thfcsuperyid
New Member
- Apr 25, 2005
- 883
- 0
u can hav him...he's muck
ITK Rabbi Crackers-FTL,Dragon1-COYS: Bent
- Thread starter Coolpudge
- Start date
tRiKS
Ledley's No.1 fan
- Jun 6, 2005
- 6,854
- 142
He's absoultely faster than defoe. Defoes legs appear to move quicker but Defoe is Deceptively slow. I've seen bent out pace Toure but Toure easily burnt Defoe on a number of occasions in the CC home tie last year. Bent was aslo the player i've seen give Ledley to most trouble in a stright run, ledley still got thier first though.
worcestersauce
"I'm no optimist I'm just a prisoner of hope
- Jan 23, 2006
- 26,969
- 45,263
I think the reference to Defoe is irrelevent because he won't be here much longer, I'd like him to be but he won't be, he won't sign a new contract so he has to be elbowed.
Spurs_Q8
Well-Known Member
- May 21, 2005
- 3,161
- 139
I have been heard, even O'Hara wasn't impressed anyone in reserves.
I think Pekhart can do better with first team players if involved.
at least, Bent money could help other positions.
- Aug 18, 2005
- 6,527
- 267
I think he does. if you watch the first half against Birmingham he won a lot of the long balls knocked forward and flicked them on towards Berbatov.
Bent is 23 and has already proven he can consistently score in the premiership. Don't you want to give him a chance before shipping him out like you're playing football manager.
AnotherSpursFan
Well-Known Member
- Dec 4, 2006
- 1,807
- 1,787
Ramos made Kanoute a better player, Bent will be a much better player but playing with sulk face Berbatov obviously doesn't help his confidence.
Kurtzen
New Member
- Jan 13, 2006
- 822
- 0
Bent Perspective
Source: Guardian 22.12.07
Darren Bent Interview
'People go on like I've been here two years and it hasn't worked. I'll turn it around'
The problem with football these days? Everyone is so damn impatient. Managers live in fear of the sack if they go three games without a win, supporters boo as soon as someone misplaces his first pass and, as Darren Bent can testify, new signings can forget about the old theory that they should be allowed a year or so to settle in. Nobody seems to have any time any more. Everyone wants success to be instantaneous
Bent has heard all the mocking chants of "what a waste of money". He has grown wearily accustomed to being derided as a £16.5m white elephant and, in the interests of self-preservation, he has had to develop selective hearing at certain grounds. It has been a difficult six months since joining Tottenham Hotspur and, if he plays in today's north London derby - "if" being the word, given that he has started only seven league games this season - he knows he will be an easy target for the Arsenal fans and maybe a few in the Tottenham end.
"It's the way of the world," he says. "People are always going to pick out someone who cost a lot of money and, so far, it's fair to say Tottenham haven't seen the best of me. But it's been only six months. Some people go on like I've been here two years and it simply hasn't worked. But it will work and I will turn it around."
If he wanted to argue the toss, he could cite that some of Arsenal's more celebrated players - Dennis Bergkamp and Robert Pires to name two - hardly pulled up trees in their first seasons or, widening the argument, that Cristiano Ronaldo flickered only sporadically when he first arrived at Manchester United. Yet Bent comes across as remarkably laid back for someone under such close scrutiny.
This is his first interview since signing from Charlton Athletic and he is acutely aware that many of the questions might have a negative slant. Yet nothing is out of bounds and he does not insist on vetting what is written. His only request is that he is sent a copy of the photograph for his mother, Shirley. And the only flicker of anger is when the conversation turns to Sven-Goran Eriksson, the manager who selected Theo Walcott ahead of him for last year's World Cup. "I saw him when we played Manchester City recently but I wouldn't even look at him," he says.
Otherwise Bent is calm and relaxed and, unless he has been taking acting lessons, he does not seem overly fazed by his return of five goals in six months. "I'm not overconfident or arrogant but I do believe in my ability," he says. "I'd like to have played more and it isn't nice sometimes to be left out. It's difficult when you find yourself in and out of the team all the time. But I knew this might be the case because there were fantastic strikers here already in Robbie [Keane], Jermain [Defoe] and Berba [Dimitar Berbatov].
"It was always going to be difficult to get a regular place but, ultimately, it will make me a better player being in this kind of competition. I could have gone to a few other clubs and been playing every week but it was Tottenham I wanted to join and I don't regret that one bit. I still believe in myself. I'm still working hard because I know the minute I stop doing that is when it all goes to pot. But I don't think that will ever happen with me. I'm still convinced I can have the same impact for Tottenham that I had for Charlton. I'm still convinced it's only a matter of time."
He is encouraged by the fact that the club's new manager, Juande Ramos, seems to have more confidence in him than did his predecessor, Martin Jol. But that, in itself, throws up more questions. Why would the man who believed Bent was worth a larger transfer fee than Thierry Henry cost Barcelona seem so reluctant about putting him in the team?
"It was surprising for me," says Bent. "He bought me but then he didn't really want to play me. I used to find it frustrating and I can remember speaking to my mum and dad about what to do. I'm not the type to go knocking on the manager's door but I was starting to wonder, 'What is going on here?' Thankfully the new guy has come in now." Note the 'thankfully'.
We are talking at North Middlesex Hospital, where Tottenham have a tradition of sending players to deliver Christmas presents to the children. This year's volunteers were Bent, Berbatov and Younes Kaboul and occasions like this put everything into perspective. "Listen," says Bent. "Away fans are always going to throw my price tag back at me but it wasn't me who thought of that figure. Charlton made it up and I'm just happy Tottenham paid it. People are going to aim it at me but it's really nothing to do with me."
He sounds as if he means it, although Trevor Francis used to say the same thing after becoming England's first £1m footballer, then admitted after he had retired that it was actually the bane of his life. "Not me," Bent reiterates, shaking his head. "I don't even think about it."
He is, however, bemused by some of the attention that comes with costing so much. "There was even one story about me going to a private gym for some extra fitness lessons," he says. "I was just there because my girlfriend was a member."
And so the talk turns to Eriksson and, specifically, Bent's omission from the World Cup. Bent has never expressed his anger before but it is clear the resentment is still eating away - perhaps understandably, after figuring in every England squad for the two years running up to the tournament, as well being the leading English scorer in the Premier League. "On the last day of the season Curbs [Alan Curbishley, the Charlton manager] took me off at half-time," Bent remembers. "He said, 'You're going to the World Cup this summer and I don't want to risk you getting an injury here.'"
When his mobile rang and Eriksson informed him he had been left out, the first person Bent rang was his father Mervyn, a former player himself. "He started effing and blinding down the phone. My mum was the same too. I rang some of my friends, team-mates, Richard Murray [the Charlton chairman] and Curbs. Everyone was fuming.
"I was in shock when I spoke to Sven and it was only after I heard the way my mum and dad were talking that I thought, 'Hang on a second'. I had so many things I wanted to say to him but it was a withheld number. Smart guy. It's nothing against Theo Walcott because he's an outstanding young player but after working my nuts off all season that was a big disappointment and, in the end, it was proven that Sven didn't take enough strikers."
An interesting side note: Bent responded to Eriksson's snub by "using it to score even more goals" last season - in total 15 in 35 appearances for a Charlton side doomed for relegation. In other words he has previous when it comes to proving people wrong and, listening to him, it is something he intends to put into practice again. The 23-year-old grew up in Tooting as an Arsenal fan - "Ian Wright was my hero" - and some critics might joke that, yes, he has been playing like a Gooner. But all he wants is a bit of patience.
Source: Guardian 22.12.07
Darren Bent Interview
'People go on like I've been here two years and it hasn't worked. I'll turn it around'
The problem with football these days? Everyone is so damn impatient. Managers live in fear of the sack if they go three games without a win, supporters boo as soon as someone misplaces his first pass and, as Darren Bent can testify, new signings can forget about the old theory that they should be allowed a year or so to settle in. Nobody seems to have any time any more. Everyone wants success to be instantaneous
Bent has heard all the mocking chants of "what a waste of money". He has grown wearily accustomed to being derided as a £16.5m white elephant and, in the interests of self-preservation, he has had to develop selective hearing at certain grounds. It has been a difficult six months since joining Tottenham Hotspur and, if he plays in today's north London derby - "if" being the word, given that he has started only seven league games this season - he knows he will be an easy target for the Arsenal fans and maybe a few in the Tottenham end.
"It's the way of the world," he says. "People are always going to pick out someone who cost a lot of money and, so far, it's fair to say Tottenham haven't seen the best of me. But it's been only six months. Some people go on like I've been here two years and it simply hasn't worked. But it will work and I will turn it around."
If he wanted to argue the toss, he could cite that some of Arsenal's more celebrated players - Dennis Bergkamp and Robert Pires to name two - hardly pulled up trees in their first seasons or, widening the argument, that Cristiano Ronaldo flickered only sporadically when he first arrived at Manchester United. Yet Bent comes across as remarkably laid back for someone under such close scrutiny.
This is his first interview since signing from Charlton Athletic and he is acutely aware that many of the questions might have a negative slant. Yet nothing is out of bounds and he does not insist on vetting what is written. His only request is that he is sent a copy of the photograph for his mother, Shirley. And the only flicker of anger is when the conversation turns to Sven-Goran Eriksson, the manager who selected Theo Walcott ahead of him for last year's World Cup. "I saw him when we played Manchester City recently but I wouldn't even look at him," he says.
Otherwise Bent is calm and relaxed and, unless he has been taking acting lessons, he does not seem overly fazed by his return of five goals in six months. "I'm not overconfident or arrogant but I do believe in my ability," he says. "I'd like to have played more and it isn't nice sometimes to be left out. It's difficult when you find yourself in and out of the team all the time. But I knew this might be the case because there were fantastic strikers here already in Robbie [Keane], Jermain [Defoe] and Berba [Dimitar Berbatov].
"It was always going to be difficult to get a regular place but, ultimately, it will make me a better player being in this kind of competition. I could have gone to a few other clubs and been playing every week but it was Tottenham I wanted to join and I don't regret that one bit. I still believe in myself. I'm still working hard because I know the minute I stop doing that is when it all goes to pot. But I don't think that will ever happen with me. I'm still convinced I can have the same impact for Tottenham that I had for Charlton. I'm still convinced it's only a matter of time."
He is encouraged by the fact that the club's new manager, Juande Ramos, seems to have more confidence in him than did his predecessor, Martin Jol. But that, in itself, throws up more questions. Why would the man who believed Bent was worth a larger transfer fee than Thierry Henry cost Barcelona seem so reluctant about putting him in the team?
"It was surprising for me," says Bent. "He bought me but then he didn't really want to play me. I used to find it frustrating and I can remember speaking to my mum and dad about what to do. I'm not the type to go knocking on the manager's door but I was starting to wonder, 'What is going on here?' Thankfully the new guy has come in now." Note the 'thankfully'.
We are talking at North Middlesex Hospital, where Tottenham have a tradition of sending players to deliver Christmas presents to the children. This year's volunteers were Bent, Berbatov and Younes Kaboul and occasions like this put everything into perspective. "Listen," says Bent. "Away fans are always going to throw my price tag back at me but it wasn't me who thought of that figure. Charlton made it up and I'm just happy Tottenham paid it. People are going to aim it at me but it's really nothing to do with me."
He sounds as if he means it, although Trevor Francis used to say the same thing after becoming England's first £1m footballer, then admitted after he had retired that it was actually the bane of his life. "Not me," Bent reiterates, shaking his head. "I don't even think about it."
He is, however, bemused by some of the attention that comes with costing so much. "There was even one story about me going to a private gym for some extra fitness lessons," he says. "I was just there because my girlfriend was a member."
And so the talk turns to Eriksson and, specifically, Bent's omission from the World Cup. Bent has never expressed his anger before but it is clear the resentment is still eating away - perhaps understandably, after figuring in every England squad for the two years running up to the tournament, as well being the leading English scorer in the Premier League. "On the last day of the season Curbs [Alan Curbishley, the Charlton manager] took me off at half-time," Bent remembers. "He said, 'You're going to the World Cup this summer and I don't want to risk you getting an injury here.'"
When his mobile rang and Eriksson informed him he had been left out, the first person Bent rang was his father Mervyn, a former player himself. "He started effing and blinding down the phone. My mum was the same too. I rang some of my friends, team-mates, Richard Murray [the Charlton chairman] and Curbs. Everyone was fuming.
"I was in shock when I spoke to Sven and it was only after I heard the way my mum and dad were talking that I thought, 'Hang on a second'. I had so many things I wanted to say to him but it was a withheld number. Smart guy. It's nothing against Theo Walcott because he's an outstanding young player but after working my nuts off all season that was a big disappointment and, in the end, it was proven that Sven didn't take enough strikers."
An interesting side note: Bent responded to Eriksson's snub by "using it to score even more goals" last season - in total 15 in 35 appearances for a Charlton side doomed for relegation. In other words he has previous when it comes to proving people wrong and, listening to him, it is something he intends to put into practice again. The 23-year-old grew up in Tooting as an Arsenal fan - "Ian Wright was my hero" - and some critics might joke that, yes, he has been playing like a Gooner. But all he wants is a bit of patience.
jimtheyid
T'riffic
- Apr 16, 2005
- 13,497
- 7,235
I just think that this guy has a top top attitude. I would love him to succeed and bag us 20 goals a season.... and he could. But will he ever get the chance with berba and Keane so clearly the favourites. And following Defoe's recent form, has he fallen furthert down the pecking order?
I guess today we will find out.
I guess today we will find out.
eViL
Oliver Skipp's Dad
- May 15, 2004
- 5,841
- 7,965
I really don't see what everyone's problem is.
The guy is a proven goalscorer who's been scoring goals when he's got on the pitch.
As for the price tag - blame the Spammers for that, throwing their money around putting the WHOLE market into chaos.
And fair play to Spurs for paying the 'inflated' 16.5m to show the Tools what a little club they really are. :shake:
The guy is a proven goalscorer who's been scoring goals when he's got on the pitch.
As for the price tag - blame the Spammers for that, throwing their money around putting the WHOLE market into chaos.
And fair play to Spurs for paying the 'inflated' 16.5m to show the Tools what a little club they really are. :shake:
Gin+Tonic14
Member
- Jul 27, 2005
- 287
- 0
Bent is quality, his strike against Wigan from an acute angle is evidence to that.
And Keane
Bent comfortably needs less Premiership minutes to find the net from open play, for all his extra playing time Keane has only found the net from open play only twice more than Bent.
Playing regularly he would find his confidence and the goals would follow. It's a bit of a catch 22 because barring Berbs having an extended period out Bent is unlikely to get that run and the current situation will continue. But Berbs brings so much more to the team than just goals, he is on a different level completely to Bent, Keane & Defoe so it's left for those 3 to fight it out for the other place.
eViL
Oliver Skipp's Dad
- May 15, 2004
- 5,841
- 7,965
One thing I have noticed is Berbatov seems more reluctant to play alongside Bent maybe because he knows all Bent will do is look for a goal (because he is so direct), whereas with Keane there's the chance he might get the ball back to score himself.
Or maybe I read into it too much.. I dunno!
Or maybe I read into it too much.. I dunno!
BoringOldFan
It's better to burn out than to fade away...
- Sep 20, 2005
- 9,955
- 2,498
rabbi crackers on FTL has just posted that Bent had a medical at West Ham yesterday. Deal done for £10m apparently!
Great timing with the interview!
Great timing with the interview!
Flatters
Racist Troll
- May 4, 2005
- 27,001
- 50
:bs:
