Club that cannot stop scoring lets yesterday's man go forth.

[Richard E]

He has now signed a permanent two year deal at Derby.

[PaulWinch again]

Good luck in the future Darren.

[footyskillz]

Benty great goal getter and was always doing alot behind. Scenes with villa when not in teamm and squad. Good community guy and one of the better professionals who knew. The score. Best wishes to him.

[Phil from the upper holte]

Good luck Bent, always liked you

[Singapore Villa]

Bye Darren

[Singapore Villa]

Sentiment aside, this is sensible.

[Californian Villain]

"Darren Bent cost Aston Villa £27,000 per touch"

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/aston-villa/11659791/Revealed-Darren-Bent-cost-Aston-Villa-27000-per-touch.html

[dave.woodhall]

"Darren Bent cost Aston Villa £27,000 per touch"

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/aston-villa/11659791/Revealed-Darren-Bent-cost-Aston-Villa-27000-per-touch.html

Or £9 million per avoided relegation. The media never got over the fact that little Aston Villa could have given the money to St Martin.

[cdbearsfan]

I suppose, in fairness, it's not like no other player on the planet could've kept us up for £18-£24 million.

His purchase looks poor value in hindsight.

[dave.woodhall]

I suppose, in fairness, it's not like no other player on the planet could've kept us up for £18-£24 million.

His purchase looks poor value in hindsight.

They might have, but he did. It wasn't our fault, or his, that he got a career-ruining injury.

[PeterWithesShin]

I doubt there's many we could have signed that would have got 9 in 16 like he did when he first arrived.

Lambert could have handled him a lot better so as we got some money back, but there's no denying that signing Bent when we did was massively important. As far as i'm concerned he paid his fee and wages in playing a major role in keeping us up twice. We'd have probably gone under Houllier without him and take his goals away from the McLeish season and we'd have been comfortably relegated. After his injury at Wigan at the end of Feb we won one game and rarely scored.

[cdbearsfan]

I suppose, in fairness, it's not like no other player on the planet could've kept us up for £18-£24 million.

His purchase looks poor value in hindsight.

They might have, but he did. It wasn't our fault, or his, that he got a career-ruining injury.

Yeah, that's true. I think the injury took away a lot of his pace which was a key attribute.

If we'd known, when he signed, what sort of football we'd attempt to play in the next few years we'd probably have been better spending the money on a more physical player, rather rhan a goal-poacher. That wasn't really Houllier's fault though.

He will go down as yet another "what if" Villa player though which is disappointing considering the outlay and what high hopes we had, especially after his first part-season for us.

[dave.woodhall]

Has anyone done a breakdown of what Torres and Carroll cost the clubs who signed them at the same time?

[PeterWithesShin]

Most annoying thing about that article is the "Transfer window open in" countdown.

[Ron Manager]

Good luck at Pride Park Darren. You have handled yourself very well considering the way you have been treated. As a bloke the supporters liked you but the wages freed up are sorely needed by Tim Sherwood. Once again thank you for the goals you provided.