Christian Benteke

[Ablur]

After a lot being made of him over the last week or two, I thought now would be a good time to give him his own topic.

Obviously there's been a lot of grey areas around him this season and his value, so I want to see what opinions there are of him.

I assume there will be a lot of inconsistencies around him as there was no denying his goalscoring record at Villa, but has since struggled at Liverpool with others getting the nod ahead of him.

He started pretty well but much was made of his positional sense considering the type of player he is and has gone off the radar over the last couple of months. Was he just a big fish in a small pond at Villa, or does Liverpool's style of play really just not suit him?

One thing that springs to mind is that despite his frustrations on the pitch this season, without his goals Liverpool would be 9 points worse off (scoring in a 1-1 draw and getting 4 match winning goals in other games) and wouldn't have got through the Europa league group stage (goal against Bordeaux), which effectively on paper makes his goals of high value despite being labelled s flop.

Has he had a fair run in the team and been given enough time? Is his work rate too long for a pressing team? Can he rejuvenate himself given more game time with a more consistent first 11 look team with a lot of players coming back from injury? Would you take him at your club? Can his resale value go up or stay the same considering the amount of money being injected to teams in the league?

There's been quite a few pros and cons already.

Discuss.

 

[Dr Mantis Toboggan]

he's shit

 

[Renegade]

A better version of Andy Carroll, but will never work in Klopp's system, he doesn't work hard enough. I think he's capable of playing for a side on the fringes of the Champions League, as long as they play a little hoofball and cross the ball in a lot. He would be amazing for West Ham.

Liverpool should cut ties and replace him in the summer. Sturridge is fantastic, need another player more suited to the system to back him up when he's injured (so for 75% of your games). Maybe Origi will improve further.

 

[MadMongoose]

I think unless the team pumps balls into the box (like villa did) on a regular basis he becomes almost useless. I like the guy and think hes a good player but the way we play simply isnt suiting him.

 

[Ablur]

I think it must be frustrating for Benteke too with the system, hence why he always drops deep and can't keep up with the play, thus making him look even more lazy.

I was really pleased when we signed him as he's proven in this league, but maybe this just isn't a club suited for him. Maybe time and more chances will tell.

 

[G-Dragon]

Clearly does not suit our system but he is a good player nonetheless. Hopefully Klopp can work something out otherwise just sell him and get a replacement asap.

 

[JimJams]

How much of a loss would you be willing to take on this one then?
West Ham apparently interested.

 

[G-Dragon]

How much of a loss would you be willing to take on this one then?
West Ham apparently interested.

I am ok with 10-15 million loss. Straight swap with Payet would be amazing

 

[East End Hammer]

Our owners have already come out and said it's not true with us being linked to Sturridge & Benteke.

 

[Stevencc]

I am ok with 10-15 million loss.

Moneyball™

 

[SALTIRE]

Clearly does not suit our system but he is a good player nonetheless. Hopefully Klopp can work something out otherwise just sell him and get a replacement asap.

I think he'll still be with Liverpool next season. Give him a good preseason with Klopp to get the details sorted on exactly how he wants him to play and take it from there. He's been better the last few games he's come on as sub mind and has won Liverpool three or four games from draws this season so he is good to have around imo.

 

[claret50]

I'm pleased that he's at Liverpool, we certainly don't want him.

 

[SALTIRE]

I'm pleased that he's at Liverpool, we certainly don't want him.

Not what the rumours are suggesting Claret.

 

[claret50]

I am ok with 10-15 million loss. Straight swap with Payet would be amazing

 

[johnnytodd]

Our owners have already come out and said it's not true with us being linked to Sturridge & Benteke.

too big a step up for them i'd say.

 

[On_The_Piss_My_Lord]

I'll never understand Liverpool, the amount of money they buy players for and then dont use them to their ability, which is the obvious reason they wanted to sign them in the first place. End up spending massive money, let them go for next to nothing, and then have the cheek to call them a flop. LOL

 

[joethegill]

Clearly an excellent player if you play to his strengths (which Villa did), but Liverpool seem incapable of doing so. He isn't lazy, he isn't shit, he's a proven Premier League goalscorer, but doesn't live up to the expectations that Liverpool fans have of how they want their team to play (which is bollocks by the way, saying your team only plays a certain style pretty much just means that you don't have a plan B when plan A fails). Just not the right fit of player + club I guess.

Not the first time a top player has gone to Liverpool and instantly become a 'flop' though. If only there was a common denominator...

 

[G-Dragon]

Clearly an excellent player if you play to his strengths (which Villa did), but Liverpool seem incapable of doing so. He isn't lazy, he isn't shit, he's a proven Premier League goalscorer, but doesn't live up to the expectations that Liverpool fans have of how they want their team to play (which is bollocks by the way, saying your team only plays a certain style pretty much just means that you don't have a plan B when plan A fails). Just not the right fit of player + club I guess.

Not the first time a top player has gone to Liverpool and instantly become a 'flop' though. If only there was a common denominator...

I guess Benteke would be a perfect fit for barcelona and Arsenal then.

 

[Jarv]

I daresay if Liverpool had spent the money on someone else Both VIlla and Liverpool would have had better seasons. Villa certainly would have with Benteke

 

[Art Morte]

Klopp is treating Benteke harshly, imo. As are our fans for that matter. He's not this out-and-out target-man that a lot of people seem to think, he can play it on the ground as well and he has got decent movement to his game. Klopp has put Origi ahead of Benteke and while Origi will look better in some areas, Benteke gets you goals in the penalty area and that's what our attack has been lacking too much.

 

[johnnytodd]

Klopp is treating Benteke harshly, imo. As are our fans for that matter. He's not this out-and-out target-man that a lot of people seem to think, he can play it on the ground as well and he has got decent movement to his game. Klopp has put Origi ahead of Benteke and while Origi will look better in some areas, Benteke gets you goals in the penalty area and that's what our attack has been lacking too much.

I agree, however Liverpool have other issues. Horrenderson should lose the captains armband and i would give it Kan. Bambi on ice ( Sakho) wants binning off too.

 

[JimJams]

Sakho needs to stop trying to be a ball playing defender and just be a wall. That and he needs to judge the bounce of a ball properly.
Lovren seemed to have learned that for himself in the Spurs game.

 

[The Fack]

Klopp is treating Benteke harshly, imo. As are our fans for that matter. He's not this out-and-out target-man that a lot of people seem to think, he can play it on the ground as well and he has got decent movement to his game. Klopp has put Origi ahead of Benteke and while Origi will look better in some areas, Benteke gets you goals in the penalty area and that's what our attack has been lacking too much.

Benteke made his name at Villa getting on the end of long balls. He can't cope with playing the passing game.

 

[JaseTheVillain]

Yes he can. He is better when it is played to his feet ffs. Yes, you want someone on the wing who his capable of crossing a ball, that tends to be useful, but he can play with the ball at his feet. I feel he is going to pick up the stigma that Crouch did for years.

 

[Kopper]

I'll never understand Liverpool, the amount of money they buy players for and then dont use them to their ability, which is the obvious reason they wanted to sign them in the first place. End up spending massive money, let them go for next to nothing, and then have the cheek to call them a flop. LOL

I got to say this is true to some extent.

 

[Kopper]

I would also add Benteke was someone on my wish list last season. We needed a target man and we got one in him. The problem is the system he's playing within. Our attack needs to be dynamic at times. But it ain't. We play through the middle more or less. We need to create confusion in the opposition's box. Crosses and flicks does this.

I'm of the opinion we need to tweak the system to accommodate Beneteke. Not the other way round. As the system has shown to have flaws when the opposition parks the bus.

 

[SALTIRE]

I think he'll feature on Thursday tbh.

 

[Pagnell]

Unfortunately.

 

[SALTIRE]

Short of options at the moment. I personally wouldn't mind it if he's playing.

 

[Trapdoor]

Christian Bentakin' the piss.