Sell Bent?

[pauliewalnuts]

I understand the arguments for selling Bent, I don't think they're stupid. I just think they're wrong.

Apart from anything else, I'd have thought it would be easier to buy in a player who can actually get the ball to Bent in the first place to put it in the net than it would be to buy another striker who can be relied on to do so as much as Bent can.

Do people really think there's a gettable striker out there who, by virtue of his enormous work rate, if we swapped him for Bent, is going to make the difference we need right now? Yes, other strikers would drop back and fetch the ball, or play more of a role in the build up, but to the extent that they'll weigh in with more goals this season than Bent will?

And if such a striker exists, how easy do we reckon it'd be to identify him and buy him in the next 11 days, whilst simultaneously doing a deal to sell Bent?

Strikes me that what we need to work on is getting the ball to Bent in the first place. We managed it under Houllier, and we even managed it occasionally last year.

Forget any idea of selling Bent and using the money to get 4 or 5 players in, too - the major problem is the wage bill. Unless we're going to buy a bunch of league one players, that's going to take a hit doing that kind of dealing.

[curiousorange]

I don't think there's a striker in the £20m bracket that's gettable by us that can do what Bent can. Rumours are that Dzeko is on his way to Tottenham, Llorente is on his way to Arsenal, Hernandez is available to loan and Owen and Berbatov are looking for clubs. Even if you take the first two as viable options (which they aren't, as we're nowhere near the top half, let alone Europe) I'd still rather have Bent as he's proven, we already have him and if you give him the service, he'll get you 20 goals a season.

It mystifies me why people are so down on the one genuine star we have in the squad. It's almost like people get amnesia if he doesn't score 2 a game. He's a striker, expect him to do that best when he's actually getting the ball.

[Dave Clark Five]

If Bent looked like he was trying, it wouldn't be so bad. However, he ambles around, waiting for the ball to roll into the goal area with only the keeper to beat. N'Zogbia is still blaming McLeish for his own lack of delivery. He is supposed to be providing the 'service' but has a huge chip on his shoulder. I don't think Bent has the same attitude as N'Zogbia, but I just don't think he will become the player we want him to be.
Sell N'Zogbia -yes, but who will buy him?

[pauliewalnuts]

I don't think there's a striker in the £20m bracket that's gettable by us that can do what Bent can. Rumours are that Dzeko is on his way to Tottenham, Llorente is on his way to Arsenal, Hernandez is available to loan and Owen and Berbatov are looking for clubs. Even if you take the first two as viable options (which they aren't, as we're nowhere near the top half, let alone Europe) I'd still rather have Bent as he's proven, we already have him and if you give him the service, he'll get you 20 goals a season.

It mystifies me why people are so down on the one genuine star we have in the squad. It's almost like people get amnesia if he doesn't score 2 a game. He's a striker, expect him to do that best when he's actually getting the ball.

Well said.

I also suspect that a few people are thinking we'd sell Bent and get Hernandez or Berbatov in.

We wouldn't. We'd get Kenwynne Jones in, that's the kind of financial reality we're dealing with. Given that, whilst appreciating Bent's weaknesses, I'd much much rather we tried to do something about giving him the ball than selling him and watching the squad devalue even more.

[ozzjim]

Berbatov would be good with Bent.

Can't see him going to Spurs, and Lorente would be gooad at Arsenal if it happened.

[pauliewalnuts]

If Bent looked like he was trying, it wouldn't be so bad. However, he ambles around, waiting for the ball to roll into the goal area with only the keeper to beat. N'Zogbia is still blaming McLeish for his own lack of delivery. He is supposed to be providing the 'service' but has a huge chip on his shoulder. I don't think Bent has the same attitude as N'Zogbia, but I just don't think he will become the player we want him to be.
Sell N'Zogbia -yes, but who will buy him?

Sunderland would be my bet.

He (N'Zogbia) is one of the biggest disappointments in years. I can't believe the difference between what we see and what Wigan had.

He just looks devoid of any clue as to what to do when he gets the ball. Shocking.

[curiousorange]

If Bent looked like he was trying, it wouldn't be so bad. However, he ambles around, waiting for the ball to roll into the goal area with only the keeper to beat. N'Zogbia is still blaming McLeish for his own lack of delivery. He is supposed to be providing the 'service' but has a huge chip on his shoulder. I don't think Bent has the same attitude as N'Zogbia, but I just don't think he will become the player we want him to be.
Sell N'Zogbia -yes, but who will buy him?

Sunderland would be my bet.

He (N'Zogbia) is one of the biggest disappointments in years. I can't believe the difference between what we see and what Wigan had.

He just looks devoid of any clue as to what to do when he gets the ball. Shocking.

What fries me is that if N'Zogbia did what he can do, he would be adored by Villa fans, who lust after any smidgen of creativity after, let's face it, about six years of basic kick-and-rush. Why he preferred to be a superstar at Wigan in the relegation zone and not the confirmed heartbeat at a Villa who could have been resurgent with him is mystifying.

[Ad@m]

We wouldn't. We'd get Kenwynne Jones in, that's the kind of financial reality we're dealing with. Given that, whilst appreciating Bent's weaknesses, I'd much much rather we tried to do something about giving him the ball than selling him and watching the squad devalue even more.

Was Jones at Sunderland with Bent?

I almost feel dirty for saying this but if they've played together before I wouldn't mind us taking a punt on Jones now.  In theory it should work with Jones winning flick ons for Bent to run on to but I'm slightly nervous by virtue of the fact I've always thought Kenwyne Jones is a waste of space.

[pauliewalnuts]

I wonder if it is about confidence.

At Newcastle, he got mortally offended when (that prick) Kinnear called him Insomnia, and just wanted out straight after. at Wigan he was a big fish in a small pond and did well.

For us, he's had a big transfer fee and a bit of expectation, and he's delivered absolutely sod all.

[pauliewalnuts]

We wouldn't. We'd get Kenwynne Jones in, that's the kind of financial reality we're dealing with. Given that, whilst appreciating Bent's weaknesses, I'd much much rather we tried to do something about giving him the ball than selling him and watching the squad devalue even more.

Was Jones at Sunderland with Bent?

I almost feel dirty for saying this but if they've played together before I wouldn't mind us taking a punt on Jones now.  In theory it should work with Jones winning flick ons for Bent to run on to but I'm slightly nervous by virtue of the fact I've always thought Kenwyne Jones is a waste of space.

I wouldn't necessarily disagree with that - Jones to partner Bent - but I fear that if we sold Bent, we'd end up with Jones as his replacement.

Which makes me start to feel my mouth fill with bile.

[Risso]

If Bent looked like he was trying, it wouldn't be so bad. However, he ambles around, waiting for the ball to roll into the goal area with only the keeper to beat. N'Zogbia is still blaming McLeish for his own lack of delivery. He is supposed to be providing the 'service' but has a huge chip on his shoulder. I don't think Bent has the same attitude as N'Zogbia, but I just don't think he will become the player we want him to be.
Sell N'Zogbia -yes, but who will buy him?

Sunderland would be my bet.

He (N'Zogbia) is one of the biggest disappointments in years. I can't believe the difference between what we see and what Wigan had.

He just looks devoid of any clue as to what to do when he gets the ball. Shocking.

My mate's a big Wigan fan and was a coach there (under Bruce) before he got cancer.  He reckons that what we've got isn't a lot different to what Wigan had, it's just that he shone in a few games in Wigan's usual end of season flourish.  Other than that he was a one good game in five kind of player.

[Risso]

We wouldn't. We'd get Kenwynne Jones in, that's the kind of financial reality we're dealing with. Given that, whilst appreciating Bent's weaknesses, I'd much much rather we tried to do something about giving him the ball than selling him and watching the squad devalue even more.

Was Jones at Sunderland with Bent?

I almost feel dirty for saying this but if they've played together before I wouldn't mind us taking a punt on Jones now.  In theory it should work with Jones winning flick ons for Bent to run on to but I'm slightly nervous by virtue of the fact I've always thought Kenwyne Jones is a waste of space.

I wouldn't necessarily disagree with that - Jones to partner Bent - but I fear that if we sold Bent, we'd end up with Jones as his replacement.

Which makes me start to feel my mouth fill with bile.

What makes you think Lambert would buy Jones.  None of his signings to date indicate that he'd go down the O'Neill route of paying massively over the odds for average British based players.

[Ad@m]

If Bent looked like he was trying, it wouldn't be so bad. However, he ambles around, waiting for the ball to roll into the goal area with only the keeper to beat. N'Zogbia is still blaming McLeish for his own lack of delivery. He is supposed to be providing the 'service' but has a huge chip on his shoulder. I don't think Bent has the same attitude as N'Zogbia, but I just don't think he will become the player we want him to be.
Sell N'Zogbia -yes, but who will buy him?

Sunderland would be my bet.

He (N'Zogbia) is one of the biggest disappointments in years. I can't believe the difference between what we see and what Wigan had.

He just looks devoid of any clue as to what to do when he gets the ball. Shocking.

My mate's a big Wigan fan and was a coach there (under Bruce) before he got cancer.  He reckons that what we've got isn't a lot different to what Wigan had, it's just that he shone in a few games in Wigan's usual end of season flourish.  Other than that he was a one good game in five kind of player.

We must be due a lot of good games then!!!

[Ad@m]

What makes you think Lambert would buy Jones.  None of his signings to date indicate that he'd go down the O'Neill route of paying massively over the odds for average British based players.

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2012/08/17/3313310/paul-lambert-declares-admiration-for-jermain-defoe-and?source=breakingnews

[curiousorange]

I wonder if it is about confidence.

At Newcastle, he got mortally offended when (that prick) Kinnear called him Insomnia, and just wanted out straight after. at Wigan he was a big fish in a small pond and did well.

For us, he's had a big transfer fee and a bit of expectation, and he's delivered absolutely sod all.

I've genuinely never seen him smile when playing for Aston Villa. I may be wrong but he looks as if he treats pulling on a football kit and getting paid a shedload of cash for it a thankless chore.