English Premier League 2012/2013

Darren Bent isn't even on the bench and has stormed out and left the ground \o/

Why isn't Bent starting? Whats he done wrong? For a club like Aston Villa to squander so much money on him, and to leave him on the bench, its just bizarre.

I think he fell out with Lambert, He's apparently walked out before the game today.

Villa's team now is frightening compared to that of O'Neill just three years or so ago.

Aye, I still remember going to that Carling cup semi against you guys that finished 5-3 or something. One of the best games I've ever been too.

Benteke seems to be providing a perfectly decent service up front, it's not as if Bent is this world-class midfielder that they desperate need who is not playing for no reason. Benteke is in form, and it might be a case of the Zamora/Jol fallout where the England international striker decide he's bigger than the team and isn't pulling his weight.

He's got 2 league goals in 11 games (2 of those appearances as a sub). I wouldn't say he's in form. It's baffling that he's playing ahead of Bent, who is a proven goal scorer in the Premier League and it's even more ludicrous that he's not even on the bench whilst Jordan Bowery is. It's pretty clear that Lambert wants him gone or has been told he'll be leaving in January.

He's got 5 in 11 starts.

There is a lot of talk about him going to Liverpool which isn't surprising given they've fuck all options up front and could do with a proven goal scorer. Would take the pressure of Suarez as well, which would probably be a good thing for Rodgers.

Nah he's black.

I can't see Villa getting anywhere near what they paid for Bent though, I think the whole thing is just makeing Lambert lose face there, It won't be long before their notoriously impatient fans start calling for his head.

Clearly they are missing Heskey.

Heskey has actually been banging in goals for fun in Australia and I'm not joking looks like he's shaved off a bit of weight as well.

But yeah you're right about not being able to get the same fee, I mean didn't Bent cost them close to £20 million?

£24M I believe.

With Lambert insisting he has no problem with Bent and that his attitude and application in training is fine, the only explanation I can think of is that if Bent reaches a certain landmark in relation to games or goals, a clause will be activated and Villa will have to pay Sunderland some sort of instalment which they don't want / can't afford to do. He's played 47 league matches for Villa so my bet is that if he gets to 50 they'll owe Sunderland a few million quid so they're holding him back incase of emergency and will try and get rid in January.

So what exactly was the point in spending £24M on him if you can only use him for a season and a half? May as well of had him on loan for a million or so a month and still have paid less.