Would you start Bent tomorrow?

[Count Berbatov]

I wouldn't. Half time at best, depending on the scoreline

[Brown@FFC]

Excited to see Taarabt but Kacaniklic should feature for us he will have a great season I feel, tough choices for Jol

This is a very good thing.

Kaca will start

Kaca has a late fitness test btw, if he fails, Mesca will start imo, with Taarabt coming on around the 60 min mark.

[JustOverTheRiver]

We should start him.  Throw him in at the deep end and see how gets on.  He is very used to the premier league just not that used to playing with our lads and the only thing that is going to improve that is game time.

[Big Martin Jol]

Conversation between Riise and Kasami suggests the latter will feature at some point.

[HatterDon]

No, it would be stupid. He's only trained with the kids at Villa, hasn't played any pre-season matches to my knowledge, and hasn't had a chance to work with any of our coaches or players.


Jol, on the other hand, will probably look at all the facts above and decide to put him on the pitch.

[Me-ate-Live, innit??]

Hell yes   play the sucker !! at least the last 20 mins,  make him earn his rather huge crust.
He  has to sit out two games already  and when we play Villa in the final of the FA Cup  ............he will sit that one out toooooooooooooooooooooooo  :54:

[valdeingruo]

No i wouldnt, though you could argue to put him on the bench

[RaySmith]

He'll be raring to go, and out to prove everyone wrong. I'm sure he's fit, though not 'match fit', and playing him could be a Roy of the Rovers style  fairy tale if he were to score on his debut, especially when we are so toothless up front.

Jol is someone who will take a gamble, based on what he's seen in training, but on this occasion, I suppose common sense says that he will probably not start the game.

[CincyFulham1]

Start...no.....bench and on for final 20mins...yes

[Holders]

I know it's not a direct comparison, as he had no Prem experience, but Jol started Ruiz in his first game and took him off. That can't have done much for his confidence and I think Jol will have that in his mind. Better to put such a new signing as Bent on for the last half hour or so, depending on the score, although his apprearance as sub would really get the Sunderland fans going!

Whatever happens today, I can see Bent starting against Arsenal.

[fulhamben]

I know it's not a direct comparison, as he had no Prem experience, but Jol started Ruiz in his first game and took him off. That can't have done much for his confidence and I think Jol will have that in his mind. Better to put such a new signing as Bent on for the last half hour or so, depending on the score, although his apprearance as sub would really get the Sunderland fans going!

Whatever happens today, I can see Bent starting against Arsenal.

not even a close comparison. Bent is older and has spent best part of a decade in the prem. plus if a striker has a bad game he just doesn't score. If a midfielder has a bad game, then you can lose the match

[The Old Count]

I'd start Straight, go Bi and end up Bent......

Well! Someone had to say it.

[epsomraver]

No, it would be stupid. He's only trained with the kids at Villa, hasn't played any pre-season matches to my knowledge, and hasn't had a chance to work with any of our coaches or players.


Jol, on the other hand, will probably look at all the facts above and decide to put him on the pitch.

:plus one: some sense at last.

[epsomraver]

I'd start Straight, go Bi and end up Bent......

Well! Someone had to say it.

Now now you naughty old count :005:

[filham]

Bent has to be eased in gradually, maximum of 15 minutes on the field tomorrow, we have plenty of other attacking options, no need to field a player for a whole game who is not 100% fit.

[fulhamben]

Bent has to be eased in gradually, maximum of 15 minutes on the field tomorrow, we have plenty of other attacking options, no need to field a player for a whole game who is not 100% fit.

surely it would be better all round if he got 15 mins today instead of tomorrow ;)