Christian Benteke

[The_weatherman]

I have liked reading the views on Benteke last couple of pages , been some polarised views which explain the reasoning on both sides.

Thing is if he didn't come on against Leicester we only get a draw, I know we keep going on about the money but that does not mean a thing to me.

Last year we had Ballo , Borini and Lambert coming off the bench who did not contribute a thing to the team.

I really don't mind having Benteke as 2nd or 3rd choice.

We have 20 plus million players as subs in all positions now .

If Benteke settles for that I guess it's good to have options of that caliber. If Origi wouldn't have got injured we might have scored though so I wouldn't assume too much but I do get what you mean. As it is he's our only fit striker so he'll get his chance now and hopefully make a fool out of me.

[BigChief]

Except Benteke is not 2nd or 3rd choice. When all fit Sturridge is obviously number 1 then Ings at number 2 and Origi number 3 based on the way Klopp likes to play. Benteke is our 20m+ 4th choice striker.

Don't have a problem with that except we're not a regular CL team yet.

[Slinky Skills]

The movement I agree with and this is something that has been brought up as an issue by JK, as I've said I'm not convinced he's the right type of player for us and this is one of the issues he needs to seriously work on.

How many clear chances has been created by us this season, not a huge number also looking at the low number of converted chances we've taken we've scored a pretty low number of goals this gives the impression that this also needs to be worked upon.

As Corndog has highlighted how many of these passes were down to them being headers rather than passes with his feet ? I agree his passing needs to be better if basing it on a % of completed but you also need to consider how he's receiving the ball.

You giving context as you say to the stats doesn't mean you've not been selective all you've done is try to justify what you've pulled out from your own perspective, Its not objective.

Again at the momemt we're a team struggling for goals he's a 1:3 striker now whether he's good enough for us long term is open to debate however he is the most likely scorer for us at present

Put much better than I ever could.

Matt - not having a dig but it seems you have this thing about players not being able to make the step up and with Benteke you're consistently going on about him not being able to pass.

So long as he's getting goals that is the most important thing here and as Rich has mentioned he's a 1 in 3 striker. I do agree he needs to work harder but if he's not been a passer of the ball in the past then he's highly likely not going to change this aspect of his game.

I do feel he needs more support from us as fans, he does have the potential to be a really good goalscorer for us and he's not been able to show that fully due to injuries, his confidence is also low at the moment which is perhaps hindering his game.

[Cormack74]

The majority of Bentekes misplaced passes are from his head. That would suggest to me that the balls played in to him are different to the balls played in to our other forwards. This is also what you can see generally in the games he has played in so far.

Its also clearly much harder to make a headed pass than one with the feet.

I haven't made my mind up about Benteke yet mostly because we're only half way through his first season with us so it seems rather early (cough Lovren cough) but this is a valid point.

[Mattshark]

The movement I agree with and this is something that has been brought up as an issue by JK, as I've said I'm not convinced he's the right type of player for us and this is one of the issues he needs to seriously work on.

How many clear chances has been created by us this season, not a huge number also looking at the low number of converted chances we've taken we've scored a pretty low number of goals this gives the impression that this also needs to be worked upon.

As Corndog has highlighted how many of these passes were down to them being headers rather than passes with his feet ? I agree his passing needs to be better if basing it on a % of completed but you also need to consider how he's receiving the ball.

You giving context as you say to the stats doesn't mean you've not been selective all you've done is try to justify what you've pulled out from your own perspective, Its not objective.

Again at the momemt we're a team struggling for goals he's a 1:3 striker now whether he's good enough for us long term is open to debate however he is the most likely scorer for us at present

Opinions aren't objective, I never claimed it was objective.

Personally I don't think the goals are enough, I think he is a really poor player bought by a manager who's player judgement was still what would be good for a team with Swansea's ambitions but with a ridiculous budget.

I see the same problems he had at Villa, the difference being it didn't stand out so much in such an awful Villa side.

To me he is the type of signing that has held us back so many times before.

[RichC]

Exactly however you're using stats as a basis for that opinion but using them
selectively. Therefore all you've really given is an opinion based on the stats you've decided to use

[redmike65]

No one needs stats to show whether a player fits or not.

Benteke could score 30 goals and win the title but he still wouldn't actually be comfortable in the Liverpool set up. Now obviously if he did you'd probably overlook the lack of cohesion between him and the rest but he isn't going to score 30 or anything like it so we won't overlook it.

[dizzycat]

He'll be judged on how many goals he scores, if he's banging them in frequently enough the expectations for offering more to the team play would be lower. I'd be giving him video's of Drogba to watch, he knew how to create chaos in defences.

[Corndog]

No one needs stats to show whether a player fits or not.

Benteke could score 30 goals and win the title but he still wouldn't actually be comfortable in the Liverpool set up. Now obviously if he did you'd probably overlook the lack of cohesion between him and the rest but he isn't going to score 30 or anything like it so we won't overlook it.

I think he can adapt, no idea whether he will. he just has to make better runs and he will find himself in positions where he can score easily, because his shot is usually decent.

This is something that can be learnt by any player imo. I look at Harry Kane and see no reason why Benteke can't be similar/better if he sorts out his movement. Would I take Kane as a no.1 striker, no not at a CL club but as a no.2 or no.3 yes I would.

[poorscousertommy]

I think he can adapt, no idea whether he will. he just has to make better runs and he will find himself in positions where he can score easily, because his shot is usually decent.

This is something that can be learnt by any player imo. I look at Harry Kane and see no reason why Benteke can't be similar/better if he sorts out his movement. Would I take Kane as a no.1 striker, no not at a CL club but as a no.2 or no.3 yes I would.

You wouldn't take Harry Kane?!

The lads banging them in again.

Not great for assists mind but noone talks about assists once your career as a striker is over.

[Corndog]

You wouldn't take Harry Kane?!

The lads banging them in again.

Not great for assists mind but noone talks about assists once your career as a striker is over.

I would rather a more complete striker with more flair and pace but I was really trying to make the point that people are saying Benteke will never fit here, yet look at how Kane fits at Spurs and nobody is complaining about his limitations in terms of playing style because like you say, he's banging them in.

As a striker to give you something slightly different I'd take Kane. Benteke can be that for LFC imo.

[Exiled_red]

Needs to work on his play when through on goal, should have had another 2 goals in his last 2 games

[Leyton388]

Did the job tonight but that one on one miss was poor.

[G]

Those two gilt edged chances are why he's not top drawer but he's won us 6 points so who can complain.

Loads can in the match threads

[Cormack74]

Two games, two goals. If he can forget the misses his confidence may grow (*prays*).