Darren Bent

[Dave]

It's not his goal scoring thats in dispute. It's all the other bollocks that seems to have come with him that matters.

'Other bollocks'?

Getting on with things without complaining, without falling out of nightclubs, constantly saying how great the club is and how much he enjoys being here (in spite of us selling off his principle sources of goals)?

In fact, apart from his ill-advised shopping trip, I can't think of a single thing he's said or done to give us reason to complain.

[Jimmy Smash]

Point taken. However having Bent is a bit like being in love with a beautiful woman... Dr Hook style. You know one day she's going to leave you for someone else.

[pauliewalnuts]

It's not his goal scoring thats in dispute. It's all the other bollocks that seems to have come with him that matters.

'Other bollocks'?

Getting on with things without complaining, without falling out of nightclubs, constantly saying how great the club is and how much he enjoys being here (in spite of us selling off his principle sources of goals)?

In fact, apart from his ill-advised shopping trip, I can't think of a single thing he's said or done to give us reason to complain.

There seems to be a strange kind of small club, "we're not worthy" thing going on with regards to Bent from some of us - almost as if he cost so much money, he can't possibly want to play here, he must want to leave, he can't be any good etc etc.

Nobody has yet answered the question as to where our goals would come from if we sold Darren Bent. Gabby is not prolific enough. The Fonz? I don't think so.

Bent started a game for the first time in three weeks, and people can't wait to get stuck in. He came off the bench at Chelsea and scored, FFS, but they're not having it.

[pauliewalnuts]

Point taken. However having Bent is a bit like being in love with a beautiful woman... Dr Hook style. You know one day she's going to leave you for someone else.

See my "not worthy" point above.

That's exactly what I mean.

[Risso]

A very well known ex Villa player told a friend of mine the other day that the club is a shambles from top to bottom at the moment. I have no reason to disbelieve him.

You don't need to be connected to the club to see that to be honest.

After the Chelsea result, I bet you were rubbing your hands at having chosen this fixture to come and see, weren't you?

Aston Villa, right there.

I was.  And to be honest, I had a great day anyway.  Lovely crisp, sunny day, pre and post match pint in the Barton's, walking round the ground getting some photos, just the buzz from being at VP again.  Shame about the actual 90 minutes masquerading as a football match, but still, can't have everything!

Fuck me Risso, I shouldn't laugh but you really should have known better. Villa Park is a still an ace place. Before the game starts that is.

Chrimbo pressie off the wife.  She wasn't sure whether to get me tickets for today or Chelsea away.....

[Jimmy Smash]

Point taken. However having Bent is a bit like being in love with a beautiful woman... Dr Hook style. You know one day she's going to leave you for someone else.

See my "not worthy" point above.
That's exactly what I mean.

I think time will tell Paulie.

[pauliewalnuts]

Point taken. However having Bent is a bit like being in love with a beautiful woman... Dr Hook style. You know one day she's going to leave you for someone else.

See my "not worthy" point above.
That's exactly what I mean.

I think time will tell Paulie.

What, that he'll leave? Of course he'll leave. Didn't we all know Ashley Young will leave? That didn't make him shit, though, and it doesn't make Bent shit either.

[olaftab]

I think the result today ensures that he will not be sold. We are heading in the same direction as we were when we signed him. So Randy will want him to keep us in the PL.
The suggestion that we can sell him and sign 2/3 quality players is bunk. You will not get 3x real quality for his fee.

[Risso]

I think the result today ensures that he will not be sold. We are heading in the same direction as we were when we signed him. So Randy will want him to keep us in the PL.
The suggestion that we can sell him and sign 2/3 quality players is bunk. You will not get 3x real quality for his fee.

If we sold him for twenty odd million, we'd be lucky to be allowed to spend half of it on a replacement.

[Dave]

The suggestion that we can sell him and sign 2/3 quality players is bunk. You will not get 3x real quality for his fee.

You can if you buy in the right places.

As Paulie has said though, it's the wages issue that will prevent that from happening.

And of course the fact that we shouldn't sell another of our best players is what will hopefully prevent if from happening.

[Jimmy Smash]

What, that he'll leave? Of course he'll leave. Didn't we all know Ashley Young will leave? That didn't make him shit, though, and it doesn't make Bent shit either.

Good. We agree then

[Malandro]

Its utter madness wanting rid of Bent. A forward who scores goals is exactly what you need when the rest of your team has no idea.

Messi would look a prick on his own up front at Villa Park

[Jimmy Smash]

Sorry... I seem to have been represented. I never said Bent is shit, far from it. I don't think our team or manager suits him, I think he feels short changed by the club selling our other best players, I don't think he wants to be here, and I think that as a club we're on the slide and he wants to be on the up. I also think that when his head drops he finds it difficult to put a shift in. I also think that he'll do to us what he did to Sunderland. He has no sentimental attachment to this club whatsoever.

[Ad@m]

Its utter madness wanting rid of Bent. A forward who scores goals is exactly what you need when the rest of your team has no idea.

Messi would look a prick on his own up front at Villa Park

Put a little more bluntly than I would've but this is spot on.

If AML is going to persist with playing one up front and launching balls at that one from miles away then playing Bent as the one is a complete waste of time.  We'd be better off with Gabby there who actually stretches the defence and creates space for players coming through the middle.

However, if AML could break out of the negative attitude he approaches games with and actually played to Bent's strengths then I don't think there's a better goal poacher in the country and he'd be a massive asset.

[Dante Lavelli]

Today for most of the game we were set up to supply Bent.  Both Nzog and Gabby were playing on the wing of their good foot (gabby right/Nzog left) so it would be their inclination to get to the byline and get crosses in.  If they were on the wing of their wrong foot then were continually cutting inside to shoot then we could argue that the side was not set up for his strengths.  Then you add that Ireland was playing just behind him with little responsibility to track back.  Basically, if anything we tried to hard to accommodate Bent.