Ratings -VS- Derby

[SpurSince57]

Well, you only have ITK to go on, but it has been suggested he was more Comolli and Levy's idea than Jol's, and that they were convinced they were going to be able to offload Defoe over the summer, which would have offset a lot of the fee. That may be bollocks, but it's reasonably plausible bollocks.

I think you underestimate him, B-C, and he was certainly very effective in a 4-4-2 for Ipswich. He also only turned 24 last Thursday. (Comolli referred to him as a 'project', whatever that means.) But I would agree that unless we play him to his strengths, we're not going to get the best out of him.

Nevertheless, despite injuries and fragmented appearances, he's scored as many league goals as Kuyt this season.

 

[sloth]

I think you under-estimate him too BC. I've high hopes for DB.

 

[yanno]

I said exactly the same thing about Bent/Keane in the match thread before the game. In fact this is what I posted:

But Bent won't create chances for Keane like Berbaov does. Which means Keane playing the deeper role. Which invariably means him running around flapping and getting in the way.

B-C - you sure do paint a picture!!!!

That said, I think you somewhat underestimate Keane's contribution to the team. You're correct that generally he doesn't tackle (and when he does, he gets sent off). However, I do think his closing down has got better under Ramos - as has the whole team's - and that's all I really want him to do defensively.

Crucially, Keane and Berba have developed a genuine creative understanding. It's not perfect, but they do try things which often work (eg Keano's backheel for Berba's goal at the Emirates). And Keano's goal record is outstanding. He does still miss easy chances, but all strikers do, and he scores some outstanding goals as well as tap-ins.

In a perfect world, as I've written before, I'd sell Bent and use the combined Defoe/Bent fee to sign David Villa. With Berba, Keane and Villa we would have a fantastic trio of strikers. And, if the rumours are to be believed, I suspect Juande would agree.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

I have no problem with Keane's conversion rate. As you say all strikers will miss "sitters" and Keane's skillset (his "range" of finishes - for want of a better expression) is good and what guarantees him goals. Bent doesn't have this range. He is pretty much, a one trick pony (pony express ???). You kick the ball in front of him, he chases it and whacks it goalwards. He doesn't even give you the hold up qualities of other lone striker types as his technique is poor (comparitively). To this end I would rather have had a Dirk Kuyt or even an Alan Smith type as they would have been better companions to the likes of Keane, Defoe and Berbatov (who with someone else to do the grafting could go back to being the true striker) and offered the team something extra in terms of holding the ball and developing play.

Bent offers nothing to enhance any of the other strikers, or indeed our style of play as a team. This is why I just didn't get why we purchased a player with such a limited skillset (none of the other teams above us were remotely interested in him) for so much money.

 

[SpurSince57]

From what I've seen of Bent's goals for us and Charlton, he has a far wider range of finishes than simply 'whacking it goalward'.

Kuyt has been poor considering what he cost. Terribly inaccurate, and only a quarter of the shots he gets on target go in. Runs around a lot, can't tackle as well as Keane, passes indifferently. As for the Emmerdale Eminem, as a striker he's a total joke. He's a midfielder, and not a very good one at that.

 

[MattWilliams]

The Derby fans want him dropped. They don't like him at all and say he is a lazy fuck who loves himself and gives it away too much by trying to do something stupid by himself rather than playing for the team. The comment was 'if someone gave us £5m for him I would drive him to the airport'. Talented, but not talented enough for him to step into our side.

Spurs fans said the same about Carrick and say the same about Berbs... He looks a very good young player to me. Always seems to have had a great football brain since I first started watching him, maybe he's fed up playing in such an awful team with clueless teammates... :shrug:

 

[guy]

i still have high hopes for DB too, but after that game im a little scared. He did absolutely nothing, touched the ball maybe 3 times and just basically looked out of sorts. Yes he has been injured for a while etc etc but to be so far out of a game against the worst team in the league isnt good.

Im pretty sure Juande thought playing derby, bent could score a cpl of easy goals to get his confidence back up, but did he even get a shot on target?.

Steed and Lennon can both play a nice through ball, this is where Bent must look to be played in i think. Or Tommy Hudd has to be played in CM when Bent is playing.

 

[SpurSince57]

He's been out since Boxing Day, he was playing too deep (presumably on instructions), Derby weren't exactly rolling over and dying, and the service wasn't too great. A mediocre performance was about the best you could expect.