[Confirmed] Bent signs

[Revolution]

I hope he does well, though I dislike this signing for the reasons I've already stated above.

 

[Ollessendro]

Why is everyone presuming that Bent is on a bis salary? Look at it from Birminghams point of view. He is surplus to requirements,, so they may as well loan him out and get a club to pay some of his wages. He'll be on what at Brum 20-25k a week? I expect United to pay around 40% of that. There's no way Birch and McCabe will be paying the guy more than 10k a week. When we've got the likes of Ched, Hendo, Simmo and Monty probably earning the same then it makes you think this might be worth the chance. Clubs have hardly being knocking on the door for Bent and hence Brum will be happy to ship him out for a bit (even if they pay the majority of his wages) and he'll be willing to take a cut. Adams and Bent have worked together before (twice I believe - with Adams being Bents first ever manager) and this will have swayed Bent. His form, coupled with the reasons above, mean that he is unlikely to be getting paid a lot. It might seem like a big signing, but it is really not. I mean, I hope it turns out to be, but Bent is hardly well known. I said it to a Forrest fan at work yesterday and he said 'who?' 'Oh yeah isn't he the guy who was good for you, moved for big money and flopped? Where's he been'. I'm not selling him here, but I don't think we need to worry about financial implications of this. Form, maybe. But we have to trust Adams judgement. Injury and fitness certainly. But I hope that we have a clause to send him back if he gets injured.

 

[SwissBlade]

Wages really aren't my concern, apparently we're the tightest club in the league, McCabe has no interest in United, Realty is losing money and we're rapidly heading down the league into League 1 obscurity.

When we sign youngsters until the end of the season, we're not doing enough to get experience in.

The strikers that we have apparently aren't worth didly squat and we needed new strikers.

Yet when we get in a striker from the Premier league, people choose to target his wages...

Given the fact that the club have constantly stated that we need to cut costs of things like wages, then I doubt that we'll be spunking big money on a gamble.

My only concern is whether Micky is getting the right blend of players in - youth? experience? pretty irrelevant and all we need right now are players who can come in and do the job.

Personally I think Bent can and will be a good addition to the squad.

 

[grafikhaus]

Well said, Swiss.

Personally, I'm delighted we've got Bent. When I read that Villa were after him, I got worried. But we've pipped them for him!

 

[Ted Danson]

Im happy we've signed him too, got a feeling he's going to do well. Im just shocked that I'm in agreement with nearly all that Olles posted in this thread

 

[yorkshirecoast]

It's not Bent's wages that concern me it's the fact that he's scored 3 in 33 games for Birmingham, hasn't scored for about 2 years and has hardly played recently.

Why aren't we looking at the lower leagues for young players who are currently playing well & showing signs of being able to do well at a higher level? Surely that is better than signing Prem youngsters with little or no experience and older players who look well past their best? And where's the pace & power that we've been saying we need?

 

[Worksop_Blade]

It's not Bent's wages that concern me it's the fact that he's scored 3 in 33 games for Birmingham, hasn't scored for about 2 years and has hardly played recently.

Why aren't we looking at the lower leagues for young players who are currently playing well & showing signs of being able to do well at a higher level? Surely that is better than signing Prem youngsters with little or no experience and older players who look well past their best? And where's the pace & power that we've been saying we need?

The last time the club tried that route they spent to much money on a fat lad from Sheffield who was over awed by playing for the club and constantly found himself offside.

The forwards are lacking confidence and it needs someone with a bit of experience of the game to come in and show em how its done.

Youth will get its chance, just the old heads need to stand up and be counted first.

 

[beechblade]

It's not Bent's wages that concern me it's the fact that he's scored 3 in 33 games for Birmingham, hasn't scored for about 2 years and has hardly played recently.

Why aren't we looking at the lower leagues for young players who are currently playing well & showing signs of being able to do well at a higher level? Surely that is better than signing Prem youngsters with little or no experience and older players who look well past their best? And where's the pace & power that we've been saying we need?

Firstly those younger players doing well in lower leagues, are still as much a gamble as those young players from the Prem league with little or know experience, you could argue that the Prem youngsters are training with a better calibre of player than the ones the players in the lower leagues are playing and training alongside so could adapt quicker, also some lower league players struggle with the step up, not all do well and can hold a team place like Jamie Ward (and even he's been poor this season.) I totally accept that they may just be as hungry and willing but they also command a fee, and our budget for January maybe more limited if we want to have a budget for August.

As of whether Bent is over the hill let him get on the field play and prove himself first, it may take him a couple of games but hopefully he'll prove to be a decent signing at this stage of the season, he certainly sounded like he was hungry and ready for the challenge on his interview last night.

 

[Balham]

Why aren't we looking at the lower leagues for young players who are currently playing well & showing signs of being able to do well at a higher level?

To echo Worksop above, we also tried that with Jamie Ward who's hardly set the world alight. One goal this season and a bad penalty at that.

 

[bartman]

a bad penalty? He hit it low and hard down the middle and scored. How is that a bad penalty?

 

[JohnDenver]

Personally, I'm delighted we've got Bent. When I read that Villa were after him, I got worried. But we've pipped them for him!

I've been waiting patiently for that post but just knew you'd come through in the end.

 

[Balham]

a bad penalty? He hit it low and hard down the middle and scored. How is that a bad penalty?

Because it was almost identical to Tevez' from last night, with the exception that Friedel dived and Weale didn't. Ward was lucky.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

It's not Bent's wages that concern me it's the fact that he's scored 3 in 33 games for Birmingham, hasn't scored for about 2 years and has hardly played recently.

Why aren't we looking at the lower leagues for young players who are currently playing well & showing signs of being able to do well at a higher level? Surely that is better than signing Prem youngsters with little or no experience and older players who look well past their best? And where's the pace & power that we've been saying we need?

It's patch up and make do at the moment, the major re-building will start in the Summer.

 

[broomhillblade]

It's not Bent's wages that concern me it's the fact that he's scored 3 in 33 games for Birmingham, hasn't scored for about 2 years and has hardly played recently.

That worries me too. Bent has played for Adams before so our manager must think he can get the best out of him but on paper it's a huge risk. By his own admission, he's not match fit so maybe we'll see him in a 'super sub' role initially. I hope we aren't paying over the odds for him.

If it works it could prove to be an inspired signing.

At least he may be able to help Evans to improve.

 

[SwissBlade]

I can see Bent as a bit of a Henri Camara for us

 

[travellingblade]

I do wish some people on here would allow our Manager to do what he is paid for, i.e. MANAGE!

For goodness sake, we bring in a manager and its moan ("cheap as chips"), we bring in some young players from the Premiership and it's moan (we want experience), we bring in an experienced player from the Premiership and it's moan (waste of money).

I just wonder what would be the reaction to a League 2 player aged about 28?

Just let the Manager get on with his job, and we can then judge him on RESULTS.

 

[Worksop_Blade]

I can see Bent as a bit of a Henri Camara for us

What a breath of fresh air and someone that gets the Kop on its feet?

You could tell Camara was a quality player in his heyday and we were getting the last few drops of magic dust.

 

[Revolution]

I can see Bent as a bit of a Henri Camara for us

Yes, injured a lot.

 

[SteelCity Blade]

I can see Bent as a bit of a Henri Camara for us

Yes, injured a lot.

I dont recall Marcus Bent ever having major problems with injury.

 

[SwissBlade]

The article about Bent on the Star website is a good read. Obviously he's praising United and putting some spin on things, but he's out of contract in the summer, so an end of season loan could turn into a 2-3 year deal if he does alright for us.

I went to the Tideswell FC v SUFC game a few years ago and because I knew a few of the faces in Tidza, I was allowed into Tidza Club afterwards with the players and got talking to Bent. Seemed a decent lad and was a shame for him to go.

Of course, it was 10 years back and both United and Bent have had our ups and downs. Perhaps now he can play under less pressure against more physical defenders, but I always liked the way he played before, he wasn't reliant on pace and had a decent all round technical ability.

He'll need a goal early on, but I think we'll see some good stuff from him and the players around him.

By no stretch a world beater, but more than a handful for defenders in this division. And if he thinks he's come to us for a nice time, then Micky will soon knock that out of him.

 

[Ollessendro]

My only concern is whether Micky is getting the right blend of players in - youth? experience? pretty irrelevant and all we need right now are players who can come in and do the job.

Personally I think Bent can and will be a good addition to the squad.

what we are lacking at the moment up front is pace (bar Ward). Bent is quick (as well as being strong) and could partner Evans or Cressy. He'll offer somethig different.

If this is Adams last signing of the window then I will share your concerns Swiss. However I expect Adams to bring in a couple of other players. I think he'll bring in a centre half and maybe a centre mid (especially if Britton goes) before the end of January. Providing he gets these right then I won't be too worried.

 

[SteelCity Blade]

what we are lacking at the moment up front is pace (bar Ward). Bent is quick (as well as being strong) and could partner Evans or Cressy. He'll offer somethig different.

If this is Adams last signing of the window then I will share your concerns Swiss. However I expect Adams to bring in a couple of other players. I think he'll bring in a centre half and maybe a centre mid (especially if Britton goes) before the end of January. Providing he gets these right then I won't be too worried.

I agree Olle, I think MA will try to sign a couple more. I would suspect a midfielder and another defender. If Britton goes we have Willo, Monty and McAllister as well as a couple of others who can play in the middle if need be but I think MA will want to add a physical presence if the right player is available. I also expect Britton to go back to Swansea but I think he will be the only departure in this window.

A lack of pace up top isnt a great concern for me. If you have good movement amongst your strikers you can get by without a lot of pace. I was saying just yesterday to someone, that Bent's biggest plus for me is his movement off the ball. He will create space for other players and get into good scoring positions himself. That is what we have lacked IMO and Bent can bring that to the table.

 

[SwissBlade]

If this is Adams last signing of the window then I will share your concerns Swiss. However I expect Adams to bring in a couple of other players. I think he'll bring in a centre half and maybe a centre mid (especially if Britton goes) before the end of January. Providing he gets these right then I won't be too worried.

Did I say that I was concerned

Quite the opposite, I'm impressed that he's not been afraid to get some youngsters in.

I'd like Andy Reid though - permanently or on loan till the end of the season.

 

[Ollessendro]

I'd like Andy Reid though - permanently or on loan till the end of the season.

me too. It's still a possibility, but only a small one. I expect him to go to a Prem team or a championship team going for promotion. If no one comes in for him then I think he would come back (Jim said that he Adams said something along these lines). However Reid showed his class for us and I am sure that other managers are aware of this. He put himself in the shop window. Still we can hope.

 

[Guesty]

I would be shocked if we signed Reid again, I'm fairly sure that won't happen.