Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert denies rift with Darren Bent

[Risso]

I think Bent has worked as hard as he ever has this season, and should be in the team alongside Gabby or Weimann as he a) isn't that bad a team player, and b) is a far better goal scorer than anybody else.

[ozzjim]

I think Bent has worked as hard as he ever has this season, and should be in the team alongside Gabby or Weimann as he a) isn't that bad a team player, and b) is a far better goal scorer than anybody else.

It think the decision to play Gabby and Benteke against Albion was merited.

The decision to then leave Bent out of the line up against Spurs was wrong, for the same reasons.

[PeterWithesShin]

Personally i'd have started him against Spurs. An old club where he took some stick so he'd hopefully have a point to prove there, plus a point to Lambert. However, what none of us know is what's gone on at BH or behind closed doors recently. Maybe Bent deserved to be dropped for something none of us know about.

[Nastylee]

There's being selfish in front of goal and then there's being unwilling or unable to take part in team play.

I'll raise your Heskey with a Messi.

Not a fair comparision since players of Messi's ability would never join us nor could we afford such a complete player. For where we are we are probably lucky to have such a natural scorer in Bent, it's just a shame the rest of the team are so shite we can't utilise a '1 in 2' player.

[Matt Collins]

Personally i'd have started him against Spurs. An old club where he took some stick so he'd hopefully have a point to prove there, plus a point to Lambert. However, what none of us know is what's gone on at BH or behind closed doors recently. Maybe Bent deserved to be dropped for something none of us know about.

Possibly. But I take lambert at his word. He wanted to play the 4231 that had worked well at citeh. Bent can't play the hold up role.

[Matt Collins]

Bent is just a bit of a prick, probably why he's had such a journeyman-like career despite being a superb goalscorer.

Anyone remember when he missed a game to go shopping in Cambridge? I'd rather Lambert assert himself than have his authority undermined by Bent.

He didn't 'miss a game to go shopping' he was injured and went shipping. That's pretty different

[nodge]

Bent is just a bit of a prick, probably why he's had such a journeyman-like career despite being a superb goalscorer.

Anyone remember when he missed a game to go shopping in Cambridge? I'd rather Lambert assert himself than have his authority undermined by Bent.

He didn't 'miss a game to go shopping' he was injured and went shipping. That's pretty different

I agree, Lambert should show him who's the mast-er

[Percy McCarthy]

So that's why he was made captain.

[SoccerHQ]

It's a puzzle. Without Bent, we have more possession in good areas, we play much more fluently, and we create more chances. The downside is we then bloody miss them. With him in the team, we hardly create anything. Basically, we either need to find a combination of ten players who can carry him, or hope that Gabby and Benteke can replicate their Man City performance more regularly.

That was the case in the Arsenal home game last season. I remember Albrighton and N'zogbia actually played really and hit in plenty of good crosses into the 6 yard box but Gabby didn't get on the end of any of them. When Bent came back into the team, the chances dried up again.

Surely against Norwich at home (and to a lesser degree Fulham as they play 4-4-2 and their current central midfield is Baird and Sidwell) we could play Bent and Benteke upfront and Gabby on the left?

[Percy McCarthy]

Worth a go I reckon.

Anyway, he sailed pretty close to the wind on that shopping trip.

[Rioch is King]

no wonder he dropped the (w)anchor

[damon loves JT]

Avast improvement is needed.

[Sexual Ealing]

When Bent isn't scoring he seems cut adrift - abeam of light sometimes appears in the form of a goal but, if it doesn't, he looks all at sea. It's why it's a bit rich that he feels the need to mouth off to the press gang if he doesn't get his way.

[SW9-VILLA]

Bent is just a bit of a prick, probably why he's had such a journeyman-like career despite being a superb goalscorer.

Anyone remember when he missed a game to go shopping in Cambridge? I'd rather Lambert assert himself than have his authority undermined by Bent.

He didn't 'miss a game to go shopping' he was injured and went shipping. That's pretty different

Yes I know he was injured, injured/suspended players still go and watch the team on a Saturday though. Stan turned up after he'd been diagnosed.

[Brian Taylor]

Sell him and use the money wisely, Paul. It is simple. The grief factor, and what he could be paid elsewhere for doing even less, will cause friction in a new team that can do the business without having to be coaxed, cajoled and mollycoddled into a positive fame of mind. Sell him while you can! Name me another primadonna on the team?