Jun
28
2007

Tottenham vs Liverpool, Bent vs Torres - who’s getting the better deal?

The big news yesterday (painfully fabricated pieced together using old quotes and selective memory) was that of Liverpool making their play for Fernando Torres, seemingly leaving rivals Man Utd in their wake.

Today’s grand news (after Capello’s ridiculous sacking and Coleman’s semi-ridiculous signing) is that Tottenham are close to getting Bent.

Considering that both clubs (Liverpool and Tottenham) will be spending top dollar (in terms of relative finances) on their respective targets, the big question is this:

Which club is getting the better deal?

Tottenham

Is Darren Bent a ’steal’ at 13-17m? Considering that Bent’s arrival could (I repeat, ‘could’, not ‘will’) spend the end for Berbatov or Defoe, Tottenham will in all likelihood recoup the financial outlay but how does this affect them in terms of their league aspirations?

In other words, is Darren Bent capable of helping Tottenham a) win the Uefa Cup and b) qualify for the Champions League?

Liverpool

Over at Anfield, Liverpool are continuously linked with Torres - they have been ever since Torres was quote on camera with the inside of his armband showing the inscription “you’ll never walk alone”. Apparently no one is allowed to use that inspirational phrase in their lives without being linked with a move to Liverpool (in which case, will Rafa give me a trial?).

Can Torres bring the Premiership to Anfield? Can he provide the thrust Liverpool lacked at times in Europe?

The floor is yours.

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Discussion - 62 Responses

  1. NO & NO

  2. June 28, 2007Martin Jolue

    It was the sme argument last year when Spurs signed Bebatov and Liverpool signed Kyut for the same price….All media unanimously said that Liverpool got much better deal…..but at the end of the season the same media vote for Berbatov as the best signing.

  3. well that settles it then…
  4. June 28, 2007Paul Liverpool

    Torres is pure class but not scored the amount of goals you’d expect for a £25m striker. Hopefully it’s because he’s been playing in a bad team for all these years. Put him in a red shirt and I’m sure he’ll be banging them in.
    The only problem is if he takes a “bedding in” period to get used to the premiership. Liverpool fans are probably some of the most patient (remember Crouch’s goal drought?!) but I think an immense amount of pressure will be on Torres’s shoulders if he doesnt start scoring quickly, for £25m I suppose you want it all. Oh and Bent is crap.

  5. NO…
    Having a very good striker in a shit team won’t win anyone anything…plus Bent & Torres aren’t proven to be that good…

  6. If spurs get Kaboul for 8mil, then for the same money as torres (unquestionably talented but un proven in the PL) we get a proven PL striker and a potentially world class CB. We will only know who has the best deal when the season is underway.

  7. i agree whit paul. bent can stay bent. liverpool 4 everything next season. come on liverpool time to become the best in the world once again

  8. June 28, 2007Martin Jolue

    Martin Jole said last season that the only players that he had wanted to sign is either Torres OR Bebatov. He got Berbatov for 10.9 millions. This season he might have said either Bent at 16 millions or Torres at 25 millions…So there is one full season to judge which is the better signing. It could turn up to be Bent though, since he has scored regularly in the premiership for the last two seasons.

  9. How much money??? Could have had Henry for that or Martins for 3 1/2 million less. He brings nothing to the team [ just a bigger Defoe ]. A waste of money. No , I’ll clarify that: a vastly overpriced striker who brings no advantages over what we already have. And we still don’t have a left winger!!! More money than sense comes to mind

  10. or maby the pressure of being at a bigger club and not being the mane star will be to much 4 darren

  11. June 28, 2007Nicky Spur

    Be realistic, this Torres story is a complete fabrication. He is one of the top players in the best league in the world. Spanish and Italian teams trade top players between themselves all the time but from memory I cannot recall a single top player at his peak coming to England from Spain or Italy. It just doesn’t happen. Torres will have the best clubs in the world looking for him why would he pick Liverpool? He also strikes me as player who values his hometown club like Raul so might stay through thick and thin.

  12. Martin Jolue

    Both players were bought for the exact same price and both scored the exact same amount of league goals. How was Berbatov a much better signing?

  13. June 28, 2007Ciaran Mc Cormack

    Niether are set in stone United looking at the possibility of Torres at Old Trafford while Liverpool’s back-up is presumibaly Bent, espcially cause we had a twelve million pound move turned down for him earlier in the silly season.
    All I hope is Torres to Liverpool and let him do what he does best, score goals! While Bent it has to be said is a different standerd and different type of player to Torres, Bent has one English cap (I think) and scored no goals Torres has many Spainish caps and has scored a considerable amount of goals for a 23 year old!! (Don’t know the figures).

  14. i think that darren bent wont be berbatov’s starting partner…because for me robbie keane today is a better player..this could mean tottenham are potentially spending 32 million dollars for a bench player…now that would be a waste of talent and money now wouldnt it..

  15. As a Spurs supporter i would have been excited if we had signed Torres but gettin Bent is a case of “Hope we are sure about what we are getting.” Im sure he will do ok, Jol must have had a few other options. I dont know if Bent will ever be a BIG player, remembered forever, but you never know.I read the earlier comments, why do people slag off other teams, like pools have done about Spurs being a small club, so what if they are smaller than Liverpool, we are just as passionate and loyal, people are only asked to put across an opinion. Anyway, Liverpool have not signed Torres and from what i have been reading, im not sure they have the funds, which i assume is cos of the new stadium. If liverpool dont make a few big signings i think there is a small chance Spurs may end up higher.

  16. I think the Spurs needed a leader to take them to the next level and instead got Bent, who did little to prevent Charlton from getting relegated.

    Liverpool already have leader in Gerrard, but need a talented and consistent goalscorer, which I’m not sure they will get in Torres. Bent would have probably been a better fit, Defoe, though, would be even better.

  17. nicky u should try 2 do a bit more resurch then u would know torres is liverpool bound

  18. Is Darren Bent any better than what Spurs have already got? No! so not a good deal. For me Berbatov, Keane and Defoe are all better than Bent.

    Is Fernando Torres any better than what Liverpool already have? Yes! so it’s a good deal.

    Both players are totally different, one (Bent) plays on the shoulder of the defender’s (like Owen), the other (Torres) drops off and finds space (like Rooney).

    My opinion is that Liverpool will get the better all-round player and the more marketable player, which the Americans will like.

  19. June 29, 2007Martin Jolue

    It is Not me who say Berbatov is better signing than Kyut…The UK Media that voted that Berbatov is the best signing of the season and He IS in the Premiere league First 11. By the way MaCarty Scored more league goals than Kyut or Berbatov. Is he better than both?

    Maybe it has something to do with other cost as well…Berbatov is on less than 25 k/week while Kyut maybe on 50-60 k/week….

  20. Goals per game ratio bewtween Bent and Torres is very similar, the main difference, Bent has done it in England!
    Torres is hugely overated and over priced, which is why he is still at Athletico.The real big clubs have been scared away from him in the past because of the silly money for a good,not world class striker.
    Added to that Bent is also overpriced, but has outscored Spurs’ main 3 strikers domestically for the last 2 season, whilst playing in a very poor side. Oh and he’s English so add 5-10mil straight away. Look at Carrick!

  21. Liverpool should know about Spanish strikers not cutting it in the PL remember Morientes. Bent is proven at PL level and with the probable moving on of Defoe for £10-11M has only cost us £4-5M net, not a bad deal for a player averaging 1 goal every 2 games.

  22. Didn’t Defoe score 1 more than Bent this season? I also think our best strike partnership is Keane and Berbatov so I am not sure how Bent will fit in. Maybe we want to sell Defoe before his contract runs out but surely not 16m for Bent!

    If Bent was from another country but England, he would probably be worth 9-10 mil. The extra money spent on him means we do not wait a season for him to become a good premiership player. We got lucky with Berbatov!

    Torres is a world class player no doubt but he will need a season to get used to the rigours of our style of football. If he is given that ‘honeymoon’ he will be as good as Drogba, maybe better.

    I hope we are sensible with our money though! I would not like to see us turn our like Leeds.

  23. I’m a spurs supporter and just want to say…. who cares?

  24. torres for 27 million is a steal.he is pure class and still at 23 is improving.

  25. June 29, 2007jonny no mates

    we are spending like money will be worthless in a week#
    expect wright phillips to join kaboul bale and bent and with the promissing taarbat to show his talent ,not to mention a rather strong squad from last season i expect the unexpected SUCCESS
    COME ON THE YIDS

  26. why is is assumed that if spurs sign bent, then defoe will go? I personally think defoe and bent will make an awsome partnership which will probably play in a team that is used for carling cup, early rounds of FA cup and be drawn upon when the inevitable injuries and loss of form kick in, which they will. but back to your question, next season Bent will be the better buy, he will hit the premiership pitch running with something to prove but over the next 3 seasons Torres will eventually show his class.

  27. bent, what a waste of money, we all ready have defoe who is a much better player than championship player bent, and if we want a foueth striker why not smith for six million who can also play in midfield

  28. pretty confident torres will be a prolific goalscorer in the prem, he reminds me more of a english type player, big and strong,also he has quick feet, and a good turn of pace.i think the comparisons to morientes are ridiculous,the only thing they have in common is they are both spanish! they are totally different type of players, anyway like i said torres will be more suited to the prem than la liga, if i was going to have a punt, i would much rather put 27m on torres, than 16m on bent. torres is pure class, who if liverpool get him, would be a catalyst to liverpool making the jump from 3rd to 1st!

  29. I really think people need to get another view on things. Spurs will play a lot of matches next season and need to have 4 really good strikers…..
    Bent is a proven goalscorer in the PL and will get better balls in the box than he did at Charlton!
    I think he´s a really good buy at the tender age of 23!!

    If Liverpool get Torres I will be the first to congratulate…. He´s pure class!… But it´s a lot of money at 25 mill…….

  30. Does anyone besides me think Torres to Liverpool is still a long way away? I mean, the guy’s on holiday, and the club haven’t received any offers. Add to that Liverpool’s transfer history… not exactly big spenders on single players. I’m not sure, they’ll get him, but if they do, of course he’ll be a good player for them.

    Bent’s success depends on whether he breaks into the starting line-up. It looks almost a done deal, but is he really better than Berbatov, Defoe or Keane…I’m not sure. Actually I’ve never been a big fan of Bent, and the alleged price of £16 mil is way more over the top than what United payed for Carrick and Hargreaves. Imo, to be worth £16 mil, you are in the top 10-15 of strikers in the world, and Bent is definitely not up there. And to answer the question, I don’t think Tottenham need Bent to win the UEFA Cup or to finish in the top 4 - they can do that with their current squad, if they pull themselves together.

    Torres is better than Bent, no doubt, but he’s also even more expensive. Not sure he’s worth £25-27 mil, but we’ll see, if a deal goes through. But there’s no way Torres alone will bring the title to Anfield, so Benitez better wake up and smell the coffee (the one brewed by SAF) and bring in some quality players in stead of 18 yo East Europeans.

  31. June 29, 2007Berbatovs Right Foot

    Joe

    The reason Berbatov was named a better signing is because of the way he plays the game.Okay,Kuyt and Berbatov scored the same amount of goals,but how many assists did Kuyt have.Berbatov had at least 9 assists.That is alot for a striker.You see,players are not only judged on goals,but how they play with their respective teams,how they interact with the fans,etc.So you see,this is why Berbatov is a better player than Kuyt.Although Kuyt is a very good player Berbatov has a better game alround.

  32. Bent is a proven goal scorer in the prem, playing for one of the worst clubs. Over the last 2 seasons combined he is the top scoring english striker. So I am not sure how people don’t think he is any good / worth the cost? Considering english players are valued at twice what they are worth, this seems like good business to me.
    Torres has not proved himself in the prem so who knows / cares. True he looks the part in internationals, but how many times has a johnny foreigner come over, only to be bullied into submission and then sent packing? Thus he is more of a gamble.

    Don’t get me wrong i’d love to see torres in a spurs shirt, but how people can argue over bare faced fact and pure speculation is beyond me.

    COYS.

  33. I’m a Liverpool supporter, so my opinion will be biased. I believe that Torres will in fact cut it in the premiership. He has all the qualities that make a good striker in any league!
    Bent is a proven goalscorer but he was the best player at Charlton, he maybe strives under pressure! And on the best signing ordeal. Kuyt was a player who surprised me, I have never seen a striker work so hard in the midfield! Berbatov is more of a goalscorer, whereas Kuyt is more of a complete player. Benni McCarthy is a prolific goalscorer who is doing well good buy end of !

  34. June 29, 2007Liam O'Kelly

    Maybe “you’ll never walk alone” on his armband means Torres is moving to Celtic :) anyway why would Torres go to a team that talk about there history like it means that they are going to win every match 5-0 with Stevie G (asshole) scoring a hat-trick and still think Peter Crouch is a good player, what a waste of talent.

  35. How can you compare Torres to Morientes?

    I think Bent was a bit overpriced, but was a good signing.
    Hopefully if we (Liverpool) sign Torres, he settles quickly, and scores sooner rather than later.

    We need to sign a striker who will come in straight away and score goals. So we’ll gladly take Defoe of Spurs’ hands for around #8m

  36. Spoony’s right. Until someone has played in the prem, no one knows if it’s a good purchase or not. Or until they’ve played in their new team even. Time will tell, as always.

  37. June 29, 2007Nicky Spur

    JJ how is Torres Liverpool bound when they haven’t even bid for him yet? A Madrid chairman also stated Forlan was bought to play with Torres.

  38. No Nicky what he said was

    “The deal that we are trying to do for Forlan is to give Fernando a partner in attack, but it may also be to use him as his replacement,”….

  39. June 29, 2007RandomDude#1

    I think bent will do well at spurs cos as many have said, he is a proven prem goalscorer. The whole argument over who will be better cant really be asked as there will probably be a £10 million difference in the price tags and for that obviously torres, from what i saw in the world cup is a class act but will he get 10 mill worth more goals? The thing is liverpool already have plenty of class in midfield in gerrard and alonso etc, what they need is an out and out goalscorer, which torres for me at least remains unproven.

    Tottenham’s biggest problem which jol has seemed to neglect all of these years is how to sort out the back. They came in last season with 3 strikers on around 20 goals each yet arent winning the league! United had nowhere near their firepower the thing with tottenham is when they win its like 5-4 or somethin.

    Conclusion - Torres —> excited to see what he can do, wont be the league winning saviour scousers are after though!
    Bent—-> Probably just add to the plethora of goals spurs score anyway…still wont win them anything

  40. June 29, 2007batleyspur

    Just what are these Liverpud fans on? Berbatov was easily a better signing than kuyt, maybe he didn’t bag an hatful of Prem goals, but just look at his overall contribution, hold-up play, assists, and bringing other payers into play. Just what the hell did kuyt do? And who would command the biggest fee? Berbatov , Berbatov, hands down. And as for Torres v Bent, i’d take Bent anyday, we all know Liverpud by Spanish duds. Bent is a proven PL scorer, Torres isn’t, and definatly won’t be. Plus Spurs only finished 8pts behind Liverpud last season. and thats after the bad start we had to the season, and missed one of Englands best central defenders for a large chunk of it. Wait untill next season, we’ll be that far in front of you, you will be walking alone. Go on you Spurs.

  41. Personally as a spurs fan I think bent has a real opportunity in a young, ambitious, english backbone of a team. They are all hungry and that has to bring out the best in him. We are paying a over inflated price for bent and its stupid to think otherwise. But, its yet another english player who as been well involved at england under 21 level. I’m proud as a spurs fan that we have a real ambition to sign english talent. When i look at arsenal it makes me laugh to see a squad which when england play are really nowhere to be seen. In liverpools case, yes torres is possibly worth the price tag and yes he is a proven player but will he ever wear a england shirt??? - COYS!!!

  42. June 29, 2007Liverpool Fan 4 life

    U guys want to compare toores to bent ????? Bent is shit althought I’m like liverpool if they do get Bent I think we would not win the cup next season with a fukk shittttt !!!!!

    Torres, who has hit 82 goals in 212 games nd 15 goals in la liga dis season , Bent is playing with charlton who are relegated so would do u expect frm bent , he’s done nothing nd caused dem to be relegated.

    I think dat Toores will be heading to liverpool here’s some facts :

    1.) Three of his spanish mates & frnds are there Benetiz, Alonso, Reina . He also said it would be great to play for liverpool.

    2.) Liverpool would throw all their budgets on him to sign , or would offer a player-plus cash deal . 20million pounds plus cisse or luis garcia is enough nd more to get him .

    3.) Ateliteco madrid want either cisse or garcia cuz they admires of both players nd would like to have them.

    4.) Garcia said he would love to go play for Atleticho madrid in the future nd cisse is already planinng to go there by having his vacation in spain .

  43. June 29, 2007NIKERULES

    25million for Torres its crazy! Thierry Henry is better overall then Torres and Bent is faster than Torres cant pace as faster, he is all rite he is all rite as he worth at £9miliion plus i watched on the TV Barcelona killed Torres’s team 6-0 as in fact he’s fault cos he is captain.

  44. Nikerules - A bit harsh to say it’s Torres’ fault his team loses 6-0, isn’t it?

    Bent is not faster than Torres, if anything it’s the other way around.

    Liverpool fan 4 life - If Liverpool do end up with Torres, it won’t be in a deal of £20 mil + Garcia or Cisse. Neither are worth £7 mil, and AM will hold on to their demand of £27 mil (the buy-out clause), because they need the cash and for political reasons they can’t sell him for less than the buy-out clause.

    and how has Cisse’s going to Spain for vacation got anything to do with him going to AM? - weird fact to include.

  45. bent dont wan sign for west ham last time is becoz west ham didnt qualify for eroupean cup,hold on to liverpool becoz no guarantee in starting line-up,so he determine to join spurs and spurs make a big money to him…question coming…

    did bent hv quaratee first team regular in spurs?as we prefer keane wit berbarov pair,tat means bent no choice at all if they fully fit,and it no time to let bent to prove himself worth that value being pay becoz spurs cant lose points if wan to be in the top 4 next season…so,i think martin jol hv their own plans…will keane be midfielder?(keane can passing well in game and can hold the ball in midfield)since tat all rumours about jol buying left-winger dissapear(padersen and martin petrov no news at all)

    however,we cant find a certain answer for who getting better deal unless after the next season…it all depends on manager how to make the player be suitable in their own tattic and playng role of the player be determine,if not player like veron and forlan will be appear again….we can sure sumthing is pls dont be a rather injury phone>.

  46. June 29, 2007Lee Pownall

    Liverpool are getting a better deal for the simple fact that they needed striker! They have’nt got anyone who will score more than 20 a season. Tottenham have already got Berbatov, Keane, and Defoe who are all good enough to do this given a proper run in the starting 11. The Bent signing is ok if they are planning on losing two of these strikers!

    Defoe no doubt will want to leave now, and Berbatov and Keane will expect to start every week! Where does bent fit in? is he even going to play??

  47. Over at Anfield, Liverpool are continuously linked with Torres - they have been ever since Torres was quote on camera with the inside of his armband showing the inscription “you’ll never walk alone”. Apparently no one is allowed to use that inspirational phrase in their lives without being linked with a move to Liverpool (in which case, will Rafa give me a trial?)

    That’s exactly what I said. Wayne Rooney was seen last year at a NBA game. Surely that means that he’s on brink of joining San Antonio Spurs?

  48. The king..

    Have you actually seen Torres play? Big and strong? Your joking right? Torres isn’t even an out and out striker. He plays just off a striker, he’s the spanish Wayne Rooney, just not as good. Torres will never be a 25 goal a season man. £27 million? And people said darrren bent was a waste of money… The thing with liverpool is that they’re clogging up the premier league with second rate foreigners. Unfortunately, any young british talent will just have to find employment elsewhere.

  49. Spurs have never bought any second rate foreigners have they!!!??
    However the signing of Berbatov was undoubtedly the buy of last season..it’s just a pity Spurs seem to be a feeder club for the big boys..he’ll be on his way once ManUtd offer the dosh!

  50. I’ll put this to you all, maybe you are all right up together on Spanish football, but what exactly has Torres ever done?

    a- an average goal return in a poor side
    b- a poor goal return in a poor international side
    c- overlooked by the big european clubs 3 years running because of his lack of ability and ridiculous price

    Probably the most overated striker in the modern game, thats why Real, Barca, Man u, Chels, Milan, Juve, Inter, Bayern have all snubbed him.

    27mil and there’s some mickey mousers on here that think Spurs have been robbed. Ha you couldn’t make it up.

  51. Torres is quality,end of! Torres is faster than bent and has a better goal ratio than most fowards. Torres is not like rooney he plays like henry,nobody correct me because I watched most atleti games last season. Message to Nasty, Torres rejected moves to the clubs you mentioned and not the other way around!

  52. Torres is better than rooney and bent , he is faster more skillful and has a better goal ratio despite playing for an average team (compared to man U). For that matter I would say that Torres is the better prospect. Message for Nasty, Torres rejected those teams and not the other way around!

  53. I reckon the price for Torres is steep but I also reckon he will do wonders for us. We will win the league one year…

    YNWA

  54. to jamesey 07, yes i have seen torres many, many times, as i am a resident in madrid, but i am a born and bred scouser,i suggest you try take in a few games at the vicente calderon, as the atmosphere is fantastic, and a fraction of the cost of a premiership game. anyway you are entitled to your opinion, however what i see is a big strong striker, who holds up the ball well, and will bring others into play, and yes i do think torres will be prolific in the premiership, i believe it will be more suited to his game, the reasons i have already explained. also having torres playing alongside kuyt, will allow kuyt to play in a more attacking role like he did at feyenoord, and not having to accomodate crouch and bellamy, so as his work rate goes down, his strike rate will go up.by your negative comments,your not a bitter utd suppotrer are you?

  55. Torres is quality….but Liverpool (YET AGAIN) are not goin 2 win the league or champz league….United for the treble this season! we dont need Torres were be getting a more out and out goalscorer and a better playa if we get Huntelaar

  56. torres will be quality for liverpool. him and kuyt will be the devestating duo that we’ve been missing. just need a good winger to make us a force again. please rafa sign guardado or quaresma!

  57. legend torres iis already in liverpool and how bout you watch whats on this web site and shut up http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ikBa5bWdoQs&feature=RecentlyWatched&page=1&t=t&f=b

  58. lol

  59. Bent Apps:222 Goals: 94
    Torres Apps:243 Goals: 91

    Bent played for RELEGATED Charlton

    Torres played for 6th place Athletico, with the likes of M.Petrov, Pernia, Maxi Rodriguez (world cup star), Aguero (U-20 W.cup star), Maniche.

    And Torres is better than Bent????
    Enough said

  60. enough torres is way better than bent lol

  61. August 28, 2007Liverpool_Fan

    Voronin and Torres up front!!! Torres has great skill and pace can get in behind defenders if he gets into space he will shoot if he is in a sticky situation he will play it to a different player quite simply the perfect forward :)

  62. There is so much b@llocks written in the comments for this article it is laughable.

    Some examples…

    Torres would never sign for Liverpool as all the big clubs are in for him.
    Torres is rubbish which is why clubs like Man Utd, Chelsea have not bid for him.
    Torres is not a leader.
    Torres is not strong or fast.
    Torres will take a long time to settle in the Prem.

    Nasty and Nicky Spur! LMFAO. Talk about know-nothings embarrassing themselves.

    Torres has looked very good for Liverpool so far and looks to have adjusted already. His signing has improved Liverpool.

    Bent has not really impressed yet and Spurs do not look improved from last season. Spurs did not need another striker unless they sell Defoe. They would have been better to have spent the money on a left winger like Babel. This would have improved their side by addressing a weak-point in the Spurs squad.

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