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

[Shrek]

The goal we scored at Sunderland was exactly how I imagined the Benteke-Bent partnership to go. Shame it hasn't worked out that way. Creativity and delivery have been real weak points for us, and we have severely underutilised set pieces this season, and really for good while since the days of Laursen, Mellberg and Carew.

Problem is, because Bent does absolutely nothing, he cannot be accommodated. Gabby and Weimann can play a little wider, help out midfield then get forward and be a threat.

Bent is a limited player, that will never play for a big club. Him scoring his goals has always been at the detriment to his teams.

[VillaAlways]

Yeah,because we're doing so well without him.

[Mister E]

... I wouldn't necessarily take 'scoring loads of goals in lower leagues' as a justification for a signing. He does look pretty good, but I'd rather we got another Benteke for peanuts from a foreign league.

Benteke didn't cost "peanuts".
And I was flying the flag for Jordan Rhodes 18 months' ago; he'd have been scoring in the EPL by now, IMHO.

Do we need another striker? - I think have players who can hit the back of the net; what we need are more chances for them. A supplier-player is the signing I'm hoping for, and a player who can stop the oppo through the MF.

[ozzjim]

The goal we scored at Sunderland was exactly how I imagined the Benteke-Bent partnership to go. Shame it hasn't worked out that way. Creativity and delivery have been real weak points for us, and we have severely underutilised set pieces this season, and really for good while since the days of Laursen, Mellberg and Carew.

Problem is, because Bent does absolutely nothing, he cannot be accommodated. Gabby and Weimann can play a little wider, help out midfield then get forward and be a threat.

Bent is a limited player, that will never play for a big club. Him scoring his goals has always been at the detriment to his teams.

I think Sunderland, Spur and Villa are all pretty big clubs in fairness!

Charlton, Ipswich and Sunderland fans would say him scoring goals was to the benefit of their sides too, and I think with all the stick he takes at the moment for apparent laziness, it should be remembered that his goals did actually keep us up under Houllier, while his double at Arsenal was exceptional. Service is the issue now, and playing a side to his strengths. I would love us to have a top quality pair in central midfield, allowing us to play with Bent and Benteke up top, as together they would be formidable in my opinion. Also, his ground covered stats suggest he is not quite as lazy as people like to make out, maybe not effective in his tracking back etc, but certainly not lazy. I like Bent a lot as a player, and would dearly love to see him scoring goals for us again.

[ktvillan]

I rate both Bent and Benteke but the only way I can see them in the same team without significantly weakening an already iffy midfield is if Benteke drops back to the wide role that Gabby and Weimann have been doing okay in.  He showed what he could do in that position with the first goal against Man Yoo, but it would probably nullify one of his his main weapons,  which is in the air in the box.   It might be worth a try and Lambert did shift big Ben out wide left in the latter stages against Swindon I believe.  But going 4-4-2 with both of them up front would be a recipe for disaster unless we could suddenly find the new Keane and Vieira to play centre midfield.   

I'd keep all our strikers as there will no doubt be injuries and suspensions to cover for later.  As Mr E said, the priority has to more steel and more creativity in midfield, especially from out wide.

[DrGonzo]

sell Bent and buy Austin FFS I give up!!

That's not official from the club, we're just talking. FFS.

Personally I'd quite happily not meddle with the forwards.  I think unless Bent is actively pushing for a move he'll be kept,  If we sell him and get relegated it would be a huge stick to flog the board with.  I think a Bid for Yaya Toure would be just the ticket.

[supertom]

We need better players in midfield first and foremost. I'd leave the front line till the summer. I'd love to see Andy develop into a first choice. He's got great potential to be perfect foil for Benteke. Come the summer we can flog Gabby and Bent and move forward.

For now though we need to sort out the problem in midfield. Not enough goals (made from, or score directly from), not enough protection for the back four. We lack a midfielder who'll approach double figures.

[Chris Smith]

We need better players in midfield first and foremost. I'd leave the front line till the summer. I'd love to see Andy develop into a first choice. He's got great potential to be perfect foil for Benteke. Come the summer we can flog Gabby and Bent and move forward.

For now though we need to sort out the problem in midfield. Not enough goals (made from, or score directly from), not enough protection for the back four. We lack a midfielder who'll approach double figures.

I get the impression that Lambert likes Gabby so would be surprised if he's one that we look to replace. I also think we need to give the new signings more than 12 games before we write them off, we can always strengthen but I think anyone expecting wholesale changes is going to be disappointed.

[JUAN PABLO]

sell Bent and buy Austin FFS I give up!!

He does have a bionic eye thou which could be useful

[JUAN PABLO]

Yeah,because we're doing so well without him.

spot on

[Chipsticks]

... I wouldn't necessarily take 'scoring loads of goals in lower leagues' as a justification for a signing. He does look pretty good, but I'd rather we got another Benteke for peanuts from a foreign league.

Benteke didn't cost "peanuts".
And I was flying the flag for Jordan Rhodes 18 months' ago; he'd have been scoring in the EPL by now, IMHO.

Do we need another striker? - I think have players who can hit the back of the net; what we need are more chances for them. A supplier-player is the signing I'm hoping for, and a player who can stop the oppo through the MF.

I know Benteke wasn't cheap, but he was cheaper than Rhodes and looks like twice the player he is.

[JUAN PABLO]

The goal we scored at Sunderland was exactly how I imagined the Benteke-Bent partnership to go. Shame it hasn't worked out that way. Creativity and delivery have been real weak points for us, and we have severely underutilised set pieces this season, and really for good while since the days of Laursen, Mellberg and Carew.

Problem is, because Bent does absolutely nothing, he cannot be accommodated. Gabby and Weimann can play a little wider, help out midfield then get forward and be a threat.

Bent is a limited player, that will never play for a big club. Him scoring his goals has always been at the detriment to his teams.

I think Sunderland, Spur and Villa are all pretty big clubs in fairness!

Charlton, Ipswich and Sunderland fans would say him scoring goals was to the benefit of their sides too, and I think with all the stick he takes at the moment for apparent laziness, it should be remembered that his goals did actually keep us up under Houllier, while his double at Arsenal was exceptional. Service is the issue now, and playing a side to his strengths. I would love us to have a top quality pair in central midfield, allowing us to play with Bent and Benteke up top, as together they would be formidable in my opinion. Also, his ground covered stats suggest he is not quite as lazy as people like to make out, maybe not effective in his tracking back etc, but certainly not lazy. I like Bent a lot as a player, and would dearly love to see him scoring goals for us again.

spot on Ozz , DB is not lazy at all . its just some people on here expect him to play like Wayne Rooney .    I  bet If he played for Arsenal , he would score 25 goals easy.

[Chris Smith]

So why doesn't he play for Arsenal then?

He's a good finisher but I think the more successful clubs require a bit more from there forwards and it's that side of his game that has always held him back. When he signed for us a mate said that Bent tends to do well personally without improving the team, I argued that it was down to not finding the right manager/system to make the most of what he brings. I still think the same but do keep having nagging doubts.

[villa for life]

Like you said, "the more successful clubs require a bit more"....
However, where we are at the moment, we should be happy that we have a "good finisher" on our books. It's the surest way to ensure top flight survival.

[pedro25]

Just wonder if only Gabby of our top 11 highest earners started tonight as Given, Hutton, Dunne, Warnock, Holman, Ireland, Petrov, Makoun, N'Zogbia and Bent were all signed by previous managers and all missed out.  Ok several were unavailable but is it a coincidence he keeps ignoring Holman, Ireland, Bent and N'Zogbia in favour of Bannan, El Ahmadi etc., even Delph, Herd and Albrighton on occasion this season.  I still think we need some serious performances and form from Bent, Ireland, N'Zogbia etc. to pull us out of trouble and we can't afford to sign new players with guys like this still hanging around the club and not playing.  Over the entire summer we only managed to shift Collins other than those out of contract so to shift those 10 could take years.