Probably the fact that he wasn't going to receive the signing on fee for the move to Villa he's clearly been aware of for a good few weeks.



You don't come up with an £18m bid in response to a transfer request. Stupid price though, about £15m too high.

Come on mate, he's better than that. His all round play means he'll never be a world beater, but wherever he's played he's scored alot of goals in the Premiership. How many did he score last season - 20? For Sunderland, that's good going. I'd say anything around £10m - £12m would be a reasonable price, although £18m does seem high.

Scored 25 last season I think and has 11 this season. I think £10-12m is a good price anything more and Sunderland will be happy although having to replace a guy who scores almost all their goals will be tough even with money to spend.

Turning into a bit of a journeyman is Bent, giving Marcus a run for his money.

seems a fair price to me - but according to 'Arry his missus is better !

Its the North East syndrome.....To be frank, unless you are local, that whole area is a real eye opener, especially for fancy dan Southerners, and not many fancy spending too long up there....Just remember the foreign contingent at Boro?....Ravenelli & Emerson couldn't get away quick enough, and didn't that French bloke's missus refuse to even go and live there??....





It sounds like I'm taking the P!$s, but all the evidence is there.

Rafael charged with being pi$$Ed off about being sent off for no good reason

I think the distinguishing factor between complaints about referees during and after the game is, one is in the heat of the moment. It can be understandable when tensions are running high. I don't condone it, I think we should be introducing RL style respect. However, what Babel did was more considered. It's no different than writing a column into a newspaper. It's bringing the game into disrepute.



Not to mention laughable. Babel cheated Birmingham out of points by diving.

He didn't seem to bothered when he should have had a yellow card for waving the imaginary car on numerous occasions after being fouled. Swings and roundabouts.









Did he? Are you sure? 100%?

I hope that's true, would be a brilliant signing for us, terrific player.

He's had a few a clubs hasn't he, I think this will be number five if he moves to Villa. Quality player though.







I think you can go bit higher than that, £15 million's still not a huge price for someone of Bent's quality. He's got a great all round game and he scores goals by the bucket load. It's probably the reason why they're holding out for all they can get, they will probably have to replace him so the more they can get the better. Teams always over value players and it works a lot of the time.

I'm thinking of Ngog. Still, point stands, Liverpool have benefited from cheating in the past, and Babel has been silent about it then.

Does he though? I was listening to someone the other week about Bent and penalty taking, saying he was aiming to break some Franny Lee record for penalties in the top flight of English football. I reckon around half the goals he scored for Sunderland were penalties.

Possibly. He's got a decent record for Sunderland 30 or so goals in around 60 games. Not sure how many are penalties but that's a good record.

The LFC victim mentality seems to have gone into overdrive on here since the FA cup game. Don't worry lads, the king will turn things around soon.

Ŷeah, just give the ref the v's like Stevie

Babel was guilty of foolishness. He made a daft mistake by retweeting somebody else's work, but I find it odd that he gets reprimanded and fined, but Rooney can verbally abuse a referee without an eyelid being batted.

Rafael's 2nd yellow was debateable but you can see why he's given it, and Bale was on his way so i have no complaints about it. Rooney should be reprimanded, it narks me as a Utd fan when our players get away with murder, as it just adds more fuel to the 'one rule for utd' etc arguement.

He's publically calling into question the referees character that is why he has been punished

We've "apparently" made an appraoch for Downing, Rob. What's your thoughts on that? I think he's a decent player who can provide great deliveries from the flanks, we're in desperate need of another striker, though. Luis Suarez, yes please.

Hope the Downing rumour ain't true, i've always liked him, no way i could carry on if he signed for Liverpool

Tad dramatic perhaps





Seems Villa's offer for Bent has increased to £24m.

I piddled myself laughing when Spurs paid 18mil for Bent, if Villa pay 24mil i think i'll DIE laughing

Yeah, he's nothing on Leon Osman is he?

Pienaar heading to Spurs.....Swaps first team regular for subs bench....