January Transfer Thread: Speculation, Lies, Absolute Cr*p and Bosman Rumours

[VillaAlways]

I can't help thinking that all the discussions about whether we can play to Bent's strengths are over-analysing things somewhat. He's a striker who does his best work in the box. Just give him some decent service. I understand the need to alternate strikers for certain games and tactics, but if you can't find a way to operate to make the most of out a striker like Bent, it's a concern.

If Steve Bruce can manage it.......

[fbriai]

I really don't understand this. We waited over ten years to get a top-class goalscorer then as soon as we signed one some of us can't wait to get rid of him.

Neither do I. Do people think we'd be spending the money on a top class replacement if we sold Bent?

We wouldn't. Lerner might be happy to see him replaced with a promising 12 year old from Carlisle, but I know I wouldn't.

This is the issue for me. We should be adding to our best players, not getting rid of them.

[N'ZMAV]

Bent has to stay. I'd rather sell any other of our forwards and keep Bent.

[Clampy]

One Bent goal that sticks in my memory is one he scored against Stoke at home under Houiller. It was a cracking ball in (from Downing i believe) and the header was just superb. It was Bent at his best and at the moment we have'nt got another striker who can put the ball away like that.

I do find it strange how there are people suggesting we should sell a proven goalscorer whilst Gabby gets away with scoring a goal every 6-7 matches.

[not3bad]

Villa have issued another denial of any rift anyway.

[PaulTheVillan]

Bent has to stay. I'd rather sell any other of our forwards and keep Bent.

This.

[1874]

I do find it strange how there are people suggesting we should sell a proven goalscorer whilst Gabby gets away with scoring a goal every 6-7 matches.

I think those advocating the sell of Bent would probably not lose any sleep if we shipped off Gabby as well.

[adbo9]

Conspiracy time......... I get the feeling that this is down to finance..... What a shock the only two players weve got a the club with any real proven track record in the premier league are Given and Bent.  Theyve been left out.  If it was for top players with huge potential, but being honest - Benteke and Guzan are far from that......   I personally think that they are the two top earners on fat contracts, and the club want them off the books..... hence being kind of forced out.............

Just a theory of mine - could be miles off, but with the way our chairman acts it wouldnt surprise me either !

I dont care what anyone says, in the current state of Villa, Given and Bent should be the first two names on the teamsheet !!

[peter w]

I really don't understand this. We waited over ten years to get a top-class goalscorer then as soon as we signed one some of us can't wait to get rid of him.

Neither do I. Do people think we'd be spending the money on a top class replacement if we sold Bent?

We wouldn't. Lerner might be happy to see him replaced with a promising 12 year old from Carlisle, but I know I wouldn't.

This is the issue for me. We should be adding to our best players, not getting rid of them.

But Bent is only world-class with the right players around him. Lambert may have calculated that it'll cost a lot more to buy and build a team around one player than it will to buy a few cheaper options that gives us better balance as a team.

[Clampy]

Conspiracy time......... I get the feeling that this is down to finance..... What a shock the only two players weve got a the club with any real proven track record in the premier league are Given and Bent.  Theyve been left out.  If it was for top players with huge potential, but being honest - Benteke and Guzan are far from that......   I personally think that they are the two top earners on fat contracts, and the club want them off the books..... hence being kind of forced out.............

Just a theory of mine - could be miles off, but with the way our chairman acts it wouldnt surprise me either !

I dont care what anyone says, in the current state of Villa, Given and Bent should be the first two names on the teamsheet !!

Bent definatley, but not sure about Given. He'd lost a bit of form and it was only fair that Guzan was given a chance. Besides if his wages were that high, they would'nt have signed him in the first place.

[Clampy]

I really don't understand this. We waited over ten years to get a top-class goalscorer then as soon as we signed one some of us can't wait to get rid of him.

Neither do I. Do people think we'd be spending the money on a top class replacement if we sold Bent?

We wouldn't. Lerner might be happy to see him replaced with a promising 12 year old from Carlisle, but I know I wouldn't.

This is the issue for me. We should be adding to our best players, not getting rid of them.

But Bent is only world-class with the right players around him. Lambert may have calculated that it'll cost a lot more to buy and build a team around one player than it will to buy a few cheaper options that gives us better balance as a team.

You could argue that he did'nt exactly have any world beaters playing with him at Sunderland and he still managed to knock in 25 in one season.

[Mister E]

I think it's far too early to second-guess Lambert's intentions. He would probably argue that he knows exactly what Bent can do whereas he has not had the opportunity to look at the other options; in the same way that he has been trying different MF combinations.

I would advocate that he starts being more consistent with his selections: play a team that can put a few games together and start winning together: for me, that would include Bent and another up front, at home, and possibly Gabby or Benteke as a lone striker way from home.

[pauliewalnuts]

I really don't understand this. We waited over ten years to get a top-class goalscorer then as soon as we signed one some of us can't wait to get rid of him.

Neither do I. Do people think we'd be spending the money on a top class replacement if we sold Bent?

We wouldn't. Lerner might be happy to see him replaced with a promising 12 year old from Carlisle, but I know I wouldn't.

This is the issue for me. We should be adding to our best players, not getting rid of them.

But Bent is only world-class with the right players around him. Lambert may have calculated that it'll cost a lot more to buy and build a team around one player than it will to buy a few cheaper options that gives us better balance as a team.

But we don't actually need him to be world class, there are plenty of points along the quality scale before you hit that level which would do for us.

Has he ever had world class players around him? As Clampy mentioned, he had mediocrity around him at Sunderland, and he had 9 in 16 for us under Houllier, despite us being largely shit.

I read somewhere last season, towards the end, that the season so far, statistically, he had fewer touches of the ball than any other outfield player in the top flight, and he still had 10 goals in 28 games for us, despite us being the least attacking side on the planet.

The best thing for us to do is surely get Bent the ball and get him scoring goals, not sell him. I'd sooner flog Gabby, personally.

[pedro25]

Conspiracy time......... I get the feeling that this is down to finance..... What a shock the only two players weve got a the club with any real proven track record in the premier league are Given and Bent.  Theyve been left out.  If it was for top players with huge potential, but being honest - Benteke and Guzan are far from that......   I personally think that they are the two top earners on fat contracts, and the club want them off the books..... hence being kind of forced out.............

Just a theory of mine - could be miles off, but with the way our chairman acts it wouldnt surprise me either !

I dont care what anyone says, in the current state of Villa, Given and Bent should be the first two names on the teamsheet !!

Also N'Zogbia being dropped for a half fit Albrighton after having a great game up at Man City, Ireland and Holman having one poor game v West Ham and both being dropped for Herd and Delfouneso v Everton, Lowton and Bennett getting the nod over Warnock and Hutton, Lambert pretty much saying in pre season Clark will get the nod over Dunne at centre half this season, Makoun being let out on loan and replaced by Westwood.  We appear to be marginalising the high earners all over the place, it probably wont affect us when it relates to Warnock and Hutton, but the likes of Given, Dunne, N'Zogbia, Ireland and in particular Bent could have a big influence on us this season if given a fair crack of the whip, unfortunately I dont think they will get that opportunity.

[Clampy]

Ireland has only been dropped once and would probably still be in the side now if he was'nt injured but i agree with you regarding Bent. As for the others, N'Zogbia needs to do more than have one good cup game, i think most of us will agree that he's been a disapointment. Given and Dunne will have to win their places back and Dunne can only do that when he gets fit.