Bent "play me or i'm off"

[dannythomas]

Would settle for finishing the season anywhere in the bottom half except 18th 19th or 20th. Mid table would be a dream.

If we do that then we have the nucleus of a good squad - another LB and a 4th striker to compete with Pav would do for me. And offloading the non- core squad players. Since we have Defoe and Keane then Bent will obviously go.

We don't need constant changes- we need continuity.

 

[Spurger King]

I am just being honest, I see a very very bleak future ahead. Aston Villa and Everton are the ones who are going for a champions league or European spots now. While we are no where. We finished 12th last season and this season could be worse.

We can not expect to keep our best players if we are nothing more than a midtable/bottom half side.

I know where you're coming from, but there are many ways of looking at this.

We've achieved two consecutive Wembley cup finals, and we've had a run of three (possibly four) UEFA cup campaigns, we have the money to compete for the best players (whether we get them is obviously a different matter), and we're one of the more "attractive" clubs in London (the location itself being a major attraction) , largely due to the occasional media hype of us being a sleeping giant.

A couple of seasons of poor league positions (provided we stay up), should not cause too much of a problem, as we still have the ability (possibly arrogance?) to draw a line under each miserable season and suggest to current or prospective players that they are the key to a new dawn.

I like Bent, and think he has been treated extremely unfairly, but when you say we don't have an automatic right to attract the Berbatov's of this world (even if he was being overlooked by most clubs in Europe when we signed him), I can't see us having problems bringing in players of Bent's quality, even if we go down.

 

[Stavi]

about a month ago i went out in london with a few mates and one of them brought along a lad that she knows from uni who now trains kids for spurs. i obviously clung to him like flies on shit for ITK. amongst what i got was that darren bent is an absolute cock of the highest order. also got some other random stuff and it all seemed to make sense. bent seemed to be a bit full of himself and alienated as a consequence from what he said though.

 

[THOWIG]

Obviously depending on who leaves I agree that we should only sign a few players. For me a Left Back, Left Midfielder and a Striker are main priorities. Other positions I think can be improved on but those are the positions that need addressing. I'm still baffled why we signed Keane and Defoe, but hey that's an old debate.

 

[Spurger King]

about a month ago i went out in london with a few mates and one of them brought along a lad that she knows from uni who now trains kids for spurs. i obviously clung to him like flies on shit for ITK. amongst what i got was that darren bent is an absolute cock of the highest order. also got some other random stuff and it all seemed to make sense. bent seemed to be a bit full of himself and alienated as a consequence from what he said though.

Interesting. I remember after Bent's goals against Man city, Ledley was chatting to the media about how bent was pleased to be the top English goal scorer in the premiership at the time, and that Bent "wouldn't shut up about it".

At the time I thought it was said in jest, in good spirit, but maybe Ledley and co were actually pretty annoyed with him.

Either way these people are supposed to be professional footballers, and should all be playing to their best and putting aside differences. So in that respect it shouldn't make any difference whether it's Bent or Berbatov being unpopular in the dressing room, if they do what they are there to do.

Obviously this isn't the case though, so therefore if Bent really is unpopular, he should (and will) go for the sake of a good team spirit.

 

[Mullers]

I know where you're coming from, but there are many ways of looking at this.

We've achieved two consecutive Wembley cup finals, and we've had a run of three (possibly four) UEFA cup campaigns, we have the money to compete for the best players (whether we get them is obviously a different matter), and we're one of the more "attractive" clubs in London (the location itself being a major attraction) , largely due to the occasional media hype of us being a sleeping giant.

A couple of seasons of poor league positions (provided we stay up), should not cause too much of a problem, as we still have the ability (possibly arrogance?) to draw a line under each miserable season and suggest to current or prospective players that they are the key to a new dawn.

I like Bent, and think he has been treated extremely unfairly, but when you say we don't have an automatic right to attract the Berbatov's of this world (even if he was being overlooked by most clubs in Europe when we signed him), I can't see us having problems bringing in players of Bent's quality, even if we go down.

Oh yeah we can compete in terms of money with a lot of clubs. The problem is I see no evidence that we will improve sufficiently next season. We are not a just little behind Villa and Everton but way behind. And we are behind most other clubs as well. If we get relegated Redknapp is out of there. If next season we don't achieve qualification for Europe, he is out and many players with him. Then we get another manager, another rebuilding job etc. years of work. In the mean time, clubs like West ham and Fulham overtake us.

Quality players don't grow on trees, they are not easy to replace.
Only Anelka and Gerrard have scored more in all competitons than Bent!
Yet people come on here call him shit, want him replaced with Jason Roberts etc. He deserves a lot better than that crap. Defoe, Keane and Pav don't get stick compared to when Bent misses a chance.

No cheap comments from Redknapp about his wife scoring a goal. If I was Bent I would have walked out the day when he scored a hat trick and people started chanting Defoe's name. Disgraceful. We are fast becoming the Newcastle of London.

 

[dannythomas]

Interesting. I remember after Bent's goals against Man city, Ledley was chatting to the media about how bent was pleased to be the top English goal scorer in the premiership at the time, and that Bent "wouldn't shut up about it".

At the time I thought it was said in jest, in good spirit, but maybe Ledley and co were actually pretty annoyed with him.

Either way these people are supposed to be professional footballers, and should all be playing to their best and putting aside differences. So in that respect it shouldn't make any difference whether it's Bent or Berbatov being unpopular in the dressing room, if they do what they are there to do.

Obviously this isn't the case though, so therefore if Bent really is unpopular, he should (and will) go for the sake of a good team spirit.

Well if the stories about JD and DB hating each other ( including one about DB unsuccessfully trying to get something going with one of JD's ex's ) are true then I guess the writing was on the wall once Defoe came back. But then again that may all be so much BS ..

 

[dannythomas]

Obviously depending on who leaves I agree that we should only sign a few players. For me a Left Back, Left Midfielder and a Striker are main priorities. Other positions I think can be improved on but those are the positions that need addressing. I'm still baffled why we signed Keane and Defoe, but hey that's an old debate.

Do you think we would have signed Keane if Defoe had not got injured ?

 

[Spurger King]

Oh yeah we can compete in terms of money with a lot of clubs. The problem is I see no evidence that we will improve sufficiently next season. We are not a just little behind Villa and Everton but way behind. And we are behind most other clubs as well. If we get relegated Redknapp is out of there. If next season we don't achieve qualification for Europe, he is out and many players with him. Then we get another manager, another rebuilding job etc. years of work. In the mean time, clubs like West ham and Fulham overtake us.

Quality players don't grow on trees, they are not easy to replace.
Only Anelka and Gerrard have scored more in all competitons than Bent!
Yet people come on here call him shit, want him replaced with Jason Roberts etc. He deserves a lot better than that crap. Defoe, Keane and Pav don't get stick compared to when Bent misses a chance.

No cheap comments from Redknapp about his wife scoring a goal. If I was Bent I would have walked out the day when he scored a hat trick and people started chanting Defoe's name. Disgraceful. We are fast becoming the Newcastle of London.

I have to say I agree with you on most of the points you've made, especially the fact that we are far behind Villa and Everton, and that if I was Bent I would have walked in January (to be honest if I was Defoe I would have walked when Keane re-signed...well hobbled).

The only thing I would say though is that it's probably too early to say how good a team we are right now. We've just got Palacious in, and "chimbomba", Keano and Defoe have hardly played with Modric, Pav, or Bentley yet, so we could well end up being a pretty decent team, especially with a couple of decent additions in the Summer.

In general though, I agree that we are in a very, very precarious position at the moment, which could have huge implications for our future, and that we need to stop treating our players so poorly when we really have no right to be so arrogant.

 

[THOWIG]

Do you think we would have signed Keane if Defoe had not got injured ?

I don't know really, but Defoes injury was unfortunate as he was in good form. I just wonder what we do when he is fit cause he's not going to be happy on the bench. We really need a link up striker ala Berbatov, this is where Santa Cruz would have been ideal, as Pavkyuchenko is really an out and out striker.

I do feel a bit sorry for Bent, but his signing at the time was even more baffling. He's to one dimensional for me who only succeeds when he's in front of his defender. I think his sale is inevitable and was only kept on as Redknapp needed a many options as possible following Defoes injury.

 

[guy]

:hello:

please don't come back

 

[Mullers]

I have to say I agree with you on most of the points you've made, especially the fact that we are far behind Villa and Everton, and that if I was Bent I would have walked in January (to be honest if I was Defoe I would have walked when Keane re-signed...well hobbled).

The only thing I would say though is that it's probably too early to say how good a team we are right now. We've just got Palacious in, and "chimbomba", Keano and Defoe have hardly played with Modric, Pav, or Bentley yet, so we could well end up being a pretty decent team, especially with a couple of decent additions in the Summer.

In general though, I agree that we are in a very, very precarious position at the moment, which could have huge implications for our future, and that we need to stop treating our players so poorly when we really have no right to be so arrogant.

You touched on a important point. I see a lot of trouble ahead. Defoe was not happy sitting on the bench before and I don't see him changing that view now. Especially with a team at the bottom. The following will be off if things do not improve by the end of next season, Bentley, Lennon, Huddlestone, Jenas, Modric, Corluka and Pav. The maybes: King(his contract is up in 2010) Woodgate, Defoe (depending on how much games he get)

That may seem extreme but I think its a real possibility. Bentley wanted at the least European football as did Woodgate, Corluka, Modric and Pav. Hud seems to be very much a bit part player, Lennon is in and out the first team. as for Jenas he has lost the captaincy that must hurt. King may decide he wants to challenge more for the big prizes. Could see Villa or Arsenal coming in for him (yes I said Arsenal).

You know what, I would not feel any bitterness towards him if he did move to Arsenal. Now that I have seen a large section of our support has treated
Bent and Ghaly like utter scum, I would say the players do not owe the supporters any loyalty at all.

 

[archiewasking]

I couldn't see King ever going to Arsenal. He surely can't fancy the kind of treatment that Sol has had over the years. And Wenger won't want a top class defender who's never fit to play.

The point about Bent and Ghaly is a fair one. Add Bentley to that list as well. Even Chris Waddle had a pretty anonymous first season, but he blossomed thereafter. I think David will do the same. If the fans give him a chance.

I've been wondering, like you, what Defoe has made of Keane's return. Like you, I can see trouble ahead, although Harry insists they can play together. I don't have a problem with the two small strikers idea per se; United managed ok with Rooney and Tevez. I'm not sure RK and JD are in the same class though.

More unhealthy competition and ructions between Jermain and Robbie would set us back again and if we end up selling one of them again, no-one is going to stump up cash like Liverpool did for either one of them.

 

[worcestersauce]

:hello:

please don't come back

But he will and he will score against us!

Now that I have seen a large section of our support has treated
Bent and Ghaly like utter scum, I would say the players do not owe the supporters any loyalty at all.

And would agree with you Mullers.

 

[DC_Boy]

and it's course it's not just bent and ghaly - there's jj lee and salty for starters - I'm afraid large sections of our crowd have been less than 'supportive' to our players for decades