heystally!

If we could sell Bent for £24m, and buy a cheaper striker who will score just as many goals and have just as big an impact, then it'd be a good idea. But that just won't happen.

That highlight video does demonstrate that at times there were some flicks that were unnecessary - little back heels and flicks that ended up too close to the defender rather than at the feet of the attacker. But I'd happily let him carry on doing those if he puts in that level of effort and general quality in games. The occasional touch going loose is a small sacrifice for some of the really good things he did - I was actually more impressed with his tackling, hassling and interceptions than his skill on the ball. Hope he starts tomorrow and shows Villa Park a masterclass. Should get a good reception too after the Chelsea game.

O'Neill is a good manager. Better than the one we currently have.

And it's interesting that in their statement, Liverpool said: Whereas in the FA's document, it says:

Read bits and pieces of the FA's decision. Seems reasonable to find Suarez guilty. The burden of proof for this is not the same as criminal burden of proof ("beyond reasonable doubt") but more a balance of probabilities. It was still up to the FA to prove Suarez was guilty, rather than Suarez having to prove he was innocent. They've stated that Evra's testimony is not only just more believeable but also (and I think more importantly) more reliable. They haven't just said "Well I don't think Evra would make up something like this so Suarez is guilty". They've looked at all the statements and the video evidence, and Suarez's testimony changed at times, including being changed to try and fit in with the video evidence. Evra on the other hand was consistent throughout. Also the idea that the use of the word "negro" in Uruguay (and other Spanish-speaking nations) is friendly is not entirely true. It can mean that word - Hernandez admitted in his testimony that they call one of the Mexican players a similar word as part of rapport. But it can also be offensive. It's all about the context. And the FA believed that there was clear animosity between Suarez and Evra, and as a result the word "negro" would not have been used in building a rapport. Coupled with the evidence of other individuals, including the referee being aware of an issue during the game (although not fully understanding the details), it seems reasonable to suggest that Suarez did in fact say "negro" five times, and did not mean it in a friendly way. It may not be clear-cut, but that's not what is expected in a civil case. If it was a murder trial, then you need more than that. But as it's essentially civil, using the evidence to reach their conclusion seems reasonable.

Looking at this season, I don't even think Gabby is a striker really. He's got pace and strength but not a natural eye for goal. Look at his one-on-one finish against Chelsea - you'd think Bent would put that away but I never felt confident that Gabby would. For me, he's better out on the wing. He looks so much more dangerous when he's doing less chasing around of the central defenders, and given more space to actually run directly at players. He's been so good for us this season, whether it's sticking crosses in or cutting inside and having a shot. Glad to see N'Zogbia has stepped up his performances the last couple of games, but it's nice having lots of competition in and around the front players. I'd love to see us against Swansea play: ---------------Guzan----------------- Cuellar--Collins--Dunne--Warnock ----------Petrov---Clark------------- Gabby-------Ireland-------N'Zogbia ----------------Bent------------------

Yesterday's win at Chelsea showed exactly why we don't need Emile Heskey, or any target-man striker, in our squad. Play 4-2-3-1, and we have a choice of Bent, Gabby, Fonz and Weimann as potential strikers.

Isn't this thread about McLeish? Really hoping McLeish picks as close to the same team he did yesterday for the Swansea game. I'd be happy if Bent came in for the 90 mins instead of either Gabby, N'Zogbia or Albrighton. But even some players who I thought have looked average this season at best (Collins and Warnock) both had solid games. Keep it the same McLeish. No Emile Heskey please! (P.S. I was at both Liverpool last season and Man Utd this season. Both were as shit as each other. Which is why I'm still sceptical at McLeish. But hopefully Arsenal and Chelsea games are a turning point.)

I think the reason that some of us are getting "carried away" by his performance yesterday is because we've just beaten Chelsea away for the first time in ten years, and deserved to do so as well. So I think there's just cause to get carried away. He was pretty much central to most things we did well in that game. He ran the game for us. And as a result, we beat one of the best teams in the league at their ground. Fantastic performance. I'm not expecting him to do exactly the same against Swansea - and I think people should expect to see such a good performance week in week out (as very few players do perform every time they're on a pitch) - but as long as he keeps showing the same attitude then the fans will get behind him, the team will, the manager will, his confidence will just grow and grow and hopefully consistency will come with it. Great day yesterday.

He's done absolutely nothing today. Useless. Get rid.

He's the greatest player to have put on a Villa shirt in this game.

It's in the parent club's interest to ensure there isn't a clause that allows the player to be sent back. Spurs didn't want him this year, so why would they want a clause that could send him back if he gets injured? Then they'd have to pay his wages on the treatment table rather than us.

Ireland did a good job against Arsenal before getting injured. Deserves to start. But if Bent is fit enough for the bench, he should be fit enough to start. I'd put him in as well.

This thread is getting farcical.

3 pens and 4 against Swansea. He's done well but it's stats like that that make people think we should have him instead of Darren Bent, which is ridiculous IMO.

You haven't seen his contributions to monogamy then? Literally? No, but I saw the stories. I just feel Balotelli has taken things to a new level with his regular updates. Gabby's got to match up.

He's missing something though. Needs more off-the-field antics a la Balotelli.

Ireland wasn't really considered in this light when he was playing every week, and playing very well, at Man City a few years ago. Need to get him back to that. The I think less people will care what kind of person he is.

Regardless of how good he is in comparison to other full backs in the Premier League, he's currently the best right-back in our squad. So he's got to start today against Chelsea. As has Cuellar instead of Collins.

Is he still our manager? 'kin 'ell

It's up to the manager to know his players. You know if you have a player on your hands who is rowdy off the pitch, and can be a bit of an idiot. But you have to find out how to get the best out of your player on the pitch. As long as they're not being criminal off the pitch, I have little care what our players are doing. As long as they're doing it for us on the pitch. Ireland isn't, and he's got to take responsibility for that. But for me, so do Houllier from last year, and McLeish.

I can't see Liverpool being interested in buying another striker, after spending £55m on two of them less than a year ago, regardless of Suarez's ban and Carroll's shitness. I think it's just lazy journalism. "Bent to a bigger club. They need to have money. Not to City, United, Chelsea, Arsenal. Already played for Spurs. Ah, Liverpool. Suarez is banned, in goes Bent. Story written." Can't see it happening, not this window anyway.

I remember someone mentioning that MON looked at Bent about the time he moved to Sunderland, but wasn't willing to spend more than about £8-10m? Not sure how true it is though. If it is then an absolutely mad decision.

Hence why I said being relegated would be dreadful. And of course we wouldn't just have our youngsters, but they'd have more of a role to play than they do now. So for them, it'd be a year of more first-team action, a more physical league, and as a group, better results on a weekly basis.