, the more intelligent fans might just see what's been going on up there.
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They are becoming so embarrassing. I Fookin love it
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Sunderland fans should be really, really, concerned. If Quinn - the chairman still, isn't he? - doesn't realise what his options are when a club puts in a bid for a player with two and a half years left on his contract, they could be in big trouble.
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Fistface has been bleating that apparently that nasty Mr Houllier didn't phone him up first. He sounds like a spotty teenager left at home while his popular ex-girlfriend is getting fingered by the school rugby captain.
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The whole phone call thing is a little bit petty isn't it? I thought it was all handled through chief execs and the likes of the shady fella at Liverpool that do the deals their managers want. Maybe Arry, Bruce et al still ring each other up, but I am sure they don't broker deals between each other.
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Shame we're not playing Sunderland tomorrow at Villa Park
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I don't know if he was tapped up and I prefer to believe Villa's version of events, however IF he was then they still have to get over it. Let's face it enough of our players have been.
And though it doesn't make it right, it's the world we live in and we can either compete for that edge or be at a disadvantage.
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We made them a very good offer and they took it. They didn't have to and we didn't mess them about like Citeh or 'The Mighty Reds YNWA' did to us. The fact that they have to give 6 mill to Spurs is quite frankly not our problem.
I think alot of this is Fistface and Quinn realising that their current league position is an over achievement so they're getting their fans onside by making us out to be the baddie - 6th is as good as it's ever going to get.
So when the tumble down the table comes in the coming months all their inbred supporters will be able to blame us and they'll be no heat on either Fistface or Quinn. It'll always be'' if it wasn't for the Villa we could have done this or that'. A perfect excuse and just how Fistface likes it.
And fair play because it seems that so far the idiots have taken their bait.
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I think Sunderland fans need to cast their minds back to before Christmas (22nd December to be exact) to understand that the writing was on the wall:
Niall Quinn, the Sunderland chairman, has warned the days of heavy investment in transfer fees will be over if attendances continue to dwindle at the Stadium of Light.
A crowd of only 35,101 watched Saturday's 1-0 Premier League victory over Bolton, about 13,000 below capacity, despite Steve Bruce's team being unbeaten at home in the league so far this season, a run that has lifted them to sixth.
While Quinn acknowledges the ongoing financial difficulties for some supporters, he claims many are watching games illegally in pubs accessing foreign television channels and the former striker is concerned about the implications.
Indeed, the chairman said he would no longer be able to argue a case for the owner, Ellis Short, to fund the kind of deals that brought the record £13m signing, Asamoah Gyan, or his £10m strike partner, Darren Bent, to Wearside if the figures do not add up.
Quinn told the Sunderland Echo: "The plan was always to improve and while we are doing that on the pitch, off the pitch the lifeblood of the club is just starting to get to a worrying area.
"I am not here to be the guardian angel of the club and protect it at all costs. We have to be realistic and it would be a shame to start downsizing. But I wouldn't be doing my job if I recommended that we should be paying big sums for players and the people weren't supporting the club."I know through my time as a player that you do better with bigger houses and it's a better occasion all-round. I thought if we were in the top half of the Premier League, we would be getting crowds well into the 40,000s. The reality is we are in the mid-30s.
"I am not having a go at people who are economically challenged, but I know there are friends of mine who say it's easier to go to the pub and have a few drinks with their mates and walk home afterwards. But these games are shown illegally.
"I don't want to alarm people but, for me, there are a few question marks. I'm not saying we are perfect, but I always thought I could rely on the support of a massive crowd."
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Fistface has been bleating that apparently that nasty Mr Houllier didn't phone him up first. He sounds like a spotty teenager left at home while his popular ex-girlfriend is getting fingered by the school rugby captain.
This is really puzzling me. WTF has it got to do with Bruce? Was it GH who sent the offer and did that offer go to Bruce? Of course it wasn't and didn't.
Bruce is looking for any angle to discredit Villa to deflect his club's inability to keep their star player. Regardless of Bent's ambition to get away they still could have said "no deal" regardless of what was offered. They named their price and we matched it. If they didn't consult Bruce about it that's their concern and has nothing to do with us.
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Not to mention the big headed tw@t is now robbing Ricardo Fuller of us(stoke). I feel sick!
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Hang on. I thought the official sequence of events was - we made a bid, they accepted it, they then told Bent about our interest, and he then submitted a transfer request to speed things up. Think there's a bit of re-writing of history going on between Quinn and Bruce to save face with the fans.
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I think Sunderland fans need to cast their minds back to before Christmas (22nd December to be exact) to understand that the writing was on the wall:
Niall Quinn, the Sunderland chairman, has warned the days of heavy investment in transfer fees will be over if attendances continue to dwindle at the Stadium of Light.
A crowd of only 35,101 watched Saturday's 1-0 Premier League victory over Bolton, about 13,000 below capacity, despite Steve Bruce's team being unbeaten at home in the league so far this season, a run that has lifted them to sixth.
While Quinn acknowledges the ongoing financial difficulties for some supporters, he claims many are watching games illegally in pubs accessing foreign television channels and the former striker is concerned about the implications.
Indeed, the chairman said he would no longer be able to argue a case for the owner, Ellis Short, to fund the kind of deals that brought the record £13m signing, Asamoah Gyan, or his £10m strike partner, Darren Bent, to Wearside if the figures do not add up.
Quinn told the Sunderland Echo: "The plan was always to improve and while we are doing that on the pitch, off the pitch the lifeblood of the club is just starting to get to a worrying area.
"I am not here to be the guardian angel of the club and protect it at all costs. We have to be realistic and it would be a shame to start downsizing. But I wouldn't be doing my job if I recommended that we should be paying big sums for players and the people weren't supporting the club."I know through my time as a player that you do better with bigger houses and it's a better occasion all-round. I thought if we were in the top half of the Premier League, we would be getting crowds well into the 40,000s. The reality is we are in the mid-30s.
"I am not having a go at people who are economically challenged, but I know there are friends of mine who say it's easier to go to the pub and have a few drinks with their mates and walk home afterwards. But these games are shown illegally.
"I don't want to alarm people but, for me, there are a few question marks. I'm not saying we are perfect, but I always thought I could rely on the support of a massive crowd."
I wondered when this was gonna be brought up about Sunderland's attendances? I remembered ready this article with Quinn at the time. It'll be interesting to see if Sunderland spend their money or if they just balance their books. As for attendances I'd have thought the majority of clubs will see attendances fall due to the recession (think it'll only get worse). Has anyone got the PL / FL crowd stats? I wonder what the trend is?
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Bottom line is, you can have mirky agents whispering in a player's ear for six months if you like... the crucial element in all transfer deals is the bid. No-one can make a bid or accept a bid from anywhere else except club to club. So for Sunderland to feign shock at the speed of the whole deal is a bit rich - it happened so quickly because they accepted our bid so readily.
And Quinn, as chairman, would be the first to know about an official bid. So I'm not sure where his shock and surprise is coming from. Chairman and manager must believe Sunderland fans are very, very naive.
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Fistface has been bleating that apparently that nasty Mr Houllier didn't phone him up first. He sounds like a spotty teenager left at home while his popular ex-girlfriend is getting fingered by the school rugby captain.
Spot on
Yesterday he was bleating about not getting a phone call and sounded like a really plain bird whose boyfriend had had "tops and fingers" then moved on to her best mate because she had a better rack.
Twat
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From today's Times (their punctuation, not mine):
“My big disappointment, of course, is Gérard Houllier, who up until this time, I still haven’t had a phone call from. I would have thought that out of respect from a manager of his status, a phone call from him to say, ‘Listen Steve, we’re after your centre forward.’ It usually is with the great managers I’ve had the pleasure to deal with in the past.
“I did have the utmost respect from Mr Houllier, but I haven’t had a call. There’s only 20 of us in the Premier League and we all know how hard it is, but I’d have expected a call from him, to have the decency to pick up the phone.”
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Face like a stuntmans knee
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I wonder If he made a phone call to Crystal Palace....
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I wondered when this was gonna be brought up about Sunderland's attendances? I remembered ready this article with Quinn at the time. It'll be interesting to see if Sunderland spend their money or if they just balance their books. As for attendances I'd have thought the majority of clubs will see attendances fall due to the recession (think it'll only get worse). Has anyone got the PL / FL crowd stats? I wonder what the trend is?
I've just read a post from the General appealing for the fans that can get to matches to get themselves down to Villa Park, which is fair enough. Hopefully we can regain our momentum and just as importantly start winning and entertaining at home. Our performances at Villa Park have generally been dull for years and the fans deserve credit for turning up in their numbers. If we can finally get it right at home between now and the end of the season, even with the economic climate, we should see an upturn in attendances and a queue to renew season tickets in the summer.
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A fair number of Mackems fans think Brucie is talking shite.
http://www.readytogo.net/smb/showthread.php?t=561290
And some dont...
Because Villa are now a devious club.
That's probably the reason why MON walked out as he wouldnt have anything to do with underhand transfer tactics. In my opinion he walked out around the time that they started tapping bent up.
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A fair number of Mackems fans think Brucie is talking shite.
http://www.readytogo.net/smb/showthread.php?t=561290
And some dont...
Because Villa are now a devious club.
That's probably the reason why MON walked out as he wouldnt have anything to do with underhand transfer tactics. In my opinion he walked out around the time that they started tapping bent up.
They all love MON because he's a Sunderland supporter.
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A fair number of Mackems fans think Brucie is talking shite.
http://www.readytogo.net/smb/showthread.php?t=561290
And some dont...
Because Villa are now a devious club.
That's probably the reason why MON walked out as he wouldnt have anything to do with underhand transfer tactics. In my opinion he walked out around the time that they started tapping bent up.
That was the funniest quote on there! Haaa!! In all seriousness, some of them had the right idea, what could Houllier say? Thanks for selling us Bent. What else is there to say, particuarly after they accused us of underhand tactics!
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Steve Bruce. A man with a face like Miss Marple's minge.
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Personal favourite quote from the Mackems:
If your going for a clubs top player you don't speak to a manager ffs!!!! As they wont want to sell them. You go to the man who said in December he would accept a ridiculous offer for any player at Sunderland.
Too true.
Now-a-days, you can't phone someone up and say:
"Yeah, can I buy your best player who has scored pretty much all your goals for the past 18 months?"
The reason being that there'd be no f****** transfers. It's not like we offered them £3m plus a multipack of Wotsits, is it? We paid a fair price, we didn't "tap him up", we went doing it the way anyone else would have. It just so happened that he was unhappy at Sunderland and we pounced on him.
F*** all the media, f*** Steve Bruce (the hypocritical c****), and f*** the Sunderland supporters sending the poor lad threats.
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http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article5594062.ece
Interesting read... Even if a few years old. Wonder what Sunderland fans thought of this back then...
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They didn't have newspaper in Sunderland 12 months ago.
They'd only just got running water.
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I wouldn't be surprised if Houllier is rounded on more by other managers in the league. (I hate the bloke but...)
Houllier and Wenger are good mate's aren't they?
Wenger is hated by most other managers in the league, he doesn't drink with them after games or some bull and keeps himself to himself.
The rest of the boys (Sir Alex fan club) club like Ferguson, Bruce, Hughes, Allardyce (When he was kicking about), Pulis, Pardew and new addition Holloway at some point have had a go and Wenger. Also Arsenal fans are always moaning about Wenger's treatment in the press.
So I wouldn't be surprised if we see a lot more managers and press having digs at Houllier through his connection with Arsene 'Overall, I believe' Wenger.
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http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article5594062.ece
Interesting read... Even if a few years old. Wonder what Sunderland fans thought of this back then...
I just read that, and it is staggering to see the hypocrisy.
Here's the entire article for those not arsed to click.
Harry Redknapp accused Sunderland of double standards last night over their attempts to sign Darren Bent. The Tottenham Hotspur manager reacted angrily to Sunderland's charge that the North London club had led a concerted attempt to unsettle Kenwyne Jones by alleging that the Wearside club had pursued their interest in Bent without Spurs' knowledge and approval.
Tottenham, who entertain Stoke City at White Hart Lane tonight, had offered Bent in part exchange for Jones, the Trinidad & Tobago striker, during discussions between the clubs two weeks ago, but the deal appeared to have died when Sunderland insisted that Jones was not for sale. However, Redknapp claimed that Sunderland have been speaking to Bent's representatives about a possible transfer, after being told so by the forward.
“Darren came to see me to say, ‘I hear Sunderland want me, what do you know?'” Redknapp said. “I said, ‘I haven't spoken to anyone and if they are interested they will have to ring the chairman.' He said, ‘Well, my agent says they want me.' So someone is talking to someone. I could say they [Sunderland] have done the same thing to Darren Bent because his agent has obviously been talking to someone at Sunderland to know they are interested. So if they are mentioning Darren Bent, why are they mentioning Darren Bent? Is someone upsetting Darren Bent?”
The wrangle will strain further Redknapp's relationship with Bent, who was angered when his manager joked that his wife could have scored with the kind of free header that the striker missed against Portsmouth nine days ago.
Redknapp said that the club were encouraged to show interest in Jones because Sunderland had sent out mixed signals about the player's future. Tottenham were reported to have been prepared to pay £15 million for the player, who had moved from Southampton to Sunderland for £6million at the beginning of last season, but that deal appears to be dead. “Last night he [Daniel Levy, the Tottenham chairman] thought that Jones had signed a new contract at Sunderland, so I think the deal's off,” Redknapp said.
Responding to suggestions that Spurs had sought to unsettle Jones, Redknapp said that there had been discussions about a deal between the two chairmen. “I don't know why Niall Quinn is talking to Daniel if they don't want to sell him,” Redknapp said. “Why do you talk to someone if you don't want to sell someone?”
Jones is among a number of forwards whom Tottenham have tried unsuccessfully to sign, with the club drawing a blank in their efforts to lure Carlton Cole and Craig Bellamy to White Hart Lane.
Redknapp remains keen on Fred, the Brazil striker, whose agents have claimed that Tottenham have offered the player a 4-year contract worth £50,000 a week to sign from Lyons. The French side hope to receive £8million, with clubs in Spain interested, despite him being out of contract this summer.
Tottenham have, however, signed Pascal Chimbonda, the full back, from Sunderland and Carlo Cudicini, the goalkeeper, on a free transfer from Chelsea yesterday. Cudicini could make his debut against Stoke this evening because Heurelho Gomes is a doubt with a thigh injury. Chimbonda was not registered in time to play and Wilson Palacios, the midfield player who joined from Wigan Athletic last week, is suspended.
Stoke have used a four-day training camp in Dubai to integrate James Beattie, the forward, and Matthew Etherington, the former Tottenham left winger, who were signed this month. Both clubs are among the five teams languishing on 21 points at the foot of the table.
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Just seen Houllier on SSN. Brilliant. Could hardly stop himself chuckling about the comments from Bruce. Never seen a manager, especially under pressure, look so bloody relaxed as Gerard at the moment.
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Just seen Houllier on SSN. Brilliant. Could hardly stop himself chuckling about the comments from Bruce. Never seen a manager, especially under pressure, look so bloody relaxed as Gerard at the moment.
It looked very clearly like he was saying Quinn didn't tell Bruce what they were negotiating, and that they were selling Bent behind his back
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Just seen Houllier on SSN. Brilliant. Could hardly stop himself chuckling about the comments from Bruce. Never seen a manager, especially under pressure, look so bloody relaxed as Gerard at the moment.
It's totally weird. It's as if he's enjoying it.
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Just seen Houllier on SSN. Brilliant. Could hardly stop himself chuckling about the comments from Bruce. Never seen a manager, especially under pressure, look so bloody relaxed as Gerard at the moment.
It's totally weird. It's as if he's enjoying it.
I thought he was brilliant in that press conference.
I found myself thinking at times, "He's coming across as a bit smug now" but then "at least he's our smug fucker, so bollocks to them"
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I know a lot of people want him out still, but he just gives me a feeling that given time to get the side how he wants, we will be better off than we were under Martin. He has a strange air of self assurance.
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Cheeky bastards Sunderland are, they never even tried to stop the transfer.
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Steve Bruce. A man with a face like Miss Marple's minge.
STOP IT!
I can't laugh anymore, it hurts.
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Just seen Houllier on SSN. Brilliant. Could hardly stop himself chuckling about the comments from Bruce. Never seen a manager, especially under pressure, look so bloody relaxed as Gerard at the moment.
It's totally weird. It's as if he's enjoying it.
Medication?
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Fistface has been bleating that apparently that nasty Mr Houllier didn't phone him up first. He sounds like a spotty teenager left at home while his popular ex-girlfriend is getting fingered by the school rugby captain.
Spot on
Yesterday he was bleating about not getting a phone call and sounded like a really plain bird whose boyfriend had had "tops and fingers" then moved on to her best mate because she had a better rack.
Twat
Speaking to a Sunderland fan at work and he said the same kind of thing. He said it's getting sort of embarassing, never mind no-one is preparing for tomorrows game.
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From The Mail
We're not Bent! Houllier says Villa have acted by the book in pursuit of £24m striker
Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier will lose no sleep over Steve Bruce's verbal outburst against him regarding the transfer of Darren Bent - and has accused the Sunderland boss of being ungracious. Houllier came out all guns blazing in response to Bruce's attack over the way he acted during the sale of Bent to Villa for a club record £24million.
He defended his stance in making no personal contact with Bruce while the transfer was being conducted. And Houllier is adamant Villa, who host Manchester City on Saturday, acted in a proper manner throughout the transaction.
He said: 'I like Steve Bruce. I think he is a good manager. He is doing a good job. 'I think he was not too gracious to me but that's life. It is not going to prevent me from sleeping, I can tell you that.
'If we had done something wrong, I would say "hands up" but we have behaved in a very proper way.
'If I call Steve and say "I want his player" he will go vocal and go public and it will be even worse. 'He is working for the interests of Sunderland. I am working for the interests of Aston Villa.
'You contact a manager when you want a player on loan sometimes. A lot of fellow managers call me if they want loans. 'This is the life of football. It makes me laugh more than anything else. 'Am I bothered about what he said? I prefer not to answer that question.'Houllier also hit out at Blackpool boss Ian Holloway's comments over Villa's attempts to sign midfielder Charlie Adam. He said: 'It's the same with Ian Holloway. We did things right with Blackpool.
In demand: Villa are among a number of clubs interested in Blackpool's influential skipper Charlie Adam
'We went straight to the club, we were quiet, we said nothing and finally it comes out in the press but not from Aston Villa. 'He said we were insulting them. We made a bid, they said no and we respect that. 'But there is no point in being vocal and saying we were insulting them and insulting the player. 'They are insulting us but we don't want to go on about it.'Houllier is still interested in signing Adam after having bids of £2.5million and £3.5million rejected. He said: 'We made no mystery after what was said by Holloway in the press. 'It is true we made a bid and it is true we like the player. It is true we would like to have him here.'
Villa's other January signing, Jean Makoun, has finally been granted a work permit although the former Lyon midfielder will not be involved against City.He is set to make his debut in Tuesday's rearranged clash at Wigan. Houllier said: 'Makoun should get his visa today and he should be able to travel to England today. 'I don't think he will be involved against Manchester City. It is too early but he might be involved against Wigan.' Houllier believes City will be genuine title contenders this season. He said: 'It looks as if they are clicking now and scoring goals, getting results and competing for the title which is a huge step from last year. 'I think Roberto Mancini is doing a great job there. I know him. We are good friends - he is a good manager, very successful. "He kept his head high and straight when he was under pressure.'
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Houllier uses the past tense in terms of dealing with Blackpool, very interesting. And then states that we(Villa) would like to have him at the club. I expect Adam, and/or his agent to be knocking on his manager's door. i'm sure his head will have been turned.
I'd be annoyed if Villa had instigated this as we went through this with Barrybollocks, but Holloway has gone public with this and had a dig and been rude towards us. So, in that case I hope we get him, and they go down. Or just the latter.
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I wonder If he made a phone call to Crystal Palace....
Crystal Palace fans sung:
Brucie the Elephant packed his cash
and said goodbye to the Palace
off he went like a greedy fat lump
c*nt, c*nt, c*nt
Brucie the Elephant packed his cash
and trumbled off to the porn shop
off he went to the Birmingham dump
c*nt c*nt c*nt
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This is from the Sun today headlined "What does Bruce know about loyalty"
STEVEN HOWARD - Chief sports writer
Published: Today
FROM the look of him, Steve Bruce should have become accustomed to having his nose put out of joint.
But, no, the Sunderland boss is still upset.
The tapping-up row over Darren Bent's £24million move to Aston Villa rumbles on with Bruce saying his club are still bitterly upset and disappointed over the manner of the striker's departure.
Yesterday, he waded into Gerard Houllier for not having bothered to give him a call, something Bruce said was usually the case with "all the great managers I have dealt with in the past".
Poor, old Steve.
To think he only stands to make a potential £14m profit in 18 months on a player who more than repaid Sunderland's initial transfer fee with 36 goals in 63 games.
And then there's all that loyalty business and how Sunderland fans have every right to feel massively let down.
Hang on a minute.
Is this the same Bruce whose managerial career has been a story of jumping from one ship to another to better himself?
The man who spent just 11 months at Sheffield United before joining Huddersfield.
The man who, on being sacked there, rewarded Wigan for their generosity in rescuing him by moving on to Crystal Palace after just TWO MONTHS.
The man who then walked out on Palace for Birmingham just FIVE MONTHS later, despite chairman Simon Jordan seeking a High Court injunction to keep him.
The man whose time at St Andrew's was marked by continuous links with Newcastle, a switch that never materialised because David Sullivan priced him out of the move by asking for £7m compensation.
The man who then returned to Wigan before upping sticks 20 months later for Sunderland, despite guiding the Latics to their highest Premier League finish of 11th while the Black Cats escaped relegation by just two points.
And who then crowed: "I can now shop at Harrods not Tesco."
Yes, I do believe it is.
Ah, what delicious irony for all those Wigan and Palace fans who stood powerlessly by as Bruce, without a care in the world, went on his merry way. Now the Sunderland Twitterati promise retribution when Bent returns to the Stadium of Light with Villa next season (if Villa, of course, stay up).
Bruce will know how he feels. On his return to Selhurst Park, the Palace fans greeted him with chants of "Judas" and "Stand up if you hate Steve Bruce".
And what did Bruce, in retrospect, have to say about that?
"I let Palace fans down big style," he admitted. Quite.
Yesterday, Bruce banged on about the timing of Bent's move and how it came out of the blue. Well, not quite that out of the blue as Bent had originally put in a transfer request back in August when he first realised clubs were sniffing around.
The bottom line is that Bruce and his chairman Niall Quinn are putting on a pretty good display of righteous indignation when, deep down, they must be delighted with a fee of £18m rising to £24m.
Not that Bent comes out of it smelling of roses, either.
This is the player, after all, who spent much of his time at Sunderland proclaiming how he had embraced the North East, loved it there and felt like one of them.
Humbug and hypocrisy all round. As is always the case in football.
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Potato Head can fcuk right off.
Club hopping twat.
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It'd be a shame if Sunderland, with some of the best supporters in the country, started getting all Leicester on us.
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After seeing G-Hou's response to Holloway and Bruce I have to say i'm warming to him more every day
love how he's made them both sound like absolute plums and he's so cool and collected about it
I hope the results start turning round as he's ticking a lot of boxes in what I like in a manager
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It'd be a shame if Sunderland, with some of the best supporters in the country, started getting all Leicester on us.
They already have, judging by that fanzine bloke you had a face off with on BBC North East.
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The columnists seem to be lining up to give fistface a shoeing now.
Des Kelly in the Mail. I dont have the quote option on here I'm afraid
Loyalty? Forget Bent. Bruce has jumped ship even more than Jack Sparrow
By Des Kelly Last updated at 1:57 AM on 22nd January 2011
My apologies for turning this column into a game of Hangman, but it is unavoidable if I am to use a phrase that is often bandied about in business negotiations. The saying is: 'Loyalty is what they **** you with'.
If you've been watching football in recent years, you will be perfectly capable of filling in the blanks. If not, here's a clue: Wayne Rooney can say the word.
Seriously, is there anyone out there who believes the concept of loyalty exists in football any more? I ask because the hypocrisy and claptrap that has been doing the rounds since Darren Bent's transfer from Sunderland to Aston Villa has been staggering to behold.
All at sea: how Steve Bruce would appear in Pirates of the Caribbean
Apparently Bent is a traitor, Judas, mercenary or a combination of all three because he changed jobs for more money. Some unevolved specimens of humanity even went on Twitter to post death threats, proving you don't necessarily need opposable thumbs to type. Well, grow up.
We hear this nonsense every time a player switches clubs. While a certain amount of hollow outrage is to be expected from fans, as their allegiances are understandably blind, what is truly depressing is the fact that professionals in the game, who should know better, have been feeding this indignant twaddle.
Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has been the prime culprit, complaining bitterly like a jilted lover. First there was denial, then anger; next comes bargaining, depression and finally acceptance - hopefully before the week is through. Right now he is stuck in his tearful denial stage, sobbing loudly about how 'the club as a whole have every right to feel massively let down' by Bent.
That's rubbish. Nobody has any right whatsoever. Bent has done exactly what any plumber, builder, journalist or football manager would do. He has accepted a chance to earn considerably more money - a pay rise of 33 per cent, we hear - from another employer. Playing football is his job, not some dysfunctional marriage that needs saving for the sake of the little kiddies.
Besides, Bruce is not best placed to offer judgment from any moral high ground. His history shows he has a chameleon-like ability to change colours if there's more money or a new opportunity to be had.
As many will remind him, he walked out of Wigan Athletic after just eight weeks. The glue holding his nameplate to the office door barely had time to dry before he was off to take charge at Crystal Palace.
But that wasn't enough, as he then quit Palace just 11 weeks into the new season for the job at Birmingham City. By now they had given up with nameplates and were just sticking an Etch-A-Sketch to Bruce's office door with a picture of a cuckoo on it.
The man is now on his seventh club as a boss. At least when Robert Maxwell jumped ship he had the decency to disappear. Bruce, however, has been leaping from rigging to rigging like Captain Jack Sparrow on speed, plundering riches merrily along the way.
The trait is not just confined to his management career, either. Those with longer memories will recall how Bruce went on strike at Norwich City and refused to play when his proposed transfer to Manchester United hit a hitch over the transfer fee. He insisted the club were 'denying him the move of a lifetime' and, in the end, Bruce had his way. Loyalty didn't figure greatly in the process.
Don't get me wrong. Bruce is a personable man, a good manager at Sunderland and he is entitled to pursue opportunities in the game as and when they arise. My issue is with his inability to apply the same principles to Bent. Either way, I'm sure we can agree he's hardly in a position to preach to anybody about 'loyalty' in football.
Then there are the journalists pontificating on Bent's decision. They seem to be people who have a) never been offered a job elsewhere and remain unburdened by the concept of choice, or b) forgotten they would run headlong into the arms of a new employer if they offered so much as a better mileage rate.
You'd have done the same too: New Aston Villa signing Darren Bent (right) poses with Gerrard Houllier (left)
One asked: 'What is left for fans to believe? Does it mean that every time they watch their idols kiss the club badge they are watching nothing but a cruel counterfeit?'
Hmm, let's think about that for a moment. I'm guessing the answer is 'yes', unless they still believe in Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy.
Basically, Bruce has to trot out this loyalty tosh to counter the idea that Sunderland haven't been embarrassed by the Villa swoop, but the media don't have to swallow it.
People who deserve loyalty usually receive it. Loyalty is a two-way street. Let's be honest, Sunderland, like every other top club, would have had no hesitation dumping a player if it suited their ends and I doubt they will be overly concerned about the sensitivities of any rivals when they go out to spend their £24million windfall on replacements.
Besides, should Bruce ever get the call for the Manchester United job or for the England post, hands up all of those who think 'loyalty' to Sunderland will hold him back? I thought so.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/article-1349429/Des-Kelly-Loyalty-Forget-Bent-Bruce-jumped-ship-Jack-Sparrow.html#ixzz1BkdUid4m
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Lovely :)
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Perhaps if it carries on, we should send lil lee up to Sunderland to "sort" out the situation again
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A face like a burst bag of dogdirt.
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From Sky....
On the possibility of signing Fuller, Bruce added: "I think it would be wrong for me to mention other people's players after the week I've had.
"But he is something we are interested in.
Good that he didn't say anything then, wonder if he has called Pulis yet?
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What a whinging Tit, I think he tries to emulate (badly) the ferguson siege mentality-(refs getting the big decisions wrong,every week on motd,moaning about Newcastle playing inappropriate songs ,and now Villa tapping up Bent). The guy needs a big F*cking dress