Christian Benteke

[tanner]

I think the comparison with Heskey is a fair one, trouble is he doesn't have a Michael Owen playing off him. He's a big disappointment. I never thought he would fit in particularly well with our playing style, but I thought he would offer much more than he has.

Heskey had more to his game than Benteke. He was actually very good at playing the lone striker role and also pretty good at holding the ball up until he had support. He had a few faults, spending too much time on the floor and he always seemed to be far better on goal with no time to think, very instinctive but if he had the ball and a little bit of time he'd inevitably fluff it.

Limited yes, but a far superior player to Benteke.

[Exiled_red]

Heskey had more to his game than Benteke. He was actually very good at playing the lone striker role and also pretty good at holding the ball up until he had support. He had a few faults, spending too much time on the floor and he always seemed to be far better on goal with no time to think, very instinctive but if he had the ball and a little bit of time he'd inevitably fluff it.

Limited yes, but a far superior player to Benteke.

Heskey rarely played that lone striker role he had someone upfront along side him, usually Michael Owen. Because of that he had someone making runs off him, so he had someone to flick the ball on to and someone to lay the ball off to or play in when he had held it up for a while. In playing that type of role you need someone making those runs and you need them to make them quickly (as you can only really hold the ball up for a limited amount of time),

With the players we have supporting Benteke at the moment I don't think that they are making those runs enough or when they do I don't think they are supporting quickly enough or getting close enough to make those plays effective, and I think that Benteke would look a much more effective player in this were to change. The problem is I don't think that this is the way we want to play and I see our style of play and Benteke as something of a mis-match

[tanner]

Heskey rarely played that lone striker role he had someone upfront along side him, usually Michael Owen. Because of that he had someone making runs off him, so he had someone to flick the ball on to and someone to lay the ball off to or play in when he had held it up for a while. In playing that type of role you need someone making those runs and you need them to make them quickly (as you can only really hold the ball up for a limited amount of time),

With the players we have supporting Benteke at the moment I don't think that they are making those runs enough or when they do I don't think they are supporting quickly enough or getting close enough to make those plays effective, and I think that Benteke would look a much more effective player in this were to change. The problem is I don't think that this is the way we want to play and I see our style of play and Benteke as something of a mis-match

I'm not saying Heskey played the lone role a lot, but he was very good at it when he did, playing the role well at international level too.

I agree with you on the other part though, he's not being supported enough at all with the current group of players, I'm not sure we have the attacking players smart enough to make those runs.

[Chazza]

Says who?

Sunday People so don't get your hopes up.

[Fosterbloke]

Sunday People so don't get your hopes up.

Ah well..

[Exiled_red]

I'm not saying Heskey played the lone role a lot, but he was very good at it when he did, playing the role well at international level too.

I agree with you on the other part though, he's not being supported enough at all with the current group of players, I'm not sure we have the attacking players smart enough to make those runs.

The problem with Heskey in the lone striker role is that he wasn't a goalscorer he was more a link up man, Benteke I feel is the opposite. Heskey had alot of players that could support him and get a decent amount of goals (Owen and Fowler as strikers, Gerrard, Murphy, Barmby, Berger etc from midfield). At the moment our only other goal threat (who is playing regularly) is Coutinho, and I don't feel that he really wants to run beyond the striker. Sturridge obviously would add to this if he could stay fit, as might Origi (but he is still unproven). IMO we need more from Coutinho, Lallana and Firmino as they should be capable of all hitting double figures which would lift the goalscoring burden off the strikers significantly

[gratziani]

Think he deserves a season with us like Henderson and Lucas will turn into a good player for us long term.

Can and Moreno had indifferent first seasons but this year look like they are going to be good first teamers for us.

[Fierce]

Think he deserves a season with us like Henderson and Lucas will turn into a good player for us long term.

Can and Moreno had indifferent first seasons but this year look like they are going to be good first teamers for us.

I don't think he's the right type of striker for us, but nobody knows that he can't be more suited given time

[baitman]

we would get more from benteke if we played two up and had origi or firmino up top with him and we also had late runners into the box, maybe coutinho, henderson and one of the full backs if they are up the pitch.
this will stretch tight defences and make sure we dont just try pinging it to the big man which is a waste with no one around him and two centre backs spooning benteke.

play the diamond.

gk
back four
lucas
hendo can
cout
benteke firm/delboy

[redmike65]

In the Echo

Jurgen Klopp dismissed suggestions Christian Benteke could leave Liverpool in January – but said it was up to the striker to play his way back into favour at Anfield.

Benteke was left out of Klopp’s starting line-up for the 3-0 defeat at Watford, emerging only as a second-half substitute, by which time the Reds were already two goals down. Divock Origi, his 20-year-old countryman, was summoned from the bench during the first half when Martin Skrtel’s injury necessitated a change.

One report on Sunday morning had suggested Benteke, who has managed five goals in 17 appearances since joining from Aston Villa for £32.5m in the summer, could be allowed to leave the club as early as next month, with Chelsea credited with an interest.

[Gray]

Would be amazing if true

[Buzzo]

He falls over alot.

It gets annoying.

[redmike65]

"You're a big man but you're in bad shape"

[Fosterbloke]

Sell Benteke, buy Sane.

[Nicey]

I like him but I think he looks a whole lot better in a front two rather than up on his own.. his quality is pretty obvious to me ... the amount of times I seen him making a run and the ball never comes ... same old story ... I do not know why we persist signing these types of players when each and every time without fail we do not play to there strengths