Aston Villa have pulled £18million out of a magic hat to put a bid in for Sunderland’s Darren Bent. He’s scored 36 goals in 63 appearances since his £10million move from Spurs but has now handed in a transfer request.
This raises several questions for football fans today. Where have Villa got this money from? Why does Bent want to leave Sunderland (6th, 4 points away from top four, with Steve Bruce as manager) for Villa (17th, only goal difference keeping them from the relegation zone, under Gerard Houllier)? And what will happen to Danny Welbeck?
1. Steve Bruce is a big fan of Welbeck
2. Sunderland will need a replacement for Bent
3. Sunderland will have the money to spend on a striker
Will Welbeck ever be good enough? I thought Phil Bardsley could cut it, then Danny Simpson, but that was probably because they were from Salford and I wanted it so badly. Welbeck is a Longsight lad, like Wesley Brown, and I would love for him to make it. Imagine that, our top scorer and superstar coming from 10 minutes away from the ground. It’s magic.
Welbeck has scored 6 goals in his last 9 appearances at Sunderland and is obviously benefitting from playing regular football.
But is he a Tevez type? Can he only score regularly when he’s playing every minute? All his goals for Sunderland have come in games which he started and that is a luxury he couldn’t afford at United, on current ability at the least.
I’d love for him to be good enough to stay at United but you do have to wonder if Steve Bruce may well get his man now… if the price is right, of course.
November 24th – Welbeck on the future: “For now, I’m looking short term. I just want to do my best in every game and I’m not thinking about whether I go back to United. My aim was to come here and get minutes on the pitch. At United, I was getting the odd chance here and there but I was never ready to take them. I’d miss loads of games and then I’d be thrown in and would struggle to do myself justice. It’s different here. I’m playing every game and I’m getting better and better. You can see I am benefiting from it. I’m confident and I’m really enjoying my football.”
December 2nd – Bruce on Welbeck: “Danny is playing terrifically well at the moment and the Premier League is beginning to sit up and take notice. I’m delighted for him because I think he’s really finding his feet in the Premier League with us and his success is our success. But, in terms of converting any loan player to a permanent signing, you have to accept it’s a fact of life that in most cases, the better they do the less chance you have of getting them. And the way that Danny is going, if he continues his progress, he’ll be out of the reach of any but the very biggest clubs around.”
December 5th – Fergie on Welbeck: “He’s doing brilliantly and he comes back to us at the end of his loan. The boy is a fantastic talent but the problem for Danny was that he wasn’t getting enough football. He also had problems in growing, in terms of his strength. He missed a lot of football because of that. But the strength is starting to come now. His physique is settled now and he’s starting to put on muscle. He’s a big, big lad – 6ft 2ins or 6ft 3ins.”
December 8th – Bruce on Welbeck and Onuoha: “I have to say they are both great lads as well. They are just the type you would love to bring to your club and make them permanent if you could. Whether that’s possible, we will see.”
December 19th – Bruce on Welbeck: “I always knew that was going to be a problem anyway, deep down, but you never know. Fergie has got a birthday coming up shortly and he might get generous in his old age. But I somehow doubt it. He’s a fantastic talent isn’t he? You can see that and he has benefited from playing regularly. The good thing about him is he has got infectious enthusiasm about him. He wants to play and train and he has been terrific. Manchester United have got a very good player on their hands.”
Man Utd News 24/7
well it might just come down to what danny wants to do, if he see’s his future with us then i dont think we have to worry, on the other hand if sir alex cant give him what he wants (regular football) well then a permanent move to sunderland would be a great choice for him, i hope he stays with us longterm as we have seen his finishing and other parts of his game have vastly improved with playing week in and out.
Money talks mate, that’s why Bent want to leave. Villa must have offered him double wages, so it’s a no brainer. Why else he would want to go to a sinking sink??
Regarding Danny – I think we must prepare ourself for a bid in the region of 5-6 million.. Whether it’s enough I am not sure..
if we sell welbeck(i hope we dont and i know we wont)We should also demand 25 odd millions.When rodwell,henderson can be for 20 millions then welbeck and even cleverley should be more than 20 millions.I never understand why we sell our players for less amount.But anyways as i said we wont sell welbeck or clev
I really hope we don’t let Danny go. Really don’t.
Did anybody watch the Reserves game? Anything on Lindegaard’s perfomance?
And i have to say this again, its random but- Vidic is a rock. It’s not in the heat of things, but i sincerely think he’s the best CB we’ve had, with no disrespect to Bruce, Pallister etc.
Welbeck will come back home
He is way too good and most importantly way too consistent to let go of – what he did to Chelsea alone demands respect and not many kids have done that
As long as Danny keeps performing to the standard that he has been, I think Fergie will convince him that he has a part to play in the first team next season. Plus, let’s not forget that he’s a Manchester lad, United supporter born and bred – his dream of playing for his boyhood club will play a part in his decision. I do think, though, that sometime in the near future, Fergie will have to make the decision of whether to keep Danny or Kiko.
@Real ab
5-6 million!Are u joking?If we are to sell welbeck we should be demanding somewhere around 20 millions.I know thats tooo much but every club does that.Rodwell’s price tag is 20 millions henderson’s is 15-20millions so why not welbecks.But i want him to be a united player and i am sure fergie wont let him go.I bet he willl be a regular for us next season
Martin O’Neill must be pulling his hair out right about now. On Danny, I suppose It depends what happens with Kiko. If Kiko stays in Italy, then I can’t see Welbeck going anywhere. Sunderland might throw Henderson into the mix.
This is quite baffling
Aston Villa didn’t give MON money because well they refused to back him up
Now big Randy the good ol USA citizen brings in Grandpa Houllier who has taken Villa down not a notch but quite a few – and backs him up with Makoun for 5 million – okay but Bent for 18?
I mean seriously someone explain to me as if I’m a four year old how does this all connect?
The problem for Welbeck at Sunderland he is in the 1st Eleven playing every week when fit.
At United will he make the 1st eleven No
Will he make the subs every week No so when is he going to get game time ?
So I expect him to leave with Sadness but he is professional footballer who will want to play every week
I really hope we don’t sell Welbeck – he’s a huge talent.
We have so many young talented strikers, lets not forget King and Cofie.
Hopefully one or two can break through.
This raises several questions for football fans today. Where have Villa got this money from? Not as big of question as to where the Glazers got the money to pay of the PIK’s
MG – Baffling strategy they’ve got going there, eh? O’Neill was looking money, for Villa to kick on. Now, there struggling and in a relegation dogfight, he’s handing out money to Houllier, to blow on players.
Q – Where have Villa got the money from?
A – Man City – they wanted to pay £20m + Ireland for Milner.
Don’t forget Villa didn’t spend any money in the Summer and to this point have only spent £5/£6m on Makhoun. We aren’t skint but Randy didn’t want to keep throwing money at O’Neil. He had backed him enough for the past 4 years and honestly we had reached our ceiling. We played one dimensional/predictable football which as a season ticket holder was not much fun to watch week in week oit.
Everyone outside B6 seems to think O’Neil is this master tactician of a manager but the truth is he has a Plan A and when that doesn’t work he sticks with his Plan A which isn’t working.
As much as I hate to say this I hope you win the league and keep it away from from Chelski and the blue sh!t from across the otherside of Manchester.
willierednut
And when it doesn’t work – Randy will get Houllier sacked and hen what back to square one?
I remember the press taking the piss out of us saying Randy was the ultimate owner
Do not fucking think so – the only thing with ours is that at least they know that SAF is untouchable
Of course the Yanks at scouserland have adopted that stance bringing King Kenny the dinosaur in
giggs11gerrard0 – That’s a whole different debate lol.
then no hen – typo
@willie – that is what i thought first also..
Martin O’Neil was surely having Villa punching above their weights. Clearly a very good manager, but when he asked for money, they refused and let him leave. So now under Houllier, Villa is doing a lot worse, but they give him the money. I feel a little bit sick thinking about this, cant imagine how Villa fans feel.
You wonder if Sunderland would let Bent go id they where a little confident of landing Wellbeck, its one thing to have 19 mill in the bank but its who you spend it on.
How we feel – pretty shit to be honest. Shit because our previous manager left us in the shit 5 days before a new season (did you know he has never been sacked – always walks out); shit because we are sitting 1 place above relegation andshit because we are playing better football going forward (at times) than over the past 3 seasons but can’t seem to defend like we could.
On the bright side it is exciting and least we have somthing to play for and fight for. 6 points from manchester over the next couple of weeks and we’ll be fine!!!
Welbeck defo has a part to play in our future. Now, the question is whether hes willing to wait to get that chance or not….
BigBut
No If’s about it, sorry for you, but it’s pointless for villains here!
Kidding about the name, sorry!
Come on Darren Bent is a good striker and has done better then our own Wayne Rooney in fact he came third in the league last season after Drogba and Rooney with a lesser team. I think Aston Villa got a bargain and if Bent scores his goals they will finish 7th or 8th.
Now on Welbeck if Hernandez can’t even get a game and is reduced to 15 minutes play what makes people think Welbeck will get a game. Even I get a bit frightened that Hernandez might decide he wants to go on loan too and I love the little Mexican. Ferguson will have to learn to do some serious shuffling if he wants us to keep hold of Welbeck. If he can play Rooney, Berbatov and Hernandez at the same time with Rooney as playmaker/scorer and then bring on Welbeck as sub to one of those 3 then maybe he could hold onto Welbeck. This would mean our midfield would have to be super tight when it comes to creativity and defence in order for the attackers to have free reign but I don’t see this happening.
I feel for the boy because he will either play regularly at Sunderland or he will be back on the bench at United a club he supports and you can see he loves to play he is not one of those boys that just wants to sit on the bench and get a salary he wants to play he is not a mercenary. Whatever Welbeck does I will be behind him 100%.
SmartArse
Point less – what just like last year at Old Trafford and should have been the same the year before – without Fergie Time being played!!
If I were Sir Alex, I would sell Danny for around 18m – 25m, and use that money to buy Modric….
If Villa are spending that big, and there are questions as to whether they actually have that much cash in hand, is it because they are about to sell?
They do have some interesting young midfield players coming through — Albrighton, Bannan, Clark, etc — and we are rumoured to be in the market for an up-and-coming midfielder (we’ve already been linked with Clark). Is it too much of a leap to think there could be a link there? Or am I trying to square a circle?
I think ASH is spot on here. If the likes of Henderson (who is a fucking donkey) and Rodwell could command astronimical silly ammounts of cash (20million) then Sunderland have no place expecting to get Wellbeck any cheaper. Afterall its not a fekkin charity. The lesser clubs already get over proportionate ammounts of money from the premier league for their, most of the time, pityfull involvement.
I sincerely hope Wellbeck isnt released as he looks interesting to say the least. But the man who knows if he will cut it is the man who decides what he wants from his players, so in Fergie we trust. One thing is for sure, if Wellbeck leaves he will never be as good as he could have been if he stayed. Its not too bad for United if you sell amega prospect to a lolely club because they will never bite you in the arse by winning the league with them, so it can also seem like a free 20 million. I hope he gets a chance but if we don’t need a striker that can play centrally or on the left but need a player who can play more in mdfield then 20 million for Wellbeck and then pay 20 million for Rodwell I’ll be happy. But only if thats the direction Fergie wants to take us.
Liverpool are in for Downing, so that’s were some of the money is coming from.
BigAnd
I deserve your rancour, especially as the tone of your posts was pleasant and informative.
However, if you are hoping to stay up it’s points earned on the field that is required,
and we will beat you. No offense meant or taken to be sure.
you do see that a lot our players go to other clubs for relatively little and we get turned over whenever we buy, sheesh even liar becks went for fuck all when you consider Rm where frittering money away at the time, I seem to recall it came out later they wouldn’t go above 40, kenyon blurted out we couldnt take less than 25 mill and the RM Sporting directer went for a wank came back and did the deal.
Sell Welbeck buy downing.
If we’re gonna buy a winger please dont let it be downing, too weak for my liking. Doubt if Bale will be available and if he was it wont be at a level we can afford, Ashley Young maybe, bloody hell that doesnt work either!!! its gonna be hard we will just have to trust in youth did us ok in the past.
I think we will not sell Welbeck only to fund Henderson or Rodwell – I do believe we have a brilliant player on our hands – he showed it here last year – he is showing a lot more of it at Sunderland
As for Villa
Beat everyone just not United
Big And you may go down cos you have a team that turn up and play us as you did earlier in the season but cant be arsed for the “smaller clubs” its called being unproffessional lazy bastards.
In truth it looks like you’re about to West Ham of a couple of seasons ago and panic buy your way out of trouble wonder why this cash couldnt have been found for O’Neill.
I’m no fan of O’Neill but its a little galling when someone said earleir he’d never been sacked and had walked out on every team he’d managed, I think you will find every team he left, he left them better than when he found them and that includes Villa and just in case you dont recall he left Celtic to tend to his seriously ill wife.
SmartAlex
No offense taken; we have a sense of humor down here in Birmingham.
Mattbw7
I am well aware he left Celtic to look after his sick wife; and I do agree he left us in a better state than when he started – we had suffered David O’Dreary for long enough so hell I could have improved on where we were. But he couldn’t take us any further and he knew that; which is why he left. My main gripe with him is why didn’t he leave in May giving the club time to bring in a new manager with time to work with the team instead of leaving us in the shit 5 days before a new season. That would be the main issue you hear off many Villa fans.
As for being like West Ham and panic buying we have bought 1 player in 12 months (maybe 2 if we get Bent) – hardly panic buying when we are buying an international midfielder for £5m and possibly the 2nd/3rd most proven striker in the premier league. The cash had always been available for O’Neil until this summer and he decided to run as he couldn’t have it all his own way.
I am sure there are players Sir Alex would love to buy but unfortunately he can’t at the minute for reasons you are more familiar with than myself but he hasn’t jumped ship and left you.
I do agree that we have a bunch of players that shy away at the so called smaller games which is where we need to pick up our points from now on in or we are in serious danger. Hopefully some of them can prove they actually have a pair and man up as they did yesterday at The Sty.
Poll on talksport website whos better UTD 10/11 or Arsenal 03/04 you know what to do if only to piss the wankers off
what a suprise the FA charge rafeal, wonder if stevie me will be if that was him
We do not need more robust center mids (i.e. Rodwell or Henderson), but a finesse one that can split a defense with just one pass.
No big and you’re about to start panic buying
mattbw7
Pointless
Arsenal only have one team to shout about – United have several teams considered to be brilliant
Invincibles do not equate to brilliance – Arsenal would have been if they had maybe won the CL along with the premiership – they were so bloody lucky that year that is beyond a joke at times.
Though as a team they beat hands down to the Arsenal team now – but that’s for the Gooners do debate – not us.
I say keep welbeck on loan for another year at sunderland and see his progress..if hez good enouf then we should keep him.. But personally I don’t see him being ahead of macheda hernandez an rooney.. I think we shjould let him gain good form before we sell him for a high price
I’m worried abt the midfield lthe most
no mg the poll is a two way fight, its a bit of fun and we should just piss the southern twats off.
And for Big And maybe you should ask Uncle Randy why O’neill left and now youve got houllier whos been allowed to spend 19 mill on Bent
@GoatinaUnitedShirt – yes, in Fergie we trust. If it’s 15 mln + and Fergie decides to sell ? Then it’s his decision but obviously i want the player to stay and learn his trade. Looks like a real deal.
mattbw7
I hope we just win this damn thing this year
I don’t really care as I think most of us do how we get there as long as we get there
MG:
Nineteen is just a number.
FITB – Rafa charged? That’s a fucking joke. The FA have form for charging our players, but a player like Shearer, could boot an opposing player in the face and get away with it.
Passe
No 19 isn’t just a number – it’s history
It’s been a long time – people say but United never won more European trophies – well fuck that Europe is a lottery ticket – sometimes you get lucky other times you don’t
But the league – the league is where it matters and United have a destiny – we are on a path that we started on long ago – we have all grown up – our lives have changed for better or worse – but Manchester United and us are still here together.
Winning the 19th title after so much adversity will be a triumph like no other
We haven’t done it – but we have to believe we can do it – and most importantly we have to see it through
Rafa charged – yep it’s true
See what I mean when I say so much adversity
We were born to defy – it’s in our history it’s in our DNA – that’s who we are.
19 is not a number – it’s a symbol of defiance.
At some point, some referees have to be charged for incompetent decisions that make players justifiably tell them to FUCK OFF. Just saying..
Time for the big bad one to step up.
I flushed a big bad one not too long ago.
It’s interesting to know how many times Wayne Rooney has been charged for his emotional reactions during his career. Rafa could have been a bit less emotional but my heart says if it was the case i wouldn’t have liked him that much. Keep your drive little fella.
FITB mentioned it above. Gerrard told the referee to fuck off just last week. I said it yesterday. Mike Dean has it in for Rafael. It was also evident in the Manchester derby last January for the league cup. He should be denied from officiating United games from now on due to his bias.
@willie
I hope the toiled didn’t overflow.
Rafael charged by the FA for exasperation but Rooney, already booked, not punished for calling ref “a fucking wanker” (lip read) Says it all
Paul Hayward on twitter. True that.
Yet another gem from another ABU idiot…
Efan Ekoku ‘ Arsene Wenger is arguably the best manager in the PL era which also includes Sir Alex purely because he kept his side playing the same style of football every season ‘
hahahahahahahahahahahahaha
If he gets more than a fine, I’ll be fucking raging. Babel only received a fine for his twittering of Howard Webb in a United shirt. No, It didn’t overflow lol.
willierednut – surely it is going to be only a fine.
I’d prefer Danny Welbeck at United than someone like Michael Owen but Danny will not out Berbatov, Rooney or Hernandez from the pecking order so it’s hard to see past Sunderland putting in a bid of around £8m and us accepting it.
Good luck to the kid whatever happens.
If any deals are to be done with Wellbeck to Sunderland make it Flash Gordon + some cash forget Henderson
@willie
I had a Babel myself a few hours ago. No overflow either. It’s easy to flash him down.
Corea – Hope so, but with FA, you never know.
well the FA are showing there true colours tonight!!!
how many players have we seen after been sent off, tell the ref to fuck off?
more or less all of them.
but this is manchester united & we know what them twats at the FA think of united.
remember ferdinand getting an extra game ban last season?
shame on the FA………………………………….set of bastards, lets win number 19 and shut the cunts up.
willierednut – it’s just a common sense. they are cowards so you’re right, nothing for certain.
I think the phrase ‘United material’ is used far too easily, particularly with youngsters. Did Fletch look ‘United material’ when he was Danny’s age? Or even Dimitar Berbatov, for that matter? I don’t see Welbeck replacing Mr. Ambition, Berba and Chicharito any time in the next few seasons, but for an 18year old, the lad’s performances this season have been incredible and I don’t see why he can’t go on to be our first choice striker by the time he’s 21-22.
Welbeck could play on the wing. @Costas That’s what I’ll refer to that now, taking a Babel lol.
lawman10 – Rio got an extra game ban because of the rules the FA have in place for the inappropriate appeal.
Can’t even think of they targeting our Rafael as one of our main threats of getting that 19th title, but who knows ?
The only reason Rafael was charged is so our club can forget about appealing the second yellow
how can u see is he the tevez type? and that he only scores and benefits from playing regularly? if he scores when he plays…. then play him? simple! when tevez came out and said he wouldve done better in the champs league final against barca by playing, u can only believe him going off his recent form (by recent i mean since he started playing regularly)
i meant say not see
Danny Welbeck is playing for his boyhood club Manchester United and his idol is Ryan Giggs.
Ferguson believes in this lads versatility as he can play either wing or either strike position.
Welbeck has had a growth spurt,the staff were hoping he wud reach 6 foot 3.
During this period the medical team had to manage his playing time cos he was prone to injury and it seemed everytime he went for england duty he got injured.
Now that he is healthy and ready to play regular football,Ferguson sent him to p.n.e if im not mistaken and finaly for this season to sunderland. He has progressed and we want him back.
Like Tom Cleverly ,he has a future in our first team.
The fact bent has gone to villa for that kind of money I am shocked,wud have spent it on suarez or other stronger possibilities.
But if that means Welbeck leaves ,I wud be shocked beyond belief ,bonkers i tell ya.
We can’t let this Manc go. Wesley Brown however…