Christian Benteke

[Rich]

[Belgian Mastiff]

[Scratch]

Firmino did more snapping at the opposition in 15 minutes that's all I'll say.

It's easy to snap and harry for 15 minutes, but there would be no point in Benteke chasing and harrying a defender when he was up front, unsupported. He'd be passed into the ground by a half decent defence. He closed when he had to, he made the right movement off the ball and was a strong presence when receiving the ball to feet. But he was not static.

[redmike65]

As you can tell I'm not a fan, I'd never have bought a Benteke type for Liverpool so he will have to win me over. Right now I see little to enthuse me.

[danperkins]

Give him 4 or 5 games to get into his stride, he was so isolated vs Stoke that playing that lone role when he is clearly not match sharp... is a tough ask. But more to the point, the guy needs service. Not much he can do if nothing is coming up to him, the few that did were 70 yard long balls from Mig. If we can find a formation and stick to it, get our best team and everyone fit and firing... that is when i'll judge Benteke.

[SB]

As you can tell I'm not a fan, I'd never have bought a Benteke type for Liverpool so he will have to win me over. Right now I see little to enthuse me.

i bet that's high on his bucket list. Probably on top for that matter.

[RedReet]

How many touches in their half?

Its fairly easy to pick stats that make players look bad. But that one doesnt tell the whole story.

What if those 5 touches were shots? Its fairly clear that he isnt a Suarez type workrate player. So judging him to that criteria is always going to make him look bad.

5 is actually quite high, I think the average is closer to 3 surprisingly enough (although I couldn't find anything concrete to support this).

In 12/13 when VanPersie was top scorer, he had the second highest amount of touches in the box and he averaged 5.8 over the season. Suarez was top with 11.

[Fierce]

Well I saw the whole game and too often he was stood rather impassively between the opposing central defenders rather than closing down, harassing and generally making himself a "presence". Too often they could pass it about without worry, whereas Suarez would have been on their case start to finish.

MOTD can pick and chose and they decided to make Benteke look better than was the case by highlighting good bits and none of the bad.

Whereabouts in the ground were you sat?

[Assassin]

Whereabouts in the ground were you sat?

On his lardyarse

[Boogs]

Give him 4 or 5 games to get into his stride, he was so isolated vs Stoke that playing that lone role when he is clearly not match sharp... is a tough ask. But more to the point, the guy needs service. Not much he can do if nothing is coming up to him, the few that did were 70 yard long balls from Mig. If we can find a formation and stick to it, get our best team and everyone fit and firing... that is when i'll judge Benteke.

Four or five games

When I started the job I'm in I'm glad I was given more than 4 or 5 days to become an effective part of the team I'm now involved in.

Players adapt quicker than others to the new environments and also able to adapt to different tactics faster because they are more intelligent.

No one has any patients or give players time to gel anymore.

[danperkins]

Four or five games

When I started the job I'm in I'm glad I was given more than 4 or 5 days to become an effective part of the team I'm now involved in.

Players adapt quicker than others to the new environments and also able to adapt to different tactics faster because they are more intelligent.

No one has any patients or give players time to gel anymore.

He hasn't had a pre season. Surely 4 or 5 games isn't too much to ask?

[Boogs]

He hasn't had a pre season. Surely 4 or 5 games isn't too much to ask?

WTF?

It's **** all time for the poor sod to adjust. Don't you agree that players should get a season under their belt before anyone is able to draw conclusions on how good they are to be for a team??

[danperkins]

WTF?

It's **** all time for the poor sod to adjust. Don't you agree that players should get a season under their belt before anyone is able to draw conclusions on how good they are to be for a team??

Ahhhhhhhhh I thought you were going the other way

I wasn't saying judge him after 4 or 5 games, just give him that to get up to speed. And no when you pay £32.5 million for a ready made striker, **** getting a season under their belt. He'll get some time to get match fitness/sharpness in & then he will be fully expected to contribute in a big way this season.

[Boogs]

I disagree. When you have so many new players it takes times for people to find their feet. Unless it's Lovren of course

[Norbs]

Hey soft lads, you're both agreeing that he can't be judged too early

[Alex]

Where has his idea that he hasn't had a preseason? What was he doing with Villa before he signed with us? He's been at the club for about 4 weeks now?