What the hell is wrong with Darren bent. Just watched the first half and he seems incapable of any pace, does not close down their centre backs when they have the ball and every time he has had any time on the ball he pumps it miles backwards. Please could we see rodders come on, even he attempts to run we would be a different side. Bent is a great finisher but when we do not have the ball he is completely useless.
Suddenly the loan deal (rather than permanent) doesn't seem so bad! But seriously, Bent is just not there mentally. Whatever the reason, he needs to buck his ideas up. And quickly.
I was quite excited by his arrival but tonight's performance and the one against palace was absolutely crap. He offered no runs in behind the defence in either game and showed very little desire to ' bust a gut ' for the team. I feel for rodders. He may not be the most gifted player but one thing you can be sure of is that he will run for the team and attempt to get in attacking positions. Personally, if I was the manager of the team we were playing I would set up the team to push their full backs right up the pitch as they is little threat to come from our striker. As was shown by Southampton. Because the opposition push their full backs forward it means our full backs cannot push up. It may seem harsh to criticise bent like this but I really think he has to up his game, as fulhaman said you can see why he was left to graze at villa.
I'd offer no defence of him not closing down when they had possession at the back (unless the team orders were to sit back, in which case it would be Jol's mistake, but we've no way of knowing which of those is the case). When we were attacking, Bent was looking to get in behind the defence, but the balls just didn't come for him. Several times I saw him holding his run on the shoulder of the last defender and having to check back when the ball didn't come, or watching it sail too far ahead of him. Bent didn't play well (not many did), but he was looking to make good runs given half a chance.
Captain, I only saw the first half and from what I saw he looked totally uninterested. What concerns me the most though is his lack of any pace. Maybe in the second half he improved but it was the same at palace, he is easy and predictable to play against. Don't get me wrong as a finisher he is clearly very good, but right now we need more than that, we need a grafter up top. It is impossible to suggest we can continue with berbatov and bent up top.
From my position and the comments of those Fulham fans around me Bent contributed nothing. so much for Jols i will get him into the England squad. For me the next 3 games should determine his fate
It's not a defense of Bent, he should be mentally stronger, but I can understand to some extent how playing in this team would steadily demoralise a player like him. He is completely unsuited to our midfield- he wants it early so he can get in behind - it's not coming, and it hasn't been coming the whole time. Waste of wages for Bent and Taraabt - I think they are both good players but talent is being wasted at Fulham.
