Quote:
Originally Posted by cockneyHammer
Ashton has not long come back after being out injured for over a year, it was always going to be a struggle for him to regain full fitness, he has done that now and he will keep injury free. The only injury problems he will possibly have will be impact injuries which are completely unavoidable.
Ashton is a proven Premiership striker, English which always attracts a higher fee, he is in demand and oozes skill. He is also a very versatile striker and can offer so much in any team.
When required he can be an absoloute brute yet the next mnute twist and turn his way around the defenders. He is able to head the ball well aswell as taking decent long shots. His positioining is second to none and he can draw defenders away easily, he can be used as a target man. I could continue but I wont. There aren't many players like him, he falls into the Sherringham and Shearer bracket.
In terms of Bent they have both achieved pretty much the same, he hasn't played for England yet but thats down to Wright Phillips. Come the Summer though that will change. Anyone who has seen enough of both Bent and Ashton will agree that Ashton is by far the better player. Here's a comparison
Bent Age 23
219 appearances, 86 Goals = 1 goal every 2.54 Games
Total transfer fee including possible add ons = 19.5 Million
Ashton Age 24
243 Apperances 91 Goals = 1 Goal every 2.67 Games
Total transfer fee including possible add ons = 10.25 Million
So Bent has been slightly higher but you have to consiuder the fact that Ashton was out injured for a long time and that most of this season will always going to be a recovery preiod for him.
Another fact to consider is that Darren Bent has a recuring knee injury which also causes him to have problems with his leg muscles. Ashton on the other hand has no recuring injuries.
Just to say it again Ashton has no injury problems, now he is back at full fitness after such a lengthy absence from the game he will keep his fitness levels up. Hehas done well enough to get back into the England squad and next season will be his best yet.
Just a quaestion who would you rather spend 17-18 million on Bent or Ashton? If you could sign either which would you prefer at Man United?
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Are you being disingenuous on purpose?
Bent scored 18 and 14 goals for Charlton in successive Premiership seasons, which is what earned him his move and had a club like Liverpool also looking at him. Digging in the crates back to when they were both starting off doesn't lend itself to reasoned response beings as this is a 'what have you done lately' business.
Bent looked to be naturally progressing as a striker and had proved, in two consecutive seasons, that he could rack up a very impressive amount of goals for a shite team in the top flight.
Fair enough, Ashton is a different kind of player and more of an all-rounder, but again, with his injuries he's never shown he can do the business for anywhere near the amount of time Bent did to earn his move.
The price was over the top, but only by about £4m or so. Any PL striker who scores 14 and then 18 goals in a season at a tiny club like Charlton is going to raise eyebrows quite sharpish.
I wouldn't spend £18m on either of them in answer to your question. But if you're talking about whom I'd take if they were both injury free and I had the choice, I'd say I'm not fussed either way.
Reason being is that Bent reminded me of a young Andy Cole and at his age Fergie would have turned him into something different than he will turn out being wasted at Spurs, and Ashton is a talented lad who I think could also do a job here.
It's not a clear cut answer beings as they offer extremely different but beneficial things to a team - Bent's pace over the top is what we are crying out for, but Ashton's ability to hold up the ball and play others in is also needed. See one Benzema for what we would ultimately want all in one player.