Posted by Tim Mallow's View

TMR Football Blogger, Tim Mallows-

By all accounts Darren Bent was an unrivalled success during his time in Sunderland. 25 goals in his first season with the club represents an excellent return for Nail Quinn on his £11.5 million gamble on the then struggling Spurs striker.

And he hasn’t started the 2010/11 season too slowly either, netting eight times and combining excellently with new signing Asamoah Gyan and on-loan Manchester United striker Danny Wellbeck to push the north-east club up to 6th in the league.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa have struggled badly this season. Rocked after the departure of their inspirational coach Martin O’Neill just a few days before the start of the season, new boss Gerard Houllier has divided opinion with his straight-forward management style.

One man to feel his manager’s ire was new signing Stephen Ireland, who was lamented and subsequently dropped for his perceived lack of effort. Full-back Stephen Warnock is also in the manager’s bad books and is currently training with the reserves.

The turmoil surrounding the relegation threatened club is a stark contrast to the calm that surrounded Villa Park with O’Neill at the helm. The Irishman bought European football to the club and at one point was in with a sniff of the title as his side played their way to third position in the league last season and were touted as the club to break the top-four monopoly in the league.

But the gloom surrounding Villa Park may well be lifted after the record signing of Bent. If ever there was the club in need of a proven goal scorer, it is Villa.

Amongst the lowest scorers in the league, bigfreebet will put the struggles of the midland’s club at the inability of the current strike force to find the net; 24 goals this season leaves them fifth bottom in the goal scoring charts. By contrast Villa under O’Neill managed 71 goals in the 2007/8 season, their highest ever tally.

Proven at Premier League level beyond doubt, the former Charlton marksman is only behind Didier Drogba and Wayne Rooney in terms of goals scored since 2005, and he cost significantly less than his acclaimed peers.

But why would Darren Bent risk a move to a struggling club from a club on the up?

Bent is correct in his assessment that Villa’s current position is a false one. Houllier’s has a proven record in the Premier League and Bent has gambled on the Frenchman’s abilities to turn the club around and put his faith in a man who had already shown faith in him.

Two successive 6th positions under O’Neill showcase the potential of the club and Chairman Randy Lerner has shown he has the money and is willing to back Houllier.

Meanwhile, since Sunderland’s return to the Premier League in the 2007/8 season, the Black Cats have yet to really establish a foothold in the league from which to launch an assault on the higher positions in the league.

Last season’s 13th placed finish represents their highest position since their return to the big time; although fans will hope that their resurgence under Steve Bruce isn’t a false dawn, Bent’s decision shows what he thinks.

Bent’s transfer conjures the image of a beaten yet not defeated boxer. His first shot at the big time came at Tottenham Hotspur where he ended up on the canvas, and after being beaten he secured a move to the north-east.

But one defeat does not mean the end of a boxer’s career and Bent has shown his determination by reasserting himself as one of the deadliest strikers in the league to secure his second shot at the big time.

Having missed out on a spot in the England World Cup squad, Bent’s decision may also have been swayed by two of the finest wingers in the land currently plying their trade for Villa.

Stuart Downing and Ashley Young may be the men to provide Bent with the ammunition he requires to finally nail down a position in Fabio Capello’s team.

After the initial reaction, the money paid by Lerner and Villa will be nothing in comparison to the funds coming their way if they can avoid relegation and move up the league once more thanks to Bent’s goals.

Big free bet will certainly see Bent as capable of helping Villa move away from trouble, a sentiment echoed by the fans.

Bent’s decision to move south may prove to be a wise move, despite the anger he has caused amongst the Sunderland fans.

Well, that’s the theory, the goals have to come sooner rather than later otherwise all parties concerned will feel the heat.