Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert denies rift with Darren Bent

[Steve R]

There's some similar bollocks in today's grauniad about 'Lambert getting it wrong with Bent'

So a manager decides not to play a non-scoring 'goals only' striker, said striker comes off the bench suitably piqued and scores.

It looks to me like Lambert got it right.

 

[brian green]

I really do believe that Paul Lambert knows what he is doing and is very good at it.  Bent was totally invisible and silent as captain and did not merit the role.   PL saw this and rectified it immediately.   One thing which is already crystal clear about our manager is that he does not mess about, he does what needs to be done sooner rather than later.

When he came on yesterday off the bench there was far more energy and enthusiasm for the game from Bent than has been seen for a long time.   No team can afford the luxury of players living in comfort zones and two of our worst offenders in this respect have been Bent and Given.   If Bent acts the goat and gives the manager grief, ship him out.   Team spirit and teamwork are far more important than bruised egos.

[Ross]

If pissed off Bent scores goals, then I'd rather that version be around than disinterested Bent. Same trick worked for Pardew and Ba at Newcastle, and that's called a master stroke by some in the media.

[damon loves JT]

Liverpool fan at work was trying to wind me up about this today. Perhaps everyone was taking bets on whether they could get me to twat them.

[PeterWithesShin]

Darren Bent has expressed his disappointment with Paul Lambert, the Aston Villa manager, for dropping him without offering any explanation to complete what the striker described as a "crappy couple of weeks" at the club. Bent came off the bench to equalise in the 1-1 draw against West Bromwich Albion on Sunday but he was visibly upset after the final whistle and made no attempt to conceal his frustration at losing the captaincy and his starting place in the space of a fortnight.

The 28-year-old England forward, who was relieved of the responsibility of leading the team when Villa beat Swansea two weeks earlier, was particularly aggrieved with the manner in which he discovered that he was being left out for the Albion fixture. Instead of being pulled to one side beforehand and given an explanation for the decision – an unwritten rule for managers to apply when dropping a player and in particular a senior member of the squad – the first Bent knew he was not in the starting XI was when Lambert read out the team.

Gabriel Agbonlahor, who scored twice in the 4-2 victory over Manchester City in the League Cup last Tuesday, and Christian Benteke were given the nod up front, which was not something that Bent, the club's record signing, had expected after getting his first Premier League goal of the season, at Southampton the previous weekend.

"I felt a bit disappointed that I didn't start the game," Bent said. "It's always nice to come on and score a goal in any circumstances, especially in the derby. But it's been a crappy couple of weeks for me, finding out I was no longer captain before the [Swansea] game. And here, again, to find out before the game that I wasn't playing. It was disappointing.

"I can't remember the last time [I've been left out of a side]. I only found out when the gaffer read the team sheet out. It's frustrating and disappointing. All I can do is keep coming on and scoring goals, and take it from there. My confidence is back after getting the goal against Southampton. That was a massive boost. I took a knock [on Sunday], but at the same time I tried to get back on to the pitch and work as hard as I could for the team to try to get them back into the game."

Asked what the manager said about why he was not playing, Bent replied: "Nothing. I've not spoke to him at all about why he left me out. We'll probably speak next week." Bent was emotional after he scored, although he denied that he was about to say something to Lambert when he set off in the direction of the dugout before being mobbed by team-mates.

"No, not really," he said. "You're always frustrated when you're not playing games. And the way I found out that I wasn't playing … but I wanted to go to the family and give them a wave. Then go from there really."

Although Bent scored against Tranmere in the earlier round of the League Cup and Southampton in the Premier League, he has looked a little off the pace and it was put to him that Lambert may have wanted to give him a "kick up the backside" to get the best out of him.

"Yes, maybe," Bent said. "Strikers are always judged on scoring goals. After getting the one last week, I thought that would build me up for today but it just wasn't to be."

If there was a small consolation for Bent, it was that Roy Hodgson, the England manager, was still in the stadium when the striker crashed home his goal, in the 80th minute, with only his third touch of the ball after replacing Benteke.

Bent has not played for England since last November and after seeing his hopes of featuring at Euro 2012 dashed by injury, suffered further disappointment when he was omitted from the squad for the first two World Cup qualifiers. "It's not been a great period for me," Bent said. "But I didn't know Roy Hodgson was there until someone told me after the game. If he was there then hopefully that goal will give me a boost and maybe I'll be in his plans."

[PaulMcGrathsNo5Shirt]

I'm pleased he was upset about not starting, he'll probably start against Spurs and hopefully he'll do well and score again.

Why, just because the manager decides to leave him on the bench is there a problem all of a sudden?

If Rooney, Lampard, Torres, Drogba and other sides can leave their players on the bench then why can't we? I think Lambert's thinking was pretty obvious, Gabby scored twice midweek and deserved to start, and I think against Smethwick we needed Benteke's physical presence, particularly against Olsen.

[Matt Collins]

I think this will soon blow over. Bent should understand that having scored 4 at the home of the champions, lambert wanted to go with the guys in form. I expect bent to start and score v spurs (even tho we may well lose) and this will soon be forgotten. Either footballers are a bit precious these days, or journalists over hype things. Or both

[ciggiesnbeer]

I am glad Darren cares. Good for him.

Did Lambert get it wrong? I dont know. I would have played Gabby/Weimann. So likely pised off Bent & Benteke

[villajk]

Bent to speak to Lambert about omission
By PA
Updated Tuesday, 2nd October 2012
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Aston Villa striker Darren Bent expects to hold talks this week with manager Paul Lambert after being left out of the starting line-up for Sunday's home clash with West Brom.

The England international came off the bench to salvage a 1-1 draw with an 80th-minute equaliser after Shane Long had given the Baggies a 51st-minute lead. But Bent admitted being left out of Lambert's first XI was the climax to an unhappy fortnight.
He was not included by England boss Roy Hodgson in the squad for last month's World Cup qualifiers and was removed as Villa captain by Lambert. He said: "It's been a crappy couple of weeks, finding out I was no longer captain before the game (against Swansea). Then to find out when I got here (for West Brom) that I wasn't playing - it was disappointing."
He added: "But at the same time, the lads played well and over the weeks we have been slowly getting better and better. I can't remember the last time I was left out. I only found out when the gaffer read the team sheet out. I didn't know. It is frustrating and disappointing.
"All I can keep doing is what I did against West Brom - to come on and try to notch goals and go from there."
Asked what Lambert had said about leaving him out, Bent replied: "Nothing. I've not spoken to the manager at all about why he left me out.
"I'm sure we'll probably speak next week. You are always frustrated when you are not playing games, and the way I found out I wasn't playing."
Bent acknowledged being dropped could have been a kick up the backside.
He said: "Maybe. Strikers are always judged on scoring goals and, getting the one against Southampton last week, I thought I could build on that. But it just wasn't meant to be.
"Hopefully I'll score more goals now. I'm always a confident character and, if I get the chance, I'll score the goals."
Source: PA

[garyshawsknee]

He'll start on Sunday,this'll blow over.

[Risso]

I think Lambert has got this right, and is sending out the right messages to all the players.  If it was me, I'd drop Vlaar next match.  He was at fault for the West Brom goal, and was crap against Southampton, so before the "Ooh ah" chants go to his head, I'd let him know he needs to improve.

[pauliewalnuts]

The problem with dropping Vlaar (and he has been questionable to say the least, the last two games) is who do we play in his place?

Baker plus Clark makes a very young CB pairing.

[Monty]

Nobody should be happy to be left out, but if Bent thinks he has an automatic right to starting place, even when not in the best of form, then fuck him off to the reserves and sell him. If you think like that you have to be Zlatan to get away with it.

As for the Graun comments: "It should also be said that, on the basis of how Gabriel Agbonlahor and Christian Benteke played up front on Sunday, it was the wrong decision."

I'm not sure what Stuart James' weird recent agenda has been against us, but even though Gabby and Benteke didn't play particularly well Bent's substitute appearance doesn't mean that he would have played any better. Coming off the bench is very different to starting the game.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Lambert's only mistake was not speaking and explaining the reasons why he no longer wanted Bent as captain. He should have done it. It would have been respectful to any club captain.

As for not playing on Sunday, like all players, Bent must learn that the team will change based on tactics, not reputations.

[Pete3206]

He'll start on Sunday,this'll blow over.

There's nothing to blow over.