Charlton Athletic Online

I'm trying here to be the only website that doesn't come up with some sort of Double Bent headline, after Marcus Bent signed for Charton today from Everton. Marcus will join namesake Darren in contention for a place in the Charlton forward line at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, and for the rest of the season.

Bent (M) has played against Charlton on quite a few occasions, but he will be remembered by most for the game he played at The Valley on New Years Day about four years ago for Ipswich. On that day, with Ipswich having a strange up and down season that culminated in relegation, Marcus scored twice in the first five minutes, giving the Tractor Boys a two-nil lead. Luckily for Charlton, they slowly pegged the game back and scored a second half winner.

The £2.5 million transfer fee is high according to some, but with a large proportion of that seemingly about to be recouped by the sale of Jason Euell (to Birmingham), then it isn't such a bad option.

I expect Marcus Bent to take over the number 9 shirt from Euell.

The need for another centre forward (apart from Darren Bent) who can play the lone or main striker has now been addressed, and with Shaun Bartlett and Jay Bothroyd the club now has a few attacking options. Where that leaves Charlton's other forwards - Kevin Lisbie, Francis Jeffers and Jonatan Johansson - is open to discussion. This blog certainly sees no future for any of them at the club in the short or long term, and off-loading all three could see an increase in incoming transfer revenue and a lowering of the overall wage bill compared to previous, which will please Messrs Varney and Murray!

Now it's a question of whether Curbs can find additions to the squad in the other areas where it is needed - a defensive central midfielder, and a centre half with pace, plus heading and tackling ability.