Darren Bent

[PaulWinch again]

Exactly, so people implying that he just stands in the 6 yard box are wrong.

[Monty]

Those are two games. I can also remember the Arsenal game under GH/Gary Mac. Other than that, that is about it - and the stats really do bear it out.

[OCD]

Whilst we've used 4-3-3 the issue has been more about Benteke taking up the central role so Bent would have to play as an inside forward. If he were to do that, he would need to track back as well. We'll have to see whether he sticks with the 3-5-2 system in the Stoke game because Bent could certainly play alongside Benteke there.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Exactly, so people implying that he just stands in the 6 yard box are wrong.

It's just a myth Paul.

Hey ho, somebody else will have the benefits of his goalscoring soon.

It pisses me off that we were moaning for a goalscorer for years, we get one and then many seem happy for him to be shown the door.

My answer would be to get a quality midfielder in (for Bannan) that would allow us to play both Benteke AND Bent. I'm certain that they'd make a fantastic partnership (think Bent and Kenwyne Jones).

[PaulWinch again]

Exactly, so people implying that he just stands in the 6 yard box are wrong.

It's just a myth Paul.

Hey ho, somebody else will have the benefits of his goalscoring soon.

It pisses me off that we were moaning for a goalscorer for years, we get one and then many seem happy for him to be shown the door.

My answer would be to get a quality midfielder in (for Bannan) that would allow us to play both Benteke AND Bent. I'm certain that they'd make a fantastic partnership (think Bent and Kenwyne Jones).

Yep agreed, he should be involved.

[James]

IMHO, until we get 1. Some steel and 2. Some guile in midfield, we can't afford the luxury of Bent in the starting eleven. We have to have grafters and Bent isn't one!

[sirlordbaltimore]

The fact that we apparently need a team full of 'grafters' just tells you how far this club have fallen.

And also explains why you can't give tickets away these days. Who wants to go and watch that kind of football every other week ?

[James]

The fact that we apparently need a team full of 'grafters' just tells you how far this club have fallen.

And also explains why you can't give tickets away these days. Who wants to go and watch that kind of football every other week ?

Hard to argue with that statement, so I won't!

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

The fact that we apparently need a team full of 'grafters' just tells you how far this club have fallen.

And also explains why you can't give tickets away these days. Who wants to go and watch that kind of football every other week ?

Man City won the league with grafters. Man Utd have been the best team in the last 20 years through grafters. True, they are grafters who have great skill, but grafters they are.

Perhaps the best two teams in recent memory, Barcelona & Spain are both full if grafters. All players work extremely hard to get the ball back.

Grafting isn't a bad thing, it's what can make the difference.

[andyh]

So, it seems to me that there are a few things to realise here.
1. The club really is financially screwed. If we are not playing a prolific goal scorer because it will invoke some 'additional payment' clause, then we obviously don't have the money to pay it.
2. If 1 is correct, how fucking small time are we that we would rather not pay a desperately needed player, rather than have to pay for him. And, if we can' t afford him, why the fuck did we agree the fee, the payment terms and buy him in the first place.
3. because of the above, we can be pretty much 100% sure he won't be a Villa player come Feb 1st.

[pauliewalnuts]

The fact that we apparently need a team full of 'grafters' just tells you how far this club have fallen.

And also explains why you can't give tickets away these days. Who wants to go and watch that kind of football every other week ?

Man City won the league with grafters. Man Utd have been the best team in the last 20 years through grafters. True, they are grafters who have great skill, but grafters they are.

Perhaps the best two teams in recent memory, Barcelona & Spain are both full if grafters. All players work extremely hard to get the ball back.

Grafting isn't a bad thing, it's what can make the difference.

Of course not, but then again grafting alone is a totally different thing, and nothing you could accuse any of those teams of.

[Shrek]

Exactly, so people implying that he just stands in the 6 yard box are wrong.

3 touches in a game? Least touches in Europe one week, he is a poacher that is it.
He is a 1 in 2 striker but Benteke is near on a 1 in 2 aswell albeit with less experience and also offers so much more.

We have got got 5 points and 2 clean sheets in our last 3 games. This is an improvement.

[Shrek]

The fact that we apparently need a team full of 'grafters' just tells you how far this club have fallen.

And also explains why you can't give tickets away these days. Who wants to go and watch that kind of football every other week ?

Man City won the league with grafters. Man Utd have been the best team in the last 20 years through grafters. True, they are grafters who have great skill, but grafters they are.

Perhaps the best two teams in recent memory, Barcelona & Spain are both full if grafters. All players work extremely hard to get the ball back.

Grafting isn't a bad thing, it's what can make the difference.

I think he means a team full of footballers that are very limited attacking wise, but run around a lot, like NRC etc

City won the league by spending half a billion not because of 'grafters' yes their very talented players work very hard, but what top team doesn't work hard? It was their talent that won them the league.

[pauliewalnuts]

Exactly, so people implying that he just stands in the 6 yard box are wrong.

3 touches in a game? Least touches in Europe one week, he is a poacher that is it.

He is a 1 in 2 striker but Benteke is near on a 1 in 2 aswell albeit with less experience and also offers so much more.

We have got got 5 points and 2 clean sheets in our last 3 games. This is an improvement.

Well, he's a 1 in 3 striker (Benteke) based over a small sample of games for us

If you only look at PL games, he's scored 3 goals in 11 appearances, which makes him more like a 1 in 4 striker.

I can listen to, and agree with, lots of the criticisms of Bent, but the suggestion that a 1 in 2 striker is easy to replace is nuts, let alone the suggestion we've done so with a 21 year old who has played a handful of games for us.

Let's not forget, he's a kid, he might carry on getting better, but he might not. Long way to go yet.

[Shrek]

Exactly, so people implying that he just stands in the 6 yard box are wrong.

3 touches in a game? Least touches in Europe one week, he is a poacher that is it.

He is a 1 in 2 striker but Benteke is near on a 1 in 2 aswell albeit with less experience and also offers so much more.

We have got got 5 points and 2 clean sheets in our last 3 games. This is an improvement.

Well, he's a 1 in 3 striker (Benteke) based over a small sample of games for us

If you only look at PL games, he's scored 3 goals in 11 appearances, which makes him more like a 1 in 4 striker.

I can listen to, and agree with, lots of the criticisms of Bent, but the suggestion that a 1 in 2 striker is easy to replace is nuts, let alone the suggestion we've done so with a 21 year old who has played a handful of games for us.

Let's not forget, he's a kid, he might carry on getting better, but he might not. Long way to go yet.

Using your method, Bent has 2 in 9 in the league so is also a 1-4 striker this season, he might go on and score a lot more, but judging by this season so far, it will be at a cost to the team.

The point is regardless of Benteke's age, the team have improved and have started picking up a lot more points since we started playing Benteke on his own and dropped Bent.

Yes I criticise Bent, but, i want whats best for the team and ii think he should be on the bench (he was today) and I would have brought him on before Benteke scored against Reading.
But today was not a game I would have, as I think we would have more likely lost than won with the way the game was.