Where is the service???

[WikiVilla]

before we start throwing Bradley and Delph in the team weve got to see them both play a few games

Spot on, 3 or 4 games in the reserves if they can get a game

[Salsa Party Animal]

Also Kyle Walker have overhit the cross which would be a goal but Bent can't jump that high. There is too many long ball and not enough byline crossing. I think Bent isn't a player who make thing happens as he rely on good service like a certain Gary Lineker.

[WikiVilla]

I think its going to take the players a bit of time to work out how Bent makes his runs etc.
We came close a few times today to threading him in.

[Shrek]

It's true what Sunderland fans said, he never makes a goal for himself he only scores tap ins with the occasional good header.

It's like playing with 10 men.

Am I wrong?

[WikiVilla]

It's true what Sunderland fans said, he never makes a goal for himself he only scores tap ins with the occasional good header.

It's like playing with 10 men.

Am I wrong?

10 players + 1 goal machine if you feed him

[Salsa Party Animal]

So who is our Peter Beardsley

[JJ-AV]

That's why Adam was chased and why we may have a problem until we can get a real creative force in there.

[ez]

Nightmare scenario is that Bents goals dry up playing for us.

[Jimbo]

We're effectively trying to neutralise our attacking threat, by:

a) Playing Gabby on the wing
b) Playing Young and Downing out of position
c) Not giving Bent the service that he might have got with both Young and Downing in their natural positions.

In short, we're doing everything we possibly can to make our attack less effective, short of nailing Bent's right foot to a grand piano, or locking Gabby in an oversized tea chest.

[barrysleftfoot]

  Keep Makoun in midfield, bring in Bradley and Bannan/Delph, and you will have better passers in the team.Then the wide players can be between Downing/AYoung /Albrighton and Gabby , they can compete for the positions.

  Bent will score if you feed him, he always has, if he stops its because we don't create enough.

  Some of our supposed better players need to step up to the plate.

[Holtenderinthesky]

It's true what Sunderland fans said, he never makes a goal for himself he only scores tap ins with the occasional good header.

It's like playing with 10 men.

Am I wrong?

Isn't that a bit like saying that all teams play with 10 men cos the goalkeeper does nothing but make saves?  Darren Bent's job is to put the ball in the net, nothing more, nothing less and he will do that given the service.

[Dan England]

We're effectively trying to neutralise our attacking threat, by:

a) Playing Gabby on the wing
b) Playing Young and Downing out of position
c) Not giving Bent the service that he might have got with both Young and Downing in their natural positions.

In short, we're doing everything we possibly can to make our attack less effective, short of nailing Bent's right foot to a grand piano, or locking Gabby in an oversized tea chest.

Bullseye! We have spent 18 months putting balls in the box with no one there to get on the end of them. We finally get that man and we move the team around to accomodate a pacey yet far from 1st class striker at LM and a stroppy winger, who can be devastingly good on his day, through the middle. Low and behold decent balls into the box have stopped with no decent wide threat.

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

2 goals in 4 games and should've scored one today.

The service is shit. I only hope he carries on being given shit service so he can only score an average of a goal every two games.

[Holtenderinthesky]

2 goals in 4 games and should've scored one today.

The service is shit. I only hope he carries on being given shit service so he can only score an average of a goal every two games.

What an insightful post that is.  So how many chances have we created for him?  How many shots at goal have we had in the last 4 games?   Was it 2 today? You seem to think I am knocking Bent when in actual fact I am doing the OPPOSITE.  If he has grabbed 2 in 4 from very few chances then what could he do with MORE chances?  You ought to think before you type I think.

[eastie]

Cannot see houllier going 442 , he is a man who likes the 433 and I think ash will go in the summer , as for gabby I think he will be mainly on the bench.

I would use albrighton and downing out wide supporting bent and providing the ammunition, with makoun holding in midfield alongside Bradley and bannan , who would provide creative flair.