SiDanger

He's the new Tony Adams!

For me he is more of an attacking midfielder or winger. His best asset is taking players on which he isn't really free to do in his current role. I'd rotate him with Gabby, N'Zogbia and Albrighton on the wing and with Ireland and Bannan as the attacking midfielder.

What he did in the past is now irrelevant as he has been appointed, what he is doing now at Villa is how we should judge him. It's not really a debate as to whether he has done well enough in the past as I doubt he was anybody's choice for the job but he is here like it or not.

Maybe he does get box to box warming up on the sideline and therefore now is being employed in this role as a sub.

We lost 4-1 away against a team with pretty much unlimited funds for both transfers and wages which is to be expected. Unfortunately this is how football is at the moment and if the new fairplay rules are not enforced properly it's going to get even worse. The start overall has been pretty much as expected with the squad we have, wouldn't say we have done particularly poorly or well.

He is going through a rough patch, I don't think he is being used in his most effective position. Time for Bannan to play there instead I think, it's just a shame we don't have a proper DM to play alongside him, bit lightweight with Petrov, Bannan and Ireland in midfield although passing should be good.

We can't spell?

What does Levy know, he appointed Ramos, Graham, Hoddle, Pleat and Santini. To be fair he thought he was getting Santini but they switched in Tackleberry from Police Academy.

I didn't realise Bent was untouchable and you weren't allowed a negative opinion about any part of his game. I think anyone that has said his link up play and hold up play could improve still thinks his movement and goals add a lot to the team. It's not moaning to state that a player could be even better by improving certain aspects of his game. He can do the harder things like finish and get into good positions, imagine how good he could be if he did some of the more simple things better. Having said that he must have worked on these throughout his career and we'd find it hard to find anyone better how he is now. I just think it is ok to state that he would be even better if he contributed to the game on top of his goals.

Surely it's up to the chairman and board members to give the manager a transfer and wage budget to work with. Every manager out there would pay the wages to get the players they want if they were made available.

Rubbish IMO. He is not a limited player. He is an excellent goal scorer or he wouldn't be alongside Rooney and Drogba in the scoring charts for the last 5 years (and that playing at lower level clubs than both of them). Is Given limited because he is just a good goal keeper? We just have to recognise Darren for what he is - a specialist goal scorer - and work hard to get the team to focus on that and provide the service for him. I disagree on this as if he could improve his link up play and hold up play it would be of great benefit to both himself and the team. To compare an outfield player's limitations to a goalkeeper being a good goalkeeper doesn't make any sense. If you said something like Given is just a good shot stopper like Bent is just a good finisher then you may have had a point (incidently I don't think Given is just a good shot stopper). I do rate Bent, his movement is top class and he will always get and take chances but if he made some minor improvements to his game he could go from being a very good striker to a great striker. I agree with this. He needs to improve his link up play and improve his conversion of easy chances into goals. I've no doubt the coaches are working with him on this. Yes me too although the worrying thing about that is I've no doubt coaches throughout his career will have worked on it too. It doesn't make sense how uncomforable he is with his back to goal as his touch when the ball is played in front of him is good. All he needs is the ability to drop off the defender, hold up the ball and lay off a simple pass and he would be a far better player for it.

Rubbish IMO. He is not a limited player. He is an excellent goal scorer or he wouldn't be alongside Rooney and Drogba in the scoring charts for the last 5 years (and that playing at lower level clubs than both of them). Is Given limited because he is just a good goal keeper? We just have to recognise Darren for what he is - a specialist goal scorer - and work hard to get the team to focus on that and provide the service for him. I disagree on this as if he could improve his link up play and hold up play it would be of great benefit to both himself and the team. To compare an outfield player's limitations to a goalkeeper being a good goalkeeper doesn't make any sense. If you said something like Given is just a good shot stopper like Bent is just a good finisher then you may have had a point (incidently I don't think Given is just a good shot stopper). I do rate Bent, his movement is top class and he will always get and take chances but if he made some minor improvements to his game he could go from being a very good striker to a great striker.

I don't get this, as his form starts to improve you get less and less convinced?

I'm sure he's come back on it with a few birds after clubbing in Wolves. Just another form of dogging. Forgot our Ronaldo, he's our new Stan Collymore.

and this!