Get Bent! Aston Villa v. Manchester City, 22 January 2011, 12:30 p.m. EST

Record signing Darren Bent- the lad scores goals

After a hard-fought derby draw, in which Villa rattled the Birmingham City crossbar four times, Gerard Houllier shocked the world by recruiting Darren Bent over Monday and Tuesday.  The former Sunderland Striker becomes Villa's most expensive signing in history, as a fee of £18 million (rising to 24 million depending on appearances and performance) was necessary to prise Bent away.  Bent scored 32 goals in 58 appearances for Sunderland, having joined them in the Summer of 2009.


The move comes just as Villa prepare to welcome Manchester City to Villa Park on Saturday.  City sit second in the league, level on points with leaders Manchester United, while Villa are out of the drop zone in 17th.  Bent is expected to be in the Villa team, while other new signing Jean Makoun awaits his work permit and is unlikely.  


In outgoing news, Holte End Hero and strip club patron John Carew will be running down his contract at Stoke City.  Carew was Villa's leading scorer for the past three seasons, and though he wasn't able to get off the mark this year, he calls time on his Villa career having provided some great memories to Villa fans.  


Also out on loan is young striker Andreas Weimann.  The Austrian hitman will be at Watford for the rest of the season.  Weimann had a bright preseason before injuring knee ligaments in a horror tackle against Rapid Vienna in the Europa League, and was part of the reserves side smacking Arsenal's reserves 10-1 last week.  


The Capital Villans will be taking in the match at Lucky Bar, on 18th and Connecticut.  Join us at 12:30!