Darren Bent

[Ad@m]

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.

No way.

It had nothing to do with their inclination to get to the byline and everything to do with how AML is asking them to play.  Gabby was standing on Cuellar's toes throughout and you can't tell me he has a natural inclination to hang back, he's a striker for heaven's sake!

How many times was the ball passed to Bent's feet, slipped behind the defence for him to run on to, or crossed low for him to tap in.  Absolutely none, on all three counts.  There is no way that team was set up to play to Bent's strengths.

[DeKuip]

Who in their right mind would offer us what we paid 12 months ago to take him off our hands? Only Man City would throw that sort of money around but as he's not a patch on Aguero, Balotelli or Dzeko they're hardly likely to do so.

So should we sell him at a big loss? No, that would be plain stupid after all the money we've had to write off on players and managers in the last couple of years.

For me Bent cannot play as a lone striker - he's just too idle. He doesn't look to put pressure on a defender in possession and he doesn't make runs that pull defenders around and open up opportunities for through balls or create spaces for others to move into. And he's about as much use as John Carew was if we're looking at hitting it long from the back - in that he's unlikely to actually do anything useful with it if he does manage to get on the end of it.
Watch Bobby Zamora play as a lone striker compared to Bent and you have wonder why Bent gets the nod for England ahead of him.
Gabby is a better option as a lone striker for us because he provides more options to the players on the ball, and he unsettles defences.

Bent's strength is in and around the six-yard box, but in our team that's about as much use as Barcelona having a goalkeeper half the time.

We are simply not strong enough elsewhere to be able to afford to carry Bent. If we could get back what we paid for him and could then spend that money on players I'd say sell him - but we won't.

[Toronto Villa]

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.....

I'd suggest a change of wife Risso based on that Stephen Warnock size mistake. A change in club unfortunately isn't an option.

[Shoody]

Should stay. Will go.

[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.

No way.

It had nothing to do with their inclination to get to the byline and everything to do with how AML is asking them to play.  Gabby was standing on Cuellar's toes throughout and you can't tell me he has a natural inclination to hang back, he's a striker for heaven's sake!

How many times was the ball passed to Bent's feet, slipped behind the defence for him to run on to, or crossed low for him to tap in.  Absolutely none, on all three counts.  There is no way that team was set up to play to Bent's strengths.

I wasn't at the game and only watched it on TV so I could not see the players' positions when they did not have the ball.  In that sense, I suppose I should have added "on paper" gabby and Nzog were set up to get crosses in rather than come inside and to shoot.  On that basis I though we were set up to supply Bent.  I'm not sure whether their failure to do so was the player's fault (incl Bent) or a result of the managers' instructions.

From the TV footage it looked like they tried to get forward but I accept that you get a better perspective at the matches.

[JUAN PABLO]

stay .

Otherwise it will be 20 million in Randys pocket and bobby Zamora in or even worse than him , Heskey up front for the rest of the season .

[pooligan]

Stay. With a bit of luck,the next manager whoever he may be might have some idea how to play to his strengths.

[garyfouroaks]

No-one will pay an acceptable fee - or better his wages/contract, he is staying.

With Given and Bent in the side mid table anonymity is guaranteed- without them, things could get hairy...........

[Dante Lavelli]

I'm trying to think of players that we could reasonably expect to buy in order to justify selling him and I'm struggling to say the least.

Hoillet - It would give us a very mobile and skilful front four with Gabby as the central guy and hoillet and Nzog/Albrighton offering width and Ireland or Bannan behind.  The touted fee is 8m from what I have read.

I'd then like to see us get a DCM and a CB, preferably young and players that will improve whilst at Villa.  Any ideas?  You've got 16m to spend.

[Dante Lavelli]

I'm trying to think of players that we could reasonably expect to buy in order to justify selling him and I'm struggling to say the least.  And that ignore whether Randy would want to pocket a percentage.

The only guy I can think of is Hoillet - He would give us a very mobile and skilful front four with Gabby as the central guy and Hoillet and Nzog/Albrighton offering width and Ireland or Bannan behind.  The touted fee is 8m from what I have read.

I'd then like to see us get a DCM and a CB with the remainder, preferably young and players that will improve whilst at Villa.  Any ideas?  You've got 16m to spend.

[brian green]

Bent is living in the comfort zone and needs the mother of bollockings from the manager not sold for a thumping loss.   Bent knows that there will always be a chorus of "he did not get the service" to get him off the hook of idleness.   Watch Robin Van Persie.   He is the supreme goal hanger but he works all the time and gets his shots off.

Yesterday we had 15 corners.   That is an average of once every six minutes the ball was, or should have been in their six yard box, not counting any times it was there from open play.   You can tell everything from what was wrong with our display against Swansea by the single statistic of 15 corners  1 shot on goal.   Bent played a stinker and all the bleating by him and his enthusiasts cannot hide the fact.

[olaftab]

Not sure if there is a Darren Bent topic anywhere

Not sure exactly what question am I answering here? For a YES/NO answer you need to ask a one way question.

[PaulTheVillan]

Shit poll options.

[Rick_avfc]

Firstly, just want to apologise for the major mistake in my poll.  It should have read Yes - sell him, No - keep him.  Most people got the gist of it and have answered it but for the people who are baffled by it, I apologise.  It was rushed last night as I was getting hacked off with some nonsense I was reading on twitter so wanted to get the post up.
Hope that clears it up?

Anyway, what makes people think RL would give AM all of the money to re-invest into the squad?  I dont.  Plus people saying we could get 3/4 quality players for say £20m?  Really?  Selling Bent at the moment would be stupid.  In the summer then yes as I think we all know he wont be at villa for the full length of his contract anyway.  I think if a club was to offer us anything from £20m upwards, RL and the board would consider it and most likely accept it but who in their right mind would make a bid?  Liverpool?  Most of their fans dont want him or rate him. 

[CJ]

I voted yes. Not sure whether that means 'yes he should stay' or 'yes he should go' so I voted yes just to be positive. I think