Is Darren Bent overrated?

[Arsenal_pwns_all]

I know a lot of people are raving about Darren Bent, about how many goals he had scored, about how he is better than Defoe etc, but from the matches I have seen him play he's little more than a decent player made to look good by the mediocre club he plays in. He reminds me of the hype over Andy Johnson last season.

I would like to know what's so great about Bent that makes he deserve the England spot over Defoe.

[Kavster]

I think he definitely has potential. Potential to be one of our regulars for the Euros or the next WC. It's unfair to compare him to Johnson because when AJ finally got his chacne in the England setup, he was played on the left wing when he was selected for his merits playing as a lone striker. His potential is probably also not going to be realised fully at Charlton (with all due respect) and I reckon he'll be signed by a team who are competing for a place in Europe. That might give him the development he needs and hence become a stronger England prospect. But atm, imo, he isn't overrated.

[The Potter]

He's better than the likes of Cisse, Saha, Crouch and Drogba who are already at big clubs.

[Prenn]

He has potential but lets see him do it over several seasons.

[schafer]

I know a lot of people are raving about Darren Bent, about how many goals he had scored, about how he is better than Defoe etc, but from the matches I have seen him play he's little more than a decent player made to look good by the mediocre club he plays in. He reminds me of the hype over Andy Johnson last season.

I would like to know what's so great about Bent that makes he deserve the England spot over Defoe.


He's very much in the mold of an Owen or Defoe, in that he's got blistering pace, is good off the ball, works hard, and is a good finisher. The extra element that Bent adds, IMO, and what makes him such a good prospect (although he does need to prove himself) is that he has fairly good upper body strength and is good in the air, two things Defoe and Owen lack to some extent.

[When Hell Unfreezes]

I have to admit, I'm among the vast majority of the population, who wouldn't watch Charlton if you paid me - however, I've seen clips of them and clips of young England games and he does score some great goals, especially with his head!

Can't really see him getting in before Defoe though........

Mind you, sick-notes injured again, perhaps we should only take 2 keepers???

[Colm]

He's got potential. He's having a good season to be fair to him but we'll see what he does next season.

[dustcowpoke]

He scores goals. He has scored more than Crouch. He is a class and he has lots of pace. Sven is smoking weed if Bent doesn't go to the WC.

[three lions]

He scores goals. He has scored more than Crouch. He is a class and he has lots of pace. Sven is smoking weed if Bent doesn't go to the WC.


He has huge potential.. But Defoe will get picked before Bent because he has proven he could score for the team. In Bent's last performance for England, he was caught in way too many offside traps.. You can't make those kind of mistakes consistently, and then expect to be called up to play in the World Cup... Crouch makes the team for he sheer height and the change of pace that he offers in a close game for set pieces, i.e. corner kick headers.. He simply offers more to the table than Bent does right now. I am not saying that he is better or worse than Bent, just offers a different aspect that could prove valuable in a scoreless game after the 80th minute...

[Placid Casual]

. In Bent's last performance for England, he was caught in way too many offside traps.. ..

Last performance? Try only game. I would be a tad nervous on my England debut(Note Debut needs to pronounced as Richie Benaud does otherwise it is stupid) too

[three lions]

Last performance? Try only game. I would be a tad nervous on my England debut(Note Debut needs to pronounced as Richie Benaud does otherwise it is stupid) too

I know it was his debut... And you make a good point. I am sure he was very nervous for his first game.. Just think of how nervous he would be on the World Cup stage.. Do you really think he is ready? Maybe if he plays in the remaining friendlies, he could shake off some of those nerves.. But, will he get enough minutes of playing time in those friendlies to warrant a sure call up to the World Cup squad? It will be between him and Defoe.... Crouch is a shoe-in....

[Chewmylegoff]

But, will he get enough minutes of playing time in those friendlies to warrant a sure call up to the World Cup squad? It will be between him and Defoe.... Crouch is a shoe-in....

the world cup squad has to be named on the 15th may, we don't play hungary until 30th may and jamaica until 3rd june, therefore if bent is playing in our remaining friendlies he will already be in the world cup squad.

i think sven will definately take defoe, and i think there is a chance that he'll take bent as well but only if we take 5 strikers.

[musicl]

At the moment i dont rate him very highly at all.

[Ruby_ynwax3]

definately overrated... he has a big lack of experience and mostly, if the team (charlton)'s performance is not good, he can't find ways to score AT ALL...

[schafer]

definately overrated... he has a big lack of experience and mostly, if the team (charlton)'s performance is not good, he can't find ways to score AT ALL...

Exactly like Defoe and Owen, to some extent. As for his lack of experience, that's a valid point, but nobody's rating him because of his experience, it's all because of his potential, so I don't really know where you're going with that.

[Cana19]

The guy has potential, he is quick and a good finisher, one of the future est strikers in premiership.