Fergie told me Ravel would be in serious trouble or the England team, Bent bounces back... and why defenders will be petrified of facing Januzaj

PUBLISHED: 17:05 EST, 6 October 2013 | UPDATED: 08:46 EST, 7 October 2013

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Darren Bent is not everyone’s cup of tea. But while he might be a one-trick pony, it’s a trick he is rather good at.

He’s scored 105 goals in 250 Premier League games and, since the 2008-09 season, only three men have scored more Premier League goals than him: Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard.

The problem is he doesn’t get involved in the link play, he doesn’t show for the ball and wants to play on the shoulder of the last defender.

VIDEO Scroll down to watch Martin Jol: Relieved is not the word

Reliable goalscorer: Fulham's Darren Bent knows how to find the back of the net

He’s good at that, but when a team plays one up, the centre forward is required to do more, like a Romelu Lukaku or a Christian Benteke.

If Darren played with a hardworking No 10 who puts the work in for him, dropping off and allowing
him to play as a spearhead, that might work.

But Fulham have a team of passengers and so that creates its own problem. Dimitar Berbatov isn’t going to do that for him, nor Adel Taarabt or Brian Ruiz.

Bent’s goal should give Martin Jol breathing space in this international break and a chance to work out how to best use his team of mavericks.

Martin Jol: Relieved is not the word

Relief: The under-pressure Martin Jol desperately needed Fulham to win

Star man: Adnan Januzaj

IT ALL ADS UP FOR UNITED

Here's what I wrote last week about Adnan Januzaj...

Jamie rag out

He may be a boy, but the first thought Adnan Januzaj has when he gets the ball is: ‘I’m running at you, I’m going past you.’

He will terrorise full backs as a young master of the dying art of dribbling.

He was different class for Manchester United at Sunderland and made everyone else on the pitch look average by comparison.

I said last week that he might help turn the tide for David Moyes and he drowned Sunderland with his dare and dynamism.

Long term, he will become a No 10. Now he’s wide and learning his trade but with that much ability, he has to end up central — behind the striker and causing maximum chaos.

Highly rated: And Adnan Januzaj looks to be a No 10 in the making

Mac is back

When my dad took Steve McClaren to relegated QPR as a coach, the first call from a friend of mine was to ask: ‘Is your dad all right? Has McClaren been brought in over his head?’

It was absolutely my dad’s idea and it worked out brilliantly. The players loved having him there and so did my dad.

Now he has gone to Derby to dip his toe back in the madhouse of management and I wish him well.

Much-maligned: But Steve McClaren is proven as a quality coach

It takes a second to get a bad reputation in football and a long time to repair it. Steve hasn’t started badly, with a 3-1 victory over Leeds.

In this age when everyone wants a foreign accent in the dug-out, Steve deserves another chance.

There may well be doubters in the media, but just ask the players who have worked with him. He is a bright, innovative coach.

Raving for Ravel

At a dinner with Sir Alex Ferguson, I asked him if he had any more good young players coming through.

He told me about a boy called Ravel Morrison. ‘Jamie, he will either end up in serious trouble — or playing for England.’

After that stunning goal at Tottenham, in a comprehensive 3-0 win for West Ham, and his performances this season I’m pleased to see that he’s closer to the latter.

Promising talent: Ravel Morrison could earn an England call up

Managerial masterclass

Kevin Ball should get the Sunderland job.

They have the two-week break now to get their house in order, but he knows the club and the players.

I’m sure they will be tempted by a foreign coach, but why not give it the man who is already one step ahead of a newcomer?

Manager in the making? Kevin Ball has impressed since stepping in for Sunderland

The players are performing for him. Even though they have lost two games, he’s the man to turn it around.

We keep talking about giving English players a chance, but what about an English coach too?

One of the greats

Steven Gerrard is one goal away from 100 for Liverpool. He’s come a long way from the boy who cleaned my Mizuno boots.

The first time I saw him play as schoolboy, I knew he would be a player. The way his right foot connected with the ball, it just sounded different, like a golfer hitting the sweet spot.

Captain of club and country, more than 100 caps, almost 100 goals; it couldn’t happen to a nicer fella.

World class: Liverpool's Steven Gerrard has been a truly great player

He's number one touch

Loic Remy loves to hit the ball early, catching goalkeepers by surprise.

Most strikers like to take a touch to set themselves before shooting for the target.

But Remy, who scored twice for Newcastle on Saturday, doesn’t need that. He is clinical. He sets his sights and, bang, he gets the shot away. He’s a one-touch finisher, among the best I’ve seen.

Classy finisher: Loic Remy has made a promising start to life at Newcastle

Jack's a middleman

We learned two things about Jack Wilshere on Sunday: he can’t play wide left and he has character.

He played well in the second half, but he was terrible before then. Myself and Jamie Carragher said he was so poor that he should come off, but Arsene Wenger persevered and he got his rewards.

Young players suffer periods of inconsistency, but he doesn’t look a happy player out wide. When he came inside to a more central role, he looked more at home.

Character: Jack Wilshere again proved his class when scoring for Arsenal away to West Brom

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Chebbmaster, Wirral, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago

"In this age when everyone wants a foreign accent in the dug-out, Steve deserves another chance" So McClaren has dropped his stupid Dutch accent now has he?

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smg, edinburgh, 9 hours ago

1 goal and he is the best My god 2 goals and the papers will have him playing for England and 3 goals the papers will be saying he is worth 30 million and Barcelona want .... Legend

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Mrs girl racer, Derbyshire, United Kingdom, 10 hours ago

Long term, he will become a No 10. Now he¿s wide and learning his trade but with that much ability, he has to end up central ¿ behind the striker and causing maximum chaos.................... When I said this on an article about Januzaj I got red arrowed. It seems Jamie agrees with me...

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Mrs O, Birmingham, 11 hours ago

That is the problem with Darren, he just hangs round the goalmouth, it is why he didn't fit into Lambert's new Villa. If Jol is happy to work with ten men doing all the work then good luck to him.