Darren Bent Hands In Transfer Request

[Beefymcfc]

I wonder if they'll try and throw 'You Know Who' in as part of the deal?

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

Wonder if Sunderland will try and get Ireland as part of the deal? They are long term admirers.

Very true. I think this will happen.

[ross.mcfc]

You have to imagine that Villa will be offloading some players.

Ashley Young?

[ross.mcfc]

Or they could use the cash to fund a permanent deal for Ned.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

Or they could use the cash to fund a permanent deal for Ned.

6m and they can have Jo for free.

[Beefymcfc]

If it is Villa, let's hope it's not completed before the weekend; he's be bound to score otherwise!

[Blue Blood]

You have to imagine that Villa will be offloading some players.

Ashley Young?

Looking likely, I mean MON left because the pot was empty and now suddenly Villa have 24million to burn on one player straight after spending 6 million on Makoun...

Young has to be on his way.

Piss poor ambition from Bent btw, I mean Villa are a good club but Sunderland stand a chance of finishing top 6 this year, Villa will be lucky to avoid the drop and with the aging squad they have you can't see it getting much better soon either...

Strange transfer this....

[Mase]

Very strange if it is Villa. Really can't see why anyone would go there while Gérard Houllier is still incharge!

[lets all have a disco]

Maybe their rich owner has decided to stop being such a tight barsteward and invest some cash.

[aaron bond]

You have to imagine that Villa will be offloading some players.

Ashley Young?

Looking likely, I mean MON left because the pot was empty and now suddenly Villa have 24million to burn on one player straight after spending 6 million on Makoun...

Young has to be on his way.

Piss poor ambition from Bent btw, I mean Villa are a good club but Sunderland stand a chance of finishing top 6 this year, Villa will be lucky to avoid the drop and with the aging squad they have you can't see it getting much better soon either...

Strange transfer this....

I'm surprised you're the first person to mention this. I find it strange. Sunderland are having a good season and could potentially build a platform to cement themselves as a top 6-7 team. It seems a weird transfer to make at this stage of season. I would have thought Bent would at least waited until the summer to see how Sunderland performed and then reviewed his options.

Villa do need a striker and he fits the bill. I think he's a very good player who will do well at Villa.

I am a bit confused why O'Neill wasn't given these funds though, or is just that the owner now is fearing relegation and that would be financially catastrophic for the club and his own funds?!?!

[ross.mcfc]

I am a bit confused why O'Neill wasn't given these funds though,

MON's record in the transfer market is not great. Warnock, Sidwell, Harewood, Davis. Shorey, Bain, Reo-Coker.

[Wooders]

I remember a rag mate saying how he prefers how randy lerner handles things at villa compared to how our owners act (without actually knowing anything about either owner, or what they do for their clubs) and that our owners should take a page out of lerners book at the end of last season... now they are in the drop zone and we're title contenders he is looking very silly indeed (not that it is hard)

[Alioune DVToure]

You have to imagine that Villa will be offloading some players.

Ashley Young?

Looking likely, I mean MON left because the pot was empty and now suddenly Villa have 24million to burn on one player straight after spending 6 million on Makoun...

Young has to be on his way.

Piss poor ambition from Bent btw, I mean Villa are a good club but Sunderland stand a chance of finishing top 6 this year, Villa will be lucky to avoid the drop and with the aging squad they have you can't see it getting much better soon either...

Strange transfer this....

[b]I'm surprised you're the first person to mention this.[/b] I find it strange. Sunderland are having a good season and could potentially build a platform to cement themselves as a top 6-7 team. It seems a weird transfer to make at this stage of season. I would have thought Bent would at least waited until the summer to see how Sunderland performed and then reviewed his options.

Villa do need a striker and he fits the bill. I think he's a very good player who will do well at Villa.

I am a bit confused why O'Neill wasn't given these funds though, or is just that the owner now is fearing relegation and that would be financially catastrophic for the club and his own funds?!?!

He wasn't. I was.

I suppose the thing to bear in mind is that Villa probably won't go down as things are, and 100% won't go down with Bent's goals.

Every transfer price has a subtext. If his goals keep them up he's pretty much invaluable. He wouldn't cost as much in the close season.

Still think he's be better off at Liverpool though. Just what they're crying out for (some fucking movement up front!) and the fans would love him there.

[ryanmcfc]

Liverpool have made a bid for Downing.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

I remember a rag mate saying how he prefers how randy lerner handles things at villa compared to how our owners act (without actually knowing anything about either owner, or what they do for their clubs) and that our owners should take a page out of lerners book at the end of last season... now they are in the drop zone and we're title contenders he is looking very silly indeed (not that it is hard)

What people don't seem to understand is that with so called "sensible" approach you can break into top six maybe. But you'd have hard time, apart from maybe one fluke season, to break into top 4 and no chance whatsoever to win the big one.

[Alioune DVToure]

Liverpool have made a bid for Downing.

They could do with him too.

That team has no pace, no options up front and no width. With Downing, Bent and Gerrard back they'd be a decent side in my opinion.

[Wooders]

he;'s probably been asked to do this because isn't there some crazy rule that if you sell a player who hasn't handed in a transfer request, you have to pay off his wages ??

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

he;'s probably been asked to do this because isn't there some crazy rule that if you sell a player who hasn't handed in a transfer request, you have to pay off his wages ??

bingo.

[aaron bond]

I remember a rag mate saying how he prefers how randy lerner handles things at villa compared to how our owners act (without actually knowing anything about either owner, or what they do for their clubs) and that our owners should take a page out of lerners book at the end of last season... now they are in the drop zone and we're title contenders he is looking very silly indeed (not that it is hard)

What people don't seem to understand is that with so called "sensible" approach you can break into top six maybe. But you'd have hard time, apart from maybe one fluke season, to break into top 4 and no chance whatsoever to win the big one.

This pretty much sums it up and is what the pundits on the Sunday Supplement are finally starting to realise!!!

The way we have gone about our business is THE only way to gatecrash the Champions League funded group of elite clubs. I admire what Randy Lerner has tried to do at Villa, but their league position shows how far it will get you. Three top 6 finishes in a row is about as good as it will whilst he's in charge. I'm not slagging him off at all, but people have to realise there are limits to what you can achieve with his methods.

[Beeks]

If it is Villa, let's hope it's not completed before the weekend; he's be bound to score otherwise!

Exactly...he'll be chomping at the bit to score...typical city timing