Jordan Bowery

[pestria]

I wonder if keeping Bent was more of a political move than anything else. After getting rid of so many big names so quickly, offloading the only real star we had (at the time anyway) wouldn't have gone down well with supporters and would have reinforced the 'selling club' accusation.

Really?

Then the people making that kind of decision are even more stupid than I thought - and that's saying something.

[Chrisupnorth]

Let's not forget that Bent was also Lambert's captain at the beginning of the season, so selling him didn't appear to be on the agenda at that time.

[Dave Cooper please]

Okay.  You guys win.  Play Bowery every game from now until the end of the season and we'll be fine.  As I said, how low our expectations have fallen.

Yes, because that's exactly what the people who thought Bowery did okay are saying!
I only need 'sleepwalking into oblivion' for a full house in Club In Crisis Bingo.

[pestria]

Let's not forget that Bent was also Lambert's captain at the beginning of the season, so selling him wasn't on the agenda at that time.

Yes, but he should have gone in January and players bought in with the proceeds.

[Chrisupnorth]

Let's not forget that Bent was also Lambert's captain at the beginning of the season, so selling him wasn't on the agenda at that time.

Yes, but he should have gone in January and players bought in with the proceeds.

Either that, or you find a system that will accommodate him in the side.

[pestria]

Let's not forget that Bent was also Lambert's captain at the beginning of the season, so selling him wasn't on the agenda at that time.

Yes, but he should have gone in January and players bought in with the proceeds.

Or you find a system that will accommodate him in the side.

Agreed as I said about 20 posts ago.

[peter w]

That's not the point.  We have a multi-million pound proven international goal scorer sat on the bench, while we play a £500,000 recruit out of position ahead of him. It makes no sense whatsoever.

So, you'd want to see Bent playing wide right? Really? Because that's the position that Lambert wanted filling. Plus, Bowery gave us height in the box at their set-pieces. Kind of worked too.

Seems to be some (deliberate?) confusion on this thread regarding Bowery and Bent.

I think most posters would agree that Bowery was asked to 'do a job' on the wide right.  Opinions on how he did vary.  Some say he worked hard and did as well as you could expect from a lower league player trying to make a massive step up.  Others (me included) thought he looked like he'd never seen a football before.  But eh, it's all about opinions and I try to respect what other say.

Then we come to Bent.  The fact that he's getting splinters up his arse while we're in real danger of getting relegated makes you think something is not quite right.   

We should either alter the formation to accommodate him or ask him to use his experience and adapt to the requirements of the team (eg like Gabby) or we should have moved him on and bought in adequate replacements.

Either way I think it is an indictment of Lambert's management that we have Bent on the bench and the likes of Bowery in the team.

when Bent has played he's rarely been threatening, we don't have to a team with wingers to give him the service he needs, he's not a work your knackers off forward, he doesn't fit the system.

Take your pick. Lambert did.

[pestria]

That's not the point.  We have a multi-million pound proven international goal scorer sat on the bench, while we play a £500,000 recruit out of position ahead of him. It makes no sense whatsoever.

So, you'd want to see Bent playing wide right? Really? Because that's the position that Lambert wanted filling. Plus, Bowery gave us height in the box at their set-pieces. Kind of worked too.

Seems to be some (deliberate?) confusion on this thread regarding Bowery and Bent.

I think most posters would agree that Bowery was asked to 'do a job' on the wide right.  Opinions on how he did vary.  Some say he worked hard and did as well as you could expect from a lower league player trying to make a massive step up.  Others (me included) thought he looked like he'd never seen a football before.  But eh, it's all about opinions and I try to respect what other say.

Then we come to Bent.  The fact that he's getting splinters up his arse while we're in real danger of getting relegated makes you think something is not quite right.   

We should either alter the formation to accommodate him or ask him to use his experience and adapt to the requirements of the team (eg like Gabby) or we should have moved him on and bought in adequate replacements.

Either way I think it is an indictment of Lambert's management that we have Bent on the bench and the likes of Bowery in the team.

when Bent has played he's rarely been threatening, we don't have to a team with wingers to give him the service he needs, he's not a work your knackers off forward, he doesn't fit the system.

Take your pick. Lambert did.

So that leaves 'option 3' - move him on use the cash to bring in replacements.  Lambert didn't do this and therefore it's an indictment on his management to have £18m of unused asset on the bench.

[Chrisupnorth]

Sometimes as a manager you have to think outside the box to get the most out of the resources you have. Bent played plenty of football in a wide position in his time at Charlton, so knows the role.  Yes, Lambert has made his choice, but in this case I for one think he's got it woefully wrong.

[dave.woodhall]

Bowery started, Bent came off the bench. We won. That sounds like good management to me. 

[PeterWithesShin]

Surely though the fact we won both matches Bowery has started shows that he didn't get it woefully wrong?

[pestria]

Surely though the fact we won both matches Bowery has started shows that he didn't get it woefully wrong?

We were drawing both games while Bowery was on the pitch.

We won once he'd been taken off.

[PeterWithesShin]

Surely though the fact we won both matches Bowery has started shows that he didn't get it woefully wrong?

We were drawing both games while Bowery was on the pitch.

We won once he'd been taken off.

So the tactics worked then.

[pestria]

Surely though the fact we won both matches Bowery has started shows that he didn't get it woefully wrong?

We were drawing both games while Bowery was on the pitch.

We won once he'd been taken off.

So the tactics worked then.

Eh?

[Chrisupnorth]

Surely though the fact we won both matches Bowery has started shows that he didn't get it woefully wrong?

This debate seems to have come full circle, so I'm going to leave it there gents.  I'm off to bed.  We see things very differently, but vive la difference.  UTV.