Darren Bent

[LeeB]

I saw Bent have the best chance of the first half and hit it straight at the keeper. His replacement had two chances in the second half and took both of them. Which one cost £24m again?

We came out saying if ever Lambert need justification for his selection policy then that game was it.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

I saw Bent have the best chance of the first half and hit it straight at the keeper. His replacement had two chances in the second half and took both of them. Which one cost £24m again?

So you're judging him on that and not his prolific goalscoring record?

This thread is good practice for when we flog Benteke.

[LeeB]

I saw Bent have the best chance of the first half and hit it straight at the keeper. His replacement had two chances in the second half and took both of them. Which one cost £24m again?

So you're judging him on that and not his prolific goalscoring record?

This thread is good practice for when we flog Benteke.

It was the general mood amongst those who I spoke to. We looked better without him. Again.

[Percy McCarthy]

Some people can't comprehend that concept Lee. They just think playing him would automatically add 20 to our 'goals for' column.

[Hoppo]

We looked better without Gabby.

[N'ZMAV]

We looked better without Gabby.

Miles better. He's a one trick pony now, who's trick is getting slower and faster. I like him, but we don't need him like we used to.

[glasses]

I saw Bent have the best chance of the first half and hit it straight at the keeper. His replacement had two chances in the second half and took both of them. Which one cost £24m again?

So you're judging him on that and not his prolific goalscoring record?

This thread is good practice for when we flog Benteke.

That was in response to the post above mine, not a judgement.

[OCD]

Gabby's not the player he was and hasn't been for some time. To his credit, you get a good work ethic from him but there's very little goal threat now. It's probably best for all parties for him to move on in the summer.

[kippaxvilla2]

Gabby's main threat was always his pace and now that has gone he struggles - he hasn't got a football brain to be able to compensate for the lack of pace.  He should be used as an impact player or, get MO'N to pay £15m on him - be unusual for MO'N though buying a British player from a former club.

[glasses]

It's funny that that's always a stick that's used to beat MON, that he overpaid for British/British based Players.

Why is that not the case when we talk about Bent? £24m for and English centre forward. What could we have got abroad for that money etc etc

[TheEgo]

If gabby wasn't a villa boy, then he would have been booed/hounded out ages ago. He has a good engine, but that is it. He's fast, however his acceleration isn't what it was. Get rid of him and Bent and get another 'gem' in to replace them.

[paul_e]

Bent needed to come in and have an immediate impact, and was the only player of that type houllier signed.  His goals were very important to us that season and he made sense.  A foreign equivalent for cheaper might've taken a few months to settle and seen us relegated.

Mon signed Dunne, Collins, Beye, Warnock, Heskey from a position of strength, we were 6th and had looked very good the year before, we didn't need someone to be an instant success, we needed quality at the right price.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Some people can't comprehend that concept Lee. They just think playing him would automatically add 20 to our 'goals for' column.

I'm not saying that at all.
I just don't understand the clamour to get rid of him.

What's the harm in hanging on to him, even if it's just to have him on the bench?

[Dave Cooper please]

Some people can't comprehend that concept Lee. They just think playing him would automatically add 20 to our 'goals for' column.

I'm not saying that at all.
I just don't understand the clamour to get rid of him.

What's the harm in hanging on to him, even if it's just to have him on the bench?

We need money to beef up our midfield and Bent is saleable.

I wouldn't say I'm joining the 'clamour' for him to be sold but if it's the only way Plumbutt can have some cash in January then so be it.

[Mister E]

It's funny that that's always a stick that's used to beat MON, that he overpaid for British/British based Players.

Why is that not the case when we talk about Bent? £24m for and English centre forward. What could we have got abroad for that money etc etc

We wouldn't have got the instant impact that Bent always seems to make when he moves.

His transfer history shows he's an 18-month man; thereafter he dries up or his agent moves him on (or, he's allegedly doing naughty things with somone's wife / daughter / girlfriend ...)