The Enigma of Darren Bent

The £24 million Aston Villa aquisition has reportedly received death threats on his twitter page due to his sudden desire to re-launch his one man show I’m an overpaid footballer, get me out of here. Now he has decided he doesn’t like the limelight that being a top class footballer may bring.

Well Darren, some free advice: Don’t tell everyone on twitter how much you want to leave your current employers, and if you don’t like the limelight, don’t request a move to what you described as a big club who you want to help get ‘back to where they belong’, i.e. The limelight. You should have asked for a move to a small club that is where they belong so no-one bothers you. Although be prepared for your followers on twitter to drop in number.

It is interesting to note that Ian Holloway, now known as a managerial genius, disagrees that Aston Villa are a big club. Certainly not big enough for Charlie Adam. So until Ian Holloway has recognised Aston Villa as a big club, you will know Darren, you’re quest to ‘put them back where they belong’ is not at an end.

I would never condone posting death threats on anyone’s twitter account, its way over the top and just shows the stupidity of some people, but it does make one wonder why Darren Bent seems to attract such negative opinions.

His previous manager, Harry Redknapp, said his missus could do better. Shame Mrs Redknapp doesn’t play as a holding midfielder or he might have been tempted to sign her up to replace Wilson ‘I can’t pass five yards’ Palacios.

Despite Bent being the most prolific English striker, Fabio Cappello wasn’t even close to offering a plane ticket to South Africa, preferring instead the more subtle brilliance of Emile Heskey. That makes Bent quite far down the pecking order of quality English Strikers in most people’s eyes.

But why is Bent simply not rated at the business end of the English Premiership. The guy scores goals, and lots of them. He has the best record of any English striker in the Premiership. He scored a hatful in a Charlton team that got relegated. He has a one in two goal ratio at Sunderland and scored more than a few for Spurs.

I had the pleasure of watching him play at Tottenham a number of times. I personally felt he was never given a fair crack of the whip at the Lane, and would prefer him over Crouch any day. But I was in the minority. Most of the support at Spurs simply hated him. Missing a pretty simple one on one against Arsenal early on in his career didn’t help but he was never given a chance. He wasn’t happy so he told everyone on twitter and left.

I think the problem that top managers have with Darren Bent is his mental state. He seems to rely too much on an arm round the shoulder, and does not cope well with criticism. Sunderland fans will tell you that he hasn’t been the same player this season as last. Perhaps because he wanted to leave in the Summer and his head had gone. Darren Bent can not seem to motivate himself, or bounce back from criticism. The Darren Bent solution is to move on.

If the price tag of £24 million starts to weigh heavily on Darren Bent's shoulders we may well read I’m an overpaid footballer, get me out of here 3 posted on twitter sooner rather than later