Sell Bent?

[Cuz]

We got to get he ball to him. And we need a couple of players who can do that

Yeah Hawk I'm not defending him I ain't happy but he is not our worse player and things have changed for the worse since he joined, I think he'd be scoring a lot more regular if we still had Young Downing and Milner

That is a cop out, he makes no effort to contribute and get involved with the team, he doesn't move into space, he does absolutely nothing, he can't expect everything on a plate, Evertons defenders were not once under the slight bit of pressure.

His game is to score goals and he has consistently done that in his career, he needs help and support, he's an out and out finisher that's his job that's what he does, he does his stuff up the other end
[/quote you are both right, he is the most infuriating player with a special talent. If we can not access that talent then there is no point. I believe it is too late to do anything other than go with Bent now, we really dont have any other option.

[SoccerHQ]

It will be interesting to see once Bent leaves where fans would place him in the list of favourite/best forwards they've seen down Villa Park.

I accept he's playing in one of the poorest Villa Teams of the last 15 years but I dunno I struggle to warm to him really. If he's not scoring goals then he hardly gets into the game or even touches the ball. Even his goals are penalties or tap ins.

Forwards I'd place over him in the list would be Yorke obviously, Dublin, JPA, Carew and Gabby.

Now some of those may not be as prolific as Bent but they had more to their game, likes of JPA, Yorke and Carew would score different types of goals and contribute outside the area and Gabby's scored in some of our best wins over the last 5 years and on a good day, his pace causes defences havoc.

As I've said before, Bent would've been very good in an MON team when very often we just needed a reliable finishing touch to all the Young crosses but in this limited team where more graft and workrate are required, he's pretty redundant as he dosen't create for himself.

[Matt Collins]

I can't see any chance of us selling him soon. None of the top 6 clubs would want him, and no-one else could afford him.

He is a pretty limited footballer, but his goal record is amazing. It was good last season when he was pretty crap and as a team we were worse.

He can play as the loan forward, but only in a team that can really play the ball through midfield. So I think it has to be two up top. The problem is, who to play with him. I think he'd be best with a target man. But that does have consequences for the way the rest of the team is set up.

I do think Lambert will have the balls and intelligence to sort it out though. That's what I'm reassuring myself with

[KRS]

Bent is the type of player that needs service...he's not about to change his game and he doesnt have the ability to create his own chances. He may be a proven goalscorer but sometimes a player isnt the right fit in a team, so either change our style of play to suit him and bring in players who can provide him with the service he needs...or sell him. It really is that simple.

Personally, I'd get a swap deal on the go for Carroll and spend £10 on Sturridge who looks like he doesnt have a role to play at Chelski. I can also see Gabby playing well with Carroll, with the likes of Weiman and Fonz going out on loan for some much needed game time.

[Matt Collins]

I can't see Rodgers wanting Bent. He wants to play 433, and Bent isn't good enough on the ball to play in that role for a team that plays the Rodgers style

[supertom]

Bent is the type of player that needs service...he's not about to change his game and he doesnt have the ability to create his own chances. He may be a proven goalscorer but sometimes a player isnt the right fit in a team, so either change our style of play to suit him and bring in players who can provide him with the service he needs...or sell him. It really is that simple.

Spot on. Perhaps though, for the good of the side and to raise funds quickly, it might have to be the latter. I really wish Randy would dig on and get us some decent players to get Bent firing 20 goals this season.
The way we are at the moment though, is like playing with 10 men when Bents in the side. He doesn't touch the ball. Offers nothing, no threat. I'd rather have a striker who'll come for the ball and try and dictate things. Or someone physical up top who can hold it up and bring others in to play. I mean it's no exaggeration to say that Heskey could have been just as effective as Bent's been in the two games so far.
If a club like QPR or Liverpool (probably the only options) wanted to spunk 15 million, I'd take it. Sign an experienced forward who knows this league (Keane?) and someone from abroad with promise. Or if poss a loan signing (Guidetti maybe).
I'd love us to find the new Jelavic to be honest. Class player.

[KRS]

In that case...any club wanting to pay £15m for Bent should be enough to complete a move for Carroll (considering they apparently still owe some of the Downing transfer fee), and Randy needs to pull out £10m from somewhere to get Sturridge. That would sort the forward line, but funds are still needed for at least another defender and midfielder unless we get a couple of loans or freebies.

[supertom]

The big worry will be come january. What sort of position we'll be in. 2 years ago Randy got desperate and spunked 18 mill on Bent and he kept us up.
The way january went and this window thus far, suggests that he can't afford to do that again. If we're in the shit we may well be unable to find an inspirational signing from somewhere to pull us out. I'm bricking it already boys.

[KRS]

I dont think its anything to do with transfer fees or not being able to afford them...when was that last time you heard a billionaire hasnt got a spare £20 million to spunk up the wall? The problem is that Randy let the wages spiral out of control and we're still in that period of bringing the club back as into operating as a viable business. The general rule of thumb dictates that expensive players come with expensive wages, so unless some of the other shite on the books are gone then dont expect any expensive marquee signings coming in unless it involves some kind of swap deal to reduce/replace a wage...even a loan or freebie would increase the wage bill if players like Warnock and Hutton arent involved in the deals.

[OzVilla]

Assuming your right, what still amazes me is that Randy and the Board let the wage situation got so out of control and to such a degree that the austerity measures have lasted more than three years with still no light at the end of the tunnel in the way of available funds.

What the feck were they actually doing while MON was here?

[Matt Collins]

Exactly. They were either assuming we'd get into the champions league. Which would have been very stupid. Or they were prepared to bankroll an unsustainable business model, and something hwppened to change randy's mind -i e. randy suffered in the financial crisis and felt he couldn't justify subsidising us to the same degree, or he fell out of love with villa to a degree

[supertom]

If we can't sell Warnock and Hutton. Could we not come to some agreement with them to tear up their contract? It'll cost, but we'd work something out. They'll find clubs far easier if they can move for nowt, and probably get a selling on fee. No one seems to want either of them right now, so it's gonna be 70-80k a week shat out for two reserves.

[Ron Manager]

If we can't sell Warnock and Hutton. Could we not come to some agreement with them to tear up their contract? It'll cost, but we'd work something out. They'll find clubs far easier if they can move for nowt, and probably get a selling on fee. No one seems to want either of them right now, so it's gonna be 70-80k a week shat out for two reserves.

I think Warnock and Hutton and a load of players from around the leagues will move in the last few days of this window when buyers/sellers
stop waiting for the cheapest option and panic buy.

[olaftab]

The only possible route for Bent to go is QPR. No one else would want him for football reasons or for the price we will expect. I think QPR are desperate enough and rich enough and hopefully stupid enough to pay us £20m.

[olaftab]

It will be interesting to see once Bent leaves where fans would place him in the list of favourite/best forwards they've seen down Villa Park.

At the moment he is just about ahead of Baros.