Time for Bent?

[Tickers]

I think you're right, SS57, but I also think you have nothing to fear.

I think we will see changes - especially directly before and after Waffa games - but I don't think they'll be anything like as wholesale as people predict.

Bent is probably the one player who will benefit from Sunday's win in terms of significantly increased playing time. But bringing him in for a run of games is hardly a gamble on a par with those calling for Pekhart and Taarabt to get some games.

From everything we've seen so far, it seems unlikely that Ramos will allow any fannying about in the league games.

 

[SpurSince57]

I don't think I have anything to fear, either. I think a lot of people simply don't realise what kind of a manager we have now—not that I believe Jol would have done anything different last season, if things had gone differently in the cups.

 

[Has1978]

I partially agree with you SS57 re momentum and mentality, but Benitez is a different kettle of fish. He changes a winning team when there is apparently no cause for it e.g. before the Portsmouth game (dropping Torres after beating Derby 6-0) with no cup games imminent. I think he still thinks he´s managing Valencia.

Benitez is (rightly) pilloried for rotating for the sake of it. Liverpool´s target for the fans was the League first and the Champions League second. He has already failed.

Ramos´s remit was I imagine to salvage something from this season and really gear us up for next season. He has already succeeded.

To this end I imagine that maximising our chances for UEFA success will result in maximum benefit: in terms of attracting players, profile, prizemoney (less so) and a drug-addiction-type feeling for silverware.

Next season, with a clean slate, I agree we should absolutely fight on all fronts and only rotate when absolutely necessary (i.e. a player is knackered or facing suspension). This season, I feel we should leverage off the fact that we are one of the only teams around with only the UEFA to play for.

We already know that our first team can beat pretty much anybody (ahh I smiled just writing that)

The league would be a good chance for the like of Bent, Hutton (ineligible), Gunter et al to establish some rhythm and for the management to see how they would fare when it really counts.

 

[SpurSince57]

But Bent is a proven Premiership goalscorer and Hutton a great prospect at RB. It's when people suggest that we give the likes of Pekhart and Taarabt starts that I wonder what they're smoking.

The last two seasons have shown that when we have a more or less full strength, settled side we can pretty much match anyone. One of the main reasons we failed to hang on to fourth in 2005-2006 was losing Mido to the ANC and Davids and Tainio to injury in rapid succession; Mido came back carrying an injury, and he and Ed were never quite the players they had been previously; we recovered, but not enough to compensate for that dip in form in January. Last season it was no coincidence that we put together a sensational run over the last twelve games after Jenas, Keane and King returned.

Some will dispute this, but I am convinced it was Juande's added clout that enabled us to spend £20m on a massive beefing-up of the defence in January; this has also given us a strength in depth that we didn't possess before.

But, mainly, Juande is not a coach who will ease up. Our league form over the past six games hasn't been good enough, and he and Gus will want a lot better over the remaining twelve.

 

[hans]

berbs and keane should both be rested, bent used to play pretty well by himself at charlton