Benteke

[Walter Sobchak]

I like Benteke.

 

There, I said it!

[Jairzinho]

Lallana has played with a target man at Southampton who wasn't as good as Benteke. It's puzzling why he just does not seem even likely to score for us

 

Lots of reasons, I guess.

 

He's the third best of our number 10s so therefore is almost always playing in one of the two wide positions. He also has more defensive/tactical responsibility (we don't really have two holding midfielders, often none in fact, even if two are playing a bit deeper) and more expectation than at Southampton. We also don't have any proper wide players unless Ibe plays, so regardless of where Lallana plays there is a lack of space as everyone wants to play centrally.

 

But he, like everyone else, obviously has to take some responsibility. He rarely takes a risk passing or shooting so it's unlikely he's going to contribute to many goals. He often Cruyff turns his way into oblivion, or passes the ball backwards from promising situations (because it's the safest option). 

 

As much as I don't rate him I think he suffers the same as any other creative central player in our team. The two forwards that would get far more out of him are injured (one almost permanently). Of the other two, one is 20 and looks like a wide forward and the other is a target man that when asked to provide movement for sides that want to play some football on the deck (like us and Belgium) limits their ability to do so, because it simply doesn't happen. Our creative players pick the ball up, look ahead of them and see nothing happening. Which is why it almost results in speculative shooting or passing backwards (often depending on the mentality of the player - Coutinho does more of the former, Lallana the latter).

 

He was a needless signing, at a ridiculous price. We needed proper goal scorers and/or wingers. Not back up number 10s that then have to be shoehorned into the side because we've neglected to strengthen in other areas. I think he'll be sold next summer and, whilst I don't think he was/is ever really good enough, he'll also be a slight victim of playing for a club that hasn't had anything even approaching a coherent strategy for transfers for several years.

[Tony Moanero]

I like Benteke.

There, I said it!

And I like you, Walter.

[TheHowieLama]

SobChek please!

[Hades]

When you've dined on caviar like Rush, Fowler, Owen, Torres, N'gog, Sturridge and Suarez it's hard to give a merely "good" striker a chance. He'll score goals, but he won't improve anyone around him or create space like Drogba did.

[Tony Moanero]

No mention of Iago Aspas, Hades, you cuuuuunt?

[Mathewbet1]

This crazy fool is asking me to make runs in behind.

[Pan77]

I like him, I just don't like his miserable woe is me celebration.

 

[Paco]

I like him, I just don't like his miserable woe is me celebration.

I thought his goal the other night was disallowed because he started punching his legs

[Mr T]

He doesn't look like he has ever really had to work at learning how to play football. 

[Jairzinho]

He's shite.

[Phoenix]

He doesn't look like he has ever really had to work at learning how to play football. 

 

Being bigger than the others at youth level probably ensured that to be the case.

[an tha]

Sell him in January.

 

Sadly he isn't going to adapt well enough to us or us to him.

 

He would be boss in another team but this one isn't right for him or him for it.

[Jairzinho]

Allardyce might give us 15m for him.

[VERBAL DIARRHEA]

Immobile. Not the Italian striker. Benteke's movement. Play to him or don't play him, he is only capable of playing one way, no football brain or application. There are more mobile Mafia snitches lying at the bottom of the Hudson in concrete Predators.

[TheDrowningMan]

He's a mega-money Rodgers signing, which means he was bought solely because he looked impressive elsewhere. No consideration was given to whether he would fit into our team.

 

He's not as bad as some suggest; he's capable of being an excellent goal scorer in a certain sort of team but he doesn't fit here and I don't think he ever will. Get an offer above £12m in January and there shouldn't be a moment's hesitation.

[Captain]

One thing is that he doesn't fit. He doesn't even fight for headers in the box, time and again he just stands there rooted to the ground and lets Collins clear it.

 

What. The. Fuck?

[Mathewbet1]

We can exchange him for andy fucking carroll in january.

[usernameunknown]

Sign a load of tippy tappy number 10s who need movement infront of them then sign the likes of Lambert, Balotelli and Benteke. Thanks Brendan!!

[Red House]

The likelihood of us having to face Stoke, Utd and Arsenal with him upfront is a terrifying thought.

[ZonkoVille77]

Absolutely fucking gash today

[G Richards]

Was there anything in the Chelsea rumours? Were they seriously interested? 

[Phoenix]

Was there anything in the Chelsea rumours? Were they seriously interested? 

 

Not after today. Should have left him on the bench and let the myth perpetuate.

[AngryOfTuebrook]

Immobile. Not the Italian striker. Benteke's movement. Play to him or don't play him, he is only capable of playing one way, no football brain or application. There are more mobile Mafia snitches lying at the bottom of the Hudson in concrete Predators.

Everyone assumes his "one way" is high balls to get his head on.  Not true.  Give him through balls to run on to and he will score.

 

Give him fuck all (like today) and you will get fuck all from him.

[usernameunknown]

One thing is that he doesn't fit. He doesn't even fight for headers in the box, time and again he just stands there rooted to the ground and lets Collins clear it.

 

What. The. Fuck?

It's weird isnt it? He just fucking stands there. Unless the circumstances favour him like 95/5 then he doesn't want to know. Contrast that with Carroll who while absolutely shit at least battles and makes stuff happen because of it.