Darren Bent

[old man villa fan]

Just because Gabby wasn't involved in the specific game altering goals at the Bridge, doesn't lessen his contribution to the win.

In short, if Gabby hadn't spent the bulk of the game getting Sideshow Bob and his racist friend to chase shadows, they might have dealt with any late surge from us far more comfortably.

I did make these points in my original post.

[mrfuse]

@ John - I dont think any formation or team line-up played against a piss poor Wigan side provides a sound basis for any tactical decisions to be honest. The only thing I can see with that is being camped in our own half with the occasional counter attack. Until we get some strength and quality in midfield we need to play 4 or 5 across the middle of the park giving us some bite in midfield and an outlet to break down the wings to supply Bent or Gabby.

Well, I haven't exactly seen other formations against equally piss poor opposition having been an outstanding success, far from it.  In fact we have been out played in the midfield in most of our games this season and that includes the average and poor sides.

...and thats exactly why we need to keep Bent and sign a couple of defenders and midfielders who are capable of passing, tackling and creating. At the end of the day, if they players arent upto the job then you're screwed whatever formation and tactics you play.

well I think we have players capable of passing, tackling and creating we just dont have a manager capable of making the most of these players

[KRS]

I'd say its more of a combination of both.

Collins, Warnock and Hutton are liabilies at the back...and you could easily make a case for Cuellar and Dunne too for that matter.
We have players in the middle of the park that can pass, but with the exception of Petrov they lack work rate and tackling ability.
With players like Albrighton, Ireland, Bannan and N'Zogbia in the team we still fail to create chances for Bent and Gabby. No doubt they have the ability so you can only lay the blame there with either the management or coaching staff.

[Summers]

I wouldn't be upset if Bent left for cash + Carroll. Which is weird, and honestly.. it's because I think we're stuck with Eck and I think we're stuck with being a shit attacking team who need a focal point. Bent is fantastic at scoring goals, but we're not making enough chances for him to have his 3 warm up shots before he scores. If we had someone else at the helm, who was coaching the team better, than selling Bent would be crazy.. but we're not using playing in a way that suits him.

And before people say "We should change our style, not sell our best goalscorer". I agree! I just don't think it's likely. I think Lerner made such a crazy, unpopular decision in picking McLeish that he feels like he HAS to stick with him.

It'd have to be a crazy good offer either way. In a perfect world McLeish can be replaced and we can keep Bent and start playing like a team who enjoy playing football, knocking it around and start making chances for our 20-goal-a-season striker.

[ROBBO]

If you don't think Bent is not a focal point suited to our style how on earth do you come to the conclusion that Caroll would be, he has far better players around him at Liverpool and still looks lost, how many goals has he scored for them? I think Caroll will be a good prem player in the future but it was dilusional to think he was worth any where near 35 mil. Bent is a great player playing in a piss poor side.

[Toronto Villa]

How does the next part go.. ' Aston Villa refuse Daren Bent transfer request'

To be followed by  Faulkner ''We did all we could to keep him, but the player wanted out''


I dont think Randy has the stubbornness or arrogance to care anymore in telling Liverpool to do one

what would you rather have them say so as not raise your level of anger or scepticism?

[ROBBO]

Bents reaction when he scored against Chelsea said it all, he paid tribute to the shirt and was the most excited i've seen from a Villa player in quite a while, he's not going anywhere, i actually believe he likes being at Villa.

[Jimmy Smash]

Bents reaction when he scored against Chelsea said it all, he paid tribute to the shirt and was the most excited i've seen from a Villa player in quite a while, he's not going anywhere, i actually believe he likes being at Villa.

Beware the badge-kisser.

[KevinGage]

How often did Alpay kiss the badge?

Look how that ended.

[Jimmy Smash]

Exacto

[Summers]

If you don't think Bent is not a focal point suited to our style how on earth do you come to the conclusion that Caroll would be, he has far better players around him at Liverpool and still looks lost, how many goals has he scored for them? I think Caroll will be a good prem player in the future but it was dilusional to think he was worth any where near 35 mil. Bent is a great player playing in a piss poor side.

Because different players are focal in different ways. If we had a big target man, it'd suit us well the amount we lump the ball around when we get lost/scared. Bent is a poacher, and he will score goals when he's given the chances to, but under McLeish we're not playing football in that manner.

[Villanation]

The main advantage Carroll has over Bent is that Carroll has a lot more physical presence in the box, one of his main assets, is other being that he brings other players in, but that's it.

A major problem that Bent has IMO, is that he losses focus, losses concentration and easily drifts out of games,  Darren Bent is a player that needs to be being constantly fed with chances and probably around every 3 chances he gets he will take one, but he needs that constant feed and Villa don't have that, said when Bent came to the club and people where saying we have our 20+ goal a season man at last, my comment was "where from".

Anyway it probably doesn't matter because if you like at the Scouse reaction to Bent going to Liverpool, they don't seem best pleased, that's for sure.

Problem is to get the best from Bent we need an Ashley Young type of player around him and Bent needs Gabby closer to him to take the pressure of him and give him space in the box.

[Mister E]

Carroll = Duncan Ferguson. A nutter who will never quite deliver. Avoid.

[Villanation]

The other point is, I haven't actually voted on this, reason being is because yes I could vote to sell him but that would be on the basis that the club used the 15ML (imaginary figure) and then put to that another 10ML or so and get in a good addition or 2 really top notch players into the team.

Problem with this is AM seems more inclined to get in also rans rather than invest into quality in which case, stay with Darren Bent.

[rutski]

twitter going mad that bent is definitely off to Liverpool. aparantly lawrensen said on 5 live that it was a done deal??? did anyone hear him say it?