Love him or loathe him, you can't ignore him. Darren Bent racked up 36 goals in 63 games for Sunderland. He was without a doubt the most natural goalscorer to wear the Red and White shirt since Kevin Phillips. He tweeted his way into the hearts of Sunderland fans before he'd even signed. His f-word rant at Spurs Chairman secured his exit from White Hart Lane in 2009, and all but paved the way for the striker to sign for Sunderland. He didn't want to go to Hull. He didn't want to go to Stoke. He wanted to go to Sunderland. And that carried weight with the locals. Still, once the meltdown subsided, he had to prove his worth on the pitch. In his first season, Bent started every single game with a stunning return of 24 goals. His touch was lethal. He didn't need to get involved in all of the build up play, because he'd be in the right place to slot the ball home every time. Some people would call his predatory skills 'luck'. Once or twice, maybe. But 24 times? Not a chance. Bent knew exactly what he was doing. Even when he was 'off-form' in his second season, Bent still found the net eight times in 20 league games. His move to Aston Villa was motivated by pure greed, and Sunderland were paid up to £24 million, but the Black Cats still haven't been able to replace him four years later.
What Culture contributor. NCTJ accredited Sports Journalist. Regret-filled Sunderland AFC season ticket holder. Optimism-filled NFL fan. Lover of all things Game Of Thrones, Breaking Bad, Walking Dead & more.
