Darren Bent

[Villadroid]

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[Clampy]

Touched the ball 3 times in 28 minutes

Mainly as a result of the massive holman shaped hole that Ireland completely and utterly failed to fill.

Agreed. Holman going off was a bad move, imv.

Yes it was. The thing is next week at Liverpool is more suited for Bent and Ireland and he'll probably leave them both on the bench.

[Matt Collins]

I agree Liverpool may be suited for Ireland. But I don't agree on Bent. Liverpool will have lots of the ball, we need to keep it when we get it.

Interesting to see what Lambert does against Norwich. I imagine he'll keep a pretty strong side.

[supertom]

I'm not entirely sure right now, which games would suit Ireland. He continues to disappear in games. We do seriously need an inspired midfield signing. I think goals from midfield is our biggest problem. We need to take the pressure of Benteke, Weimann and Gabby. A strong signing in defence, midfield and attack is still required, but I think we'll be fine.

As for Bent. How much of it was his fault I don't know, but for me, 3 touches in half an hour isn't good enough at this level. Our shape went a little. I don't put it so much on Ireland, despite him being something of a ghost out there, where Holmans non stop industry had previously been.
For me a big reason we faded a little, and also why Benteke faded somewhat when Bent came on, was because Gabby had gone off. Say what you will about the frustrating sides of his game. He's also running, working, getting on the ball. Where Bent did little more than float around waiting, Gabby was all over the place, coming for the ball. Benteke does this too. If the ball doesn't come to him in a while, he comes for it.
In my opinion, and looking at the majority of top teams in the world, and most of the top flight clubs. A striker like Bent is dying out in this game. Front man have to be much more involved these days. Fergie recognized this when RVN was becoming less effective. Okay Hernandez is something of the old fashioned goal hanging poacher, but he works hard with it and gets involved in the build up. Bad example as we're a million miles from comparison, but Barcelona have forwards who can all play, drop deep, have an impact on games. They'd never ever carry a player who has 10 touches a game. No forward thinking, 21st century club, with any sort of ambition would IMO.

Bent did save our necks. Fair enough. But if we want to progress, as Lambert is trying, then a different breed of striker is required, or of Darren Bent has to adapt. There's a few clubs who could probably carry him left in the Prem. Funnily enough, he could have joy at Stoke playing off one of their behemoths. They don't have much in the way of intricate build up.

In our position too, the last thing we need is playing large chunks with 10 men. Bent will leave. Good luck to him but he's not for us right now. The way we want to play just can't carry him because the catch 22 is, that by him staying on the peripheral of a game, waiting for his chance, makes the build up to create those chances, that bit harder.

I'm firmly in the Lambert camp on this one. Tis the future.

[Matt Collins]

Strikers like bent are definitely dying out. 100% agree

[jeowje]

I think that people are over-complicating this 'Bent doesn't fit in with Lambert's style' thing. Bent simply does well in teams that create chances, ie he scores them. We don't create chances.

[Ian.]

I have got to go on instinct on this as I have not seen too much football this season. What my conclusion is I have more faith in Lambert than I do in Bent.
Sometimes you have to ask why Bent has never cut it in the long scheme of things at a club. Harry obviously felt  Spurs were better without him even though his goals ratio was pretty good. He did save us a couple years ago, so thank you, but time to move him on.

[LeeB]

I think that people are over-complicating this 'Bent doesn't fit in with Lambert's style' thing. Bent simply does well in teams that create chances, ie he scores them. We don't create chances.

But Benteke seems to get chances. Why is that?

[olaftab]

Benteke makes chances by destabilising defences Bent waits for chances to fall in his lap.

[olaftab]

Strikers like bent are definitely dying out. 100% agree

Hmmmm... I wonder if Gerd Muller will still score 85 in a season now days?

[bob]

You have to be a bit of a star player to be significant enough that people debate whether it's you at fault for not performing or the style of the whole team.

Presently we don't have many obvious options to choose from in terms of playing in a different way. The team is full of kids, some with little experience at this level. Our team looks a bit like a newly promoted squad in terms of quality, and we're about where you'd expect one of them to be in the league.

In such a situation I am looking for the senior players to step up. I want them to take responsibility and do things for the good of the team even if it might take something away from what they are best at. The younger players need their help.

Not all players are going to be arsed, I understand that. Great players will be though. Good professionals will be.

Darren Bent cost us £18m+. I think it's reasonable to expect that at least he might try and get the fucking ball.

[ROBBO]

Bent needs traditional wingers to feed off, Lambert says the games changed and we use wing backs, simple as, what did suprise me is that he bought Bent on at all although he does have to advertise him i suppose. What stood out for me was the lack of midfield support in their penalty box, if you leave Benteke one out all the time we will never score and what happens should he get injured? we seem to be over relient on the twenty one year old, he has done well but he shouldn't have to carry the forward line.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

I think Lambert will bring in some wingers to create more chances in January. And if we can add some strength and creativity in the middle of the park. Bent could be become a major part of next years battle to stay in the prem .......

[Monty]

Strikers like bent are definitely dying out. 100% agree

Hmmmm... I wonder if Gerd Muller will still score 85 in a season now days?

I think Muller himself said he probably wouldn't.

The point is, football evolves, not progresses. Tactics change to suit the times they live in, especially from steps forward in player preparation. Bent's type of forward may come back one day as a solution to some problem which hasn't come up yet, but the way the game is at the moment pretty much squeezes his type of player out.

[Villadroid]

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