Marcus (not Darren) Bent to AUFC?

[Stuckey]

SOCCEROO Tim Cahill's former strike partner at Everton, Marcus Bent, is eyeing Adelaide United as a future A-League home.

Bent, 33, is currently playing in Indonesia's non-FIFA-sanctioned Super League club Mitra Kukar where he has scored four goals in eight matches.

Bent has a short-term contract with the club after stints with League One club Sheffield United and English Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers last year.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/soc ... 6300978165

Well interesting if true. Not sure if I'd rather a younger guy 33 is getting on a bit. Personally big british strikers haven't been followed by success in the league regularly. So not really keen to see AU do another Owusu and blow a load of cash on someone who doesn't play to our system.
He played EPL briefly last season but I'm not super excited about this signing. Glad to be proven wrong!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Bent

[shinAUFC]

Lets sign a coach before we dump a load of new players he doesnt want into his lap.

Though, bring flores back non negotiable

[Ray]

DO. NOT. WANT.

Utter garbage when he was at Blues until fairly recently, could not be arsed.

[bpowell454]

We need a striker once SVD leaves but I just can't see a 33 year old being the way to go, wish we could trial him for a while first rather than just doing the usual "sign him as a marquee for 2 years and hopefully it works out".

Though, bring flores back non negotiable

I honestly can't see why Flores isn't a serious option for next season, surely the money we save from Van Dijk and Slory would leave us a fair chunk of cash to spend, he hasn't succeeded at all in China, hasn't even played a full 90 there. He can score goals, he can setup goals and he can control the play when he's not being marked by 2 or 3 players and when he is being marked he's freeing up other players.

Anyone know what the realistic cost would be and is there any clear reason why he isn't an option?

[shinAUFC]

The word is flores is an option, and he wants to come back but it comes down to adelaide paying a transfer fee and wages all parties are happy with, atleast if serg leaves we can fill the marquee spot.

I dont think we need a striker if the next coach will work from a 451/433 type of formation. We have bruce , he is very capable we all know this. And having a number 10 that will play for his strikers and not for himself consistantly ( not 20 minutes a game ....looking at u dario ) will help bruce out alot.

Imo finding a winger who can also play off a tall striker up front ( should we employ a 442) is what we need.

[ganas]

we need another dodd.

somebody with pace down the wings who isn't scared to take on defenders

[bpowell454]

we need another dodd.

somebody with pace down the wings who isn't scared to take on defenders

Another Dodd or leckie would be perfect. Someone who can run the ball into the box and beat defenders. Currently we have players beating opposition and running to the corner flag and then crossing very badly.

Too late to get Dodd and Flores back? lol

[The Claw]

Time for us to unearth our own young talent. Seriously, Flores is a must. But if GCU can find Halloran, Traore etc., Rogic at CCU, why the hell can't AU develop or find someone to take over from Dodd.
Get the Italian bloke to run our youth squad and develop them properly!!!

Now as for Bent. NO NO NO

[Stuckey]

Yeah i was think about Leckie the other day and how much of an impact he really had for AU. I hope the next young star we pick up we can hold on to longer. i would love to see AU make use of the youth marquee spot. IMO keeping him here one year longer would have done him the world of good.