Its fair to say that Darren Bent did have an enjoyable experience at White Hart Lane. It didnt help that he had arrived at Spurs for a similar price that Barcelona had paid for the great Thierry Henry in the same window, nor the fact that he was charged with the task of breaking up the formidable partnership of Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane during his first season. By the time he did break into the side, the club were in perilous circumstances, sitting bottom of the league until Harry Redknapp assumed the reins of control in October 2008. Bent would find the back of the net a few times over the course of the season, but he was still subjected to criticisms from the crowd and even public ridicule from his manager on one occasion, claiming that his missus could have scored a gilt-edged opportunity Bent had put wide against Portsmouth. Its fair to say by the time the transfer window rolled around, he sought an exit - and desperately.
''Seriously getting p***** off now. Why cant anything be simple. Its so frustrating hanging round doing jack s***. Do I wanna go Hull City NO. Do I wanna go stoke NO do I wanna go sunderland YES so stop f****** around, Levy. Sunderland are not the problem in the slightest. - Darren Bent, July 2009.
These were the frustrated words expressed by a striker longing for a White Hart Lane exit, posted to Twitter. Annoyed at Spurs stalling over the price that Sunderland must pay to sign him, Bent eventually grew weary and exploded with this social media faux-pas, which would cost him £80,000.
''I appreciate that transfers are seldom straightforward and are often complex. However, after a long period of waiting following my withdrawal from the plane to China, I had become incredibly frustrated by the time these things take and I posted inappropriate comments on my Twitter site. I allowed my emotions to get in the way of my better judgement. I regret my actions and did not intend to offend Daniel Levy or anyone with the nature or the content of my posting. - Darren Bent, July 2009.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
