There is a god!

[sirpiechucker]

Agreed, but that's not always the best way to look. Bent is a natural goal scorer. Only Rooney is better out of the 5. Bent is better than Crouch, Defoe and Heskey, and for that reason...he deserved to go.

I've never been a fan of Bents, but you can't argue his scoring record, wherever he goes.

Some will say that Andy Cole was a natural goalscorer. The likes of Fowler, Sir Les and Ian Wright were all goalscorers but none of them could make that step up. Bent is no different.

[WeAreQPR12]

What if Rooney gets injured or sent off ?

Defoe and Crouch would be my combo if rooney got injured.

Played many games together at club level and the combo works.

England always play best when they have got a player that can hold the ball up.

[BennyBoyRs]

Benny I am not getting all 'high and mighty'.

Lets not resort to moaning, if you don't like the way I conduct myself on this messageboard then that is your opinion, however some people like a straight forward no nonsense approach.

Bent has had his chances and for England he has looked very poor.
Rooney and Bent is not a good combo and Heskey brings the best out of our only really decent striker in rooney, thats my opinion!

Straight forward, no nonsense?

You're behind a keyboard. How's that prove anything? You talk down to everyone.

If you have an opinion, then share it, but don't give it the large when doing so.

[WeAreQPR12]

Benny we actually agree on quite alot but we are both passionate football fans with strong opinions.

It is very easy to pass the buck but if you want me to change then maybe you should try and lead by example as I have seen you put people down when there opinion differs to yours

[G.T.P]

wheres that thread where everyone had a guess at who the seven would be?

[WeAreQPR12]

Some will say that Andy Cole was a natural goalscorer. The likes of Fowler, Sir Les and Ian Wright were all goalscorers but none of them could make that step up. Bent is no different.

Very good post as usual Sir Pie, and a very good example of why things aren't always so black and white.

[Nik29]

Goal scorer, or one who misses from 6 yards?

Hmmmmm.....

Heskey has plus points, but to say Bent is carp, but Heskey isn't...Well, that's shocking to say the least.

And you really shouldn't get so animated when someone doesn't agree with you. Agressive keyboard bashing is pointless.

Here's an interesting fact.. could be part of the reason Capello has taken Heskey:

In his last 10 England games up front with Heskey, Rooney has 9 goals.
In his last 10 England games up front without Heskey, Rooney has 2 goals.

[BennyBoyRs]

Benny we actually agree on quite alot but we are both passionate football fans with strong opinions.

It is very easy to pass the buck but if you want me to change then maybe you should try and lead by example as I have seen you put people down when there opinion differs to yours

That's bow-locks and you know it. I'll have a pop at people on a wind up, and those who try to mug me off, but never for a difference of opinion.

You find some posts to show that if you believe differently, but I know I'm right, so I wouldn't waste your time.

Like I say, I have no problems with opinions as we all have them. Just the way some conduct themselves in order to get theirs across.

[W12_Ranger]

Cant believe Bent might not be going, what a ****ing joke. He's scored more since christmas than crouch,defoe and hesky put together. And thats for sunderland. But obviously strikers who score goals arent what we need...

Darren Bent has consistently scored goals at the highest level in English football for 4/5 seasons, his goal to games ratio is not far off 1:2.

He actually reminds me a bit like Sir Les in many respects, he certainly matches him for goal scoring ability. If I was Darren Bent I wouldn't even bother with the England set up anymore. He scored 24 goals last season in the league, if that isn't good enough to guarantee your place on the plane to South Africa, then what is the point.

[BennyBoyRs]

Here's an interesting fact.. could be part of the reason Capello has taken Heskey:

In his last 10 England games up front with Heskey, Rooney has 9 goals.
In his last 10 England games up front without Heskey, Rooney has 2 goals.

We've already done that. Again, you're another who misses the point. If Heskey is good enough, then so is Bent. He's better than both Crouch and Defoe. He's also a handful who will fill in if we lose Rooney.

Like I say, I'm not argueing the fact he's not good enough, just the fact that I believe Bent is.

[sirpiechucker]

Linekar and Beardsley were a fantastic partnership and so were Shearer and Sheringham but both Peter and Teddy had awful goalscoring records for England.

Sherringham played 51 times scoring just 11
Beardsley played 59 times scoring just 9

Heskey offers more to Rooney and to England than Bent does.

[vblockranger]

would choose Crouch,Defoe,Rooney and Heskey before Bent anyday so imo its the right choice to send Bent home.

[Nik29]

We've already done that. Again, you're another who misses the point. If Heskey is good enough, then so is Bent. He's better than both Crouch and Defoe. He's also a handful who will fill in if we lose Rooney.

Like I say, I'm not argueing the fact he's not good enough, just the fact that I believe Bent is.

Not really missing the point.. more pointing out why Capello is likely to have picked Heskey.

I wouldn't have picked Bent... I'd have taken Agbonlahor as he offers something completely different to any of the other strikers.

[sirpiechucker]

Some players are just not cut out for International level and some are. I know you can't compare the two but take one look at Graeme Hick and Mark Ramprakash's record for their clubs and country in cricket and then do the same with Strauss and Vaughan. Neither Vaughan or Strauss had/have good county record but had the mentality and ability to play at International level. Hick and Rampraskash broke record after record but couldn't make the step up. Bent IMO is no different. He'll score for fun when he is the big fish in the small pond but can't when it's not all about him.

*dons tin hat!

[WeAreQPR12]

Some players are just not cut out for International level and some are. I know you can't compare the two but take one look at Graeme Hick and Mark Ramprakash's record for their clubs and country in cricket and then do the same with Strauss and Vaughan. Neither Vaughan or Strauss had/have good county record but had the mentality and ability to play at International level. Hick and Rampraskash broke record after record but couldn't make the step up. Bent IMO is no different. He'll score for fun when he is the big fish in the small pond but can't when it's not all about him.

*dons tin hat!

Put the hat away mate, that is a brilliant post and definately sums it all up for me