Darren bent hasn't been the goal scorer we had hoped for there have been rumours of sulking, attitude problem, laziness but do we actually know if this true or just rumours??? Another possible explanation is that it was a fitness problem, let's not forget Lambert refused to play him for the second half of last season, rumour had it that he was nearing an appearence clause which meant an extra few million pay out, he was also not with the Villa squad for a full preseason and didn't start the season playing. When fit and playing regularly Bent gas scored goals at every club he has been at, I'm tempted to give hm a run of games!
It's a puzzling one Cookie. It's not like he's lost his pace (remember when Michael Owen went from red-hot to useless after an injury). It could be a case of lack of fitness and match practise like you said. I think he hasn't fitted in that well when we play quite narrow in midfield and play long balls into him. Hopefully now RM has experimented with 'proper" wide men, he'll give them a run of games and Bent will get some decent service. He'll start scoring when he gets quick balls on the break to his feet. If Berba goes, then I'd imagine he'll get that run if games...and hopefully regain his form and start scoring on a regular basis again.
I have been really disappointed with Darren bent. Here was his chance to get back playing premier league football again and he has showed a real lack of effort. It really frustrates me that every time I have seen him play he looks as though he cannot run. He struggles to sprint and when he does attempt it it looks half hearted and pointless. Yes, Darren bent will score bag fulls of goals if crosses come into the box. His strength is that he is in the right place when the ball comes into the box, fair play. However, we need more than that in a striker at the moment, one who is willing to defend from the front and put an honest shift in. I would rather another striker and send bent back to villa, if he cannot rouse himself to get fit in a season when the World Cup is coming up there is no hope. COYW
Lets cut our losses when the loan period is over, of games played he has proved he is not what we require.
Somebody just mentioned on another thread that Bent was involved in all three goals the other night, I'm still unsure about him but starting to think he may be worth giving a second chance to prove himself. just can't see how he would fit in if Berba is playing unless we went 4.4.2
I've said it previously, Bent offers about as much as Berbatov - at least he closes down defenders, Berbatov doesn't. He's also scored more from open play. I'd play him against Arsenal on Saturday. In anycase both strikers are gone at the end of this season and agree Bent hasn't really worked out as we'd hoped.
When Bent's name came up, I was strongly against the signing, referring to him as a "perennial disappointment" in a thread I posted here and got roundly dismissed by some members of this board. After having to defend myself in the post, the last thing I wrote was "Actually, I hope we sign him now. Then I can laugh all season. " So suck-it, all you Bent supporters. You were warned. LOL!
If we're playing 'I told you so', I was both spectacularly right and spectacularly wrong on Bent. Before we signed him, I was against it because I didn't see him being happy to come somewhere to sit on the bench, and I wasn't sure that he'd force his way into the team ahead of Berba. I was afraid that we'd be left with a highly-paid, unhappy player affecting the mood of the camp. Then again, once we signed him, I assumed that this meant he'd play more regularly than he has, and that he'd score goals when playing regularly. Whether the goals would have followed more appearances is something we'll never know, but it certainly hasn't worked out so far.
He hasn't exactly had a run of games. He's scoring ratio to games is not bad. I would have him in there and not Billy Big Boll***s Berbatov as he does close down. Against Norwich he did that and showed he is capable of putting effort in. Games brings fitness. He does score, there's no doubt but we have to play wingers.
If we are playing with pace and width then I think Bent can offer us something - how much we pay him in wages though somewhat mitigates his value. The problem with Bent and Berba is the stage they are at in their career. They've both made some decent achievements and unless a club can help them toward another (which we can't) then I don't think either is going to give everything. The carrot we had for Bent was the England squad if he played well regularly, with Berba it's completely on his whim. The only achievement we can offer them now is a long shot at the FA cup and avoiding relegation.
In answer to the last postee,i dont think its what we can offer these players who as employees on high wages, but what should be they delivering to the club and its fans. Aparently sweet FA so far,thats why we are in the position we find ourselves.
I see you're a bit more visible now Dempsey's back! Bit harsh to single out Bent as being a disappointment, when almost every player in the squad has been as bad or worse.
There's no real excuse for a professional footballer, despite a couple of minor injuries, not being match fit at this stage in the season.
C58 I don't often disagree with you but on this I think its not quite so black and white. Form and confidence all play a part, imo of course.
This is what Bidders wrote back in August: As for my posting, I'm posting no more now that I was a month ago. The reason I don't post as much in the past is that, basically, I hate this squad, except for maybe four players (Handeland, Sidwell, Rieter and Parker). But rather than dumping on this forum each day the bile I taste each time I see Fulham put in another gutless performance, I'm trying to find other thing to write about like, for instance, the fawning support people had for Bent last summer on this board. My problem with Darren Bent last summer was not so much a problem with him personally; frankly, he's performed exactly as I expected (poorly). The real problem was that Fulham had fallen so low that they'd even consider this guy. The Fulham I know and love was too good to hire a lazy a$$ player who couldn't even crack the starting 11 at 'Villa, a player who's best days were in the past. We didn't need another old, highly-paid, uncompetitive prima donna warming the pine. To me, acquiring Darren Bent was Fulham admitting to the whole freakin' world that we were desperate. Darren Bent was Fulham grasping for a life jacket while the boat was sinking. And Darren Bent is the mindset, on the part of the managers and owner, that got this team where it is today. Rather than investing in quality young players to keep Fulham's future bright, MAF bought cheap in the bargain basement and Woolworth, and now where here, poised at the abyss. Frankly, I think relegation would be the best thing for Fulham. Clear the deck and start over. Unload Bent and the mindset he represents, and start over. Credit where credit is due, last August:
Bent hardly played for Villa last season and he had hardly played for us since August. He needs to be match fit and match sharp and he isn’t going to achieve either my sitting on the bench and coming on for the last 10mins. Personally I’d like Rene to start him over Berbatov. Went Bent comes on he works, he doesn’t stand there with his hand on his hips when things aren’t going his way. I don’t think we can judge Darren Bent as he has hardly played for us, and isn’t match fit or sharp yet. Personally I’d have him ahead of any of our other strikers.
Are you serious? What a stupid thing to say. How can relegation be a good thing, the Championship is one of the hardest leagues to get out off. Look at the money QPR alone have spent this season and they are not even in an automatic promotion place. If we go down this season there is no way we would bounce back up unless we had a sh!t load of investment… and given the lack of investment my Mr Khan so far this would be extremely unlikely.
Oh and Johnson and Zamora were diferent to Bent...I don't see it personally. They're all the same. Twighlight of their careers when playing for Fulham. And Berbatov...he's just the same as this list. We MUST not go down. Its that simple. My worry is if we do...we'll slide thru the divisions.
We cannot think of going down apart from the loss in revenue and fan base, the ground improvements will be undoubtedly scuppered. Add this to the RIBAs estimation that CC is the 3rd most desirable Thames site for re development. And i do think its about time Mr Khan showed his hand on his future commitment to Fulham FC.
