Was bent right to go

[simonbh7]

I know that you won't like this and will probably resort to name calling and abuse but please just read what I have to say before you do. I am not trying to wind anyone up but just trying to look at things from another perspective and hopefully engage in some debate.

When Darren Bent left Sunderland to go to Villa everyone shouted that he had only gone for the money, because why else would anyone leave a team challenging for a European spot to go to a club in the relegation fight?

But with Villa now just one place and one point behind you, maybe his decision looks a little more sensible. Yes the money would have been an undoubted factor in his move, but was there more going on behind the scenes at Sunderland than people know?

Did Bent look at what was happening and see that the team were in a false position? Maybe he looked at the players that he trained with every day and doubted their ability to step up when the going gets tough?
Did he look at Bruce and recognise his frailties and short comings as a manager?

All season, most people have been saying that Villa are in a false position, the table can lie, it is only at the end of the season that it tells the real truth. Maybe Bent looked at the opportunity at Villa and comparing it to where he thought that Sunderland were going, chose it as his best option. Let's be honest, you would normally expect Villa to be in the top 6-7.

Like I have said, at the time it looked like a strange move motivated purely by money. But no-one knows what was happening behind the scenes, and seeing what has happened since he left, maybe there is more to his decision than meets the eye

 

[jerseymackem]

I think it was right for him to go. His departure and the team's recent crappiness have most probably been a coincidence, imo. He'd (if I recall correctly) only scored 3 goals in open play, and he's hardly prolific for Villa.

 

[simonbh7]

According to the Premier League stats he has played 9 and scored 5. That's not too shabby!!

 

[Bigdownunder]

I think it was right for him to go. His departure and the team's recent crappiness have most probably been a coincidence, imo. He'd (if I recall correctly) only scored 3 goals in open play, and he's hardly prolific for Villa.

Or you could say he's scored 5 goals from open play for villa and is the leading English goalscorer only behind Berbatov and Tevez.

Read sunderland have scored less goals then any premiership team across the 3 main competition's this season

 

[Commachio]

most safc fans will say he was wrong to go, maybe it was about money.

but im big enough to say his departure was the beginning of the end for bruce.

if he had stayed we woildn't be in the state we are in, even an off form bent would get as many goals as our two strikers put together

 

[InBruceWeTrusted]

I dont think footballers are this smart mate. His agent would have heard about Villa offering £xxxxxx amount per week and that would have been enough. After the wedge was sorted then maybe he thought he would get more service etc at Villla but Bent by no means knew we would be in this position come April.

Its going to be torture when Villa overtake us as his move and all the bull he said about bigger club etc will be justified.

 

[simonbh7]

most safc fans will say he was wrong to go, maybe it was about money.

but im big enough to say his departure was the beginning of the end for bruce.

if he had stayed we woildn't be in the state we are in, even an off form bent would get as many goals as our two strikers put together

If Bent could have forged a partnership with Gyan it would have been lethal. I honestly thought that with these two, supported by Welbeck, you would be looking at a top7-8 finish, maybe even higher.

 

[Commachio]

so did we

 

[Ballin' Boy]

The timing of Bent's move was unfortunate. I wish he had left for Turkey last summer, allowing us to replace him, or moved at the end of the season. Liverpool lost Torres and bought Suarez and Carroll. We lost Bent and bought, erm, Sessegnon. Selling our biggest asset slap bang in the middle of a very competitive season is one thing, but failing to secure a replacement is foolish, foolish, foolish.
I'm not interested in Bent's motives for leaving, and while I was initially stung by his departure, the surprise sale of team captain Lorik Cana should have taught me to prepare for and expect anything. What annoys me is the club's course of action after the deed was done.

 

[simonbh7]

The timing of Bent's move was unfortunate. I wish he had left for Turkey last summer, allowing us to replace him, or moved at the end of the season. Liverpool lost Torres and bought Suarez and Carroll. We lost Bent and bought, erm, Sessegnon. Selling our biggest asset slap bang in the middle of a very competitive season is one thing, but failing to secure a replacement is foolish, foolish, foolish.
I'm not interested in Bent's motives for leaving, and while I was initially stung by his departure, the surprise sale of team captain Lorik Cana should have taught me to prepare for and expect anything. What annoys me is the club's course of action after the deed was done.

Yeah, admittedly when we sold Carroll there was no time to bring in a replacement (but the deal was far too good to turn down) but I was surprised that Bruce didn't bring in a top class striker, especially as you were in such a strong position at the time.

 

[Commachio]

it wasn't just the money, it was the position we were in at the time, being 6th with millions to spend would have given us a better chance of sighning a higher calibre striker, now its gonna be a case of just who we can attract.

your team have a different problem, carroll left leaving you no time to replace, just as well you've got a decent midfield, or you really would have been screwed

 

[simonbh7]

it wasn't just the money, it was the position we were in at the time, being 6th with millions to spend would have given us a better chance of sighning a higher calibre striker, now its gonna be a case of just who we can attract.

your team have a different problem, carroll left leaving you no time to replace, just as well you've got a decent midfield, or you really would have been screwed

Yeah, it was a huge gamble, especially as the rest of our strikers aren't all that great. But the money was ridiculous. £35 million of which £30 million was paid up front and a 25% sell on clause. Too good to turn down and as you say, we have enough in midfield to keep us up this year.
The test will come in the summer when we see who we buy, especially as it now looks nailed on that Enrique is going to Liverpool

 

[Commachio]

was bent right to go?

i expect he feels justified by his decision now, it has ultimately cost us the best chance we've had for european football,

no doubt villa will be back up there next season, with bent banging them in,

safc will be scratching their heads as just who can really replace a forward like him,

and more so bruce's decision, looks like it will be his downfall. unemployed and watching his daughter's boyfriend scoring for villa

 

[Ballin' Boy]

it wasn't just the money, it was the position we were in at the time, being 6th with millions to spend would have given us a better chance of sighning a higher calibre striker, now its gonna be a case of just who we can attract.

your team have a different problem, carroll left leaving you no time to replace, just as well you've got a decent midfield, or you really would have been screwed

Exactly. Newcastle United have a midfield that can actually score, while we have Bardsley as the only player willing to shoot. While I can understand the need for us not to panic buy, as you said, we were in a fantastic position at the time with a chance that may not come again soon.

 

[MackemsRule]

Bent over rated needed the ball putting on a plate 99% of the time!
Who was under performing for months before he left.

Would it have made a difference if he had stayed?
Not one iota, we have consistently failed to get the ball into Gyan ( Who is an all round more gifted striker than Bent will ever be>)

 

[Commachio]

Gyan ( Who is an all round more gifted striker than Bent will ever be>)

looks like for once we're gonna have to agree to disagree mate

 

[Disco]

I know that you won't like this and will probably resort to name calling and abuse but please just read what I have to say before you do. I am not trying to wind anyone up but just trying to look at things from another perspective and hopefully engage in some debate.

When Darren Bent left Sunderland to go to Villa everyone shouted that he had only gone for the money, because why else would anyone leave a team challenging for a European spot to go to a club in the relegation fight?

But with Villa now just one place and one point behind you, maybe his decision looks a little more sensible. Yes the money would have been an undoubted factor in his move, but was there more going on behind the scenes at Sunderland than people know?

Did Bent look at what was happening and see that the team were in a false position? Maybe he looked at the players that he trained with every day and doubted their ability to step up when the going gets tough?
Did he look at Bruce and recognise his frailties and short comings as a manager?

All season, most people have been saying that Villa are in a false position, the table can lie, it is only at the end of the season that it tells the real truth. Maybe Bent looked at the opportunity at Villa and comparing it to where he thought that Sunderland were going, chose it as his best option. Let's be honest, you would normally expect Villa to be in the top 6-7.

Like I have said, at the time it looked like a strange move motivated purely by money. But no-one knows what was happening behind the scenes, and seeing what has happened since he left, maybe there is more to his decision than meets the eye

Dickhead...

 

[Disco]

Sorry couldn't resist. I think it's him going that's caused this. I don't think he's justified, had he stayed we'd have, at the very least, 6 or 7 points more.

 

[Disco]

Or you could say he's scored 5 goals from open play for villa and is the leading English goalscorer only behind Berbatov and Tevez.

Read sunderland have scored less goals then any premiership team across the 3 main competition's this season

Since when were Berbatov and Tevez English? Twat.

 

[Sidthemackem]

He went for the money. You can argue Villa are a "bigger" club if you like, however you choose to define bigness, but the fact was they were struggling and we were 6th. If he'd stayed, the only reason we would not be doing better than we are now is if he was poisoning the dressing room. I hadn't heard anything to suggest he was, but why else would he want to chuck in the club who resurrected his career? He didn't mind coming to Sunderland, but as soon as his stock was high he gets all choosy?? Nope - Houllier came in with the beer tokens and off he trotted.