Christian Benteke

[Lecter]

I wasn't a fan of Ings but his attitude changed that within a couple of games. If Chris had workrate, heart and desire and showed it every minute of every game like Ings, he'd be forgiven for his other deficiencies, just like Kuyt was. His primary job is to score and he will do but if he offers nothing but a goal every so often he's not giving himself much chance of being on the pitch to score those goals. He's only first choice cos everyone else is injured, and that says a lot about somebody who went for absolute top dollar, and its not saying good things.

I had doubts about Ings & Benteke

I must say I was surprised by Ings' mentality and application. I think he will make it with us (assuming he comes back from injury ok)

I am not convinced Benteke will make it

[frank the tank]

In reality, if Lallana could ****in dink it over a goalie on the ground, then benteke would have had an assist in the last game and people would be saying how useful he is.

I think we all need to judge him next summer at the earliest.

[Yozza]

In reality, if Lallana could ****in dink it over a goalie on the ground, then benteke would have had an assist in the last game and people would be saying how useful he is.

I think we all need to judge him next summer at the earliest.

Yeah but at £32m & a proven premiership player he shouldn't need a season to bed in......

[Fosterbloke]

Yeah but at £32m & a proven premiership player he shouldn't need a season to bed in......

I don't buy into that at all. It will always take time to adjust to new management, players, friendships, tactics, location etc. Some longer than others.

[danperkins]

Not as worried as are about Benteke. Has done nowhere near as bad as some suggest & is a very good player. The question is whether he adapt to Klopp's style of play? I think he could, but his work rate really needs to be much better.

He's never going to have Sturridge's deft of touch but he's not bad technically. We've had so many injuries to crucial players, including Benteke himself (was my main concern when we signed him)...... that it has been near impossible to see what we are doing.

He'll improve no doubts and is a threat from inside and outside the box but he is too static at the moment and needs to improve the movement. Whether he is what Klopp wants or the team needs, is a different story. Need to give him a bit more time though IMO.

[Yozza]

I don't buy into that at all. It will always take time to adjust to new management, players, friendships, tactics, location etc. Some longer than others.

Ok whats the excuse for the lack of effort, touch, movement & being bullied around the pitch? You know the basics - irrespective of who he's friendly with

Unfortunately I think he's anothe Heskey - guess time will tell

[vlahka]

Ok whats the excuse for the lack of effort, touch, movement & being bullied around the pitch? You know the basics - irrespective of who he's friendly with

Unfortunately I think he's anothe Heskey - guess time will tell

I'd have to agree. He's a good player, but not the one we need as our main striker. He doesnt move much, thats just his play style and wont change no matter what manager has him. He gets bullied extremely easily, always falling over and never looking solid. And his heading.. I dont even understand why his heading is so poor. He's pretty much about to hit his prime as a striker so all of those issues should have been gone by now. Since they arent, they're here to stay. I like him, but I never feel confident that hes going to score more then 1 goal, if he manages that. And with our defensive/goalie issues, 1 goal is not comfortable at all.

[DannyMan2006]

I look at our team and as shown when we played v City, we can really carve teams to pieces on the deck. We did it multiple times last season under Rodgers as well when we played a trident of Couts, Lallana & Sterling.

As we also showed last season with Lambert & Mario, we are useless at knocking in crosses & don't seem to know how to be effective with a big man up top. If we had players with real attacking intent I think they'd get the idea of playing with a big man. Let him take the knocks and then feed off the scraps.

Michael Owens favourite partner was Heskey. He wasn't a playmaking genius like a Coutinho, but he'd cause trouble and Owen would dart in and take the plaudits. None of Coutinho, Lallana or Firmino seem capable of that. Probably a lack of pace doesn't help.

If I was Klopp I'd be starting Firmino every game. He just works and plays how this team like. Quick combination plays around the area.

All that said, Benteke IS more mobile than Mario & Rickie. He's not ideal but when he's played with Coutinho I've generally thought them to combine quite well. I guess we will see.

[fah-q]

We seem to have had a lack of aggression in the box for a while. Suarez was probably a prime example of someone who was hungry (pun intended) for the ball and would bust a gut (and a few opposition players) to get a chance to score.

Others are seemingly happy to have things laid on a plate for them, which is fine if they are capable of finding exactly the right place to be a la Fowler but otherwise they just seem to stand around and often caught on the back foot.

[Daniel 7]

...a la Carroll

[Exiled_red]

I don't think that he is really fitting into the team at the moment, not sure whether that is down to him, the players around him or the system we play. He is a capable player but it isn't working for him at the moment, as someone mentioned previously the goals he's got haven't really come from good play and team work they have come from a moment of quality or just getting the beating of his marker. I think he is too isolated in the current setup for the style he wants I think he would work better in a more traditional 2 up front formation, but we don't have the players elsewhere to play such a system. In our current setup (with the players we currently have avaliable) I would go with Firmino and Origi ahead of him.

[kingfunk]

Chelsea want him woohoo!

[Reece]

£50m again please.

[DeanoUK]

£50m again please.

Would bite their hand off

[Fosterbloke]

Chelsea want him woohoo!

Says who?