Christian Benteke

[BobTheCharmer]

Nothing was being stiffled at Arsenal. Henderson and milner were able to get forward at times. Milner was in the box a few times. Benteke got plenty of service.

Look at the results in the league this season. It's easier to play well away from home.

[danperkins]

Nothing was being stiffled at Arsenal. Henderson and milner were able to get forward at times. Milner was in the box a few times. Benteke got plenty of service.

Look at the results in the league this season. It's easier to play well away from home.

In the first 45 mins we got balls up to him but mostly he worked his bollox off in the channels and made things happen himself. We got balls up to him, the trouble being there is **** all around to help him when he does gets the ball or knocks it on. Coutinho is the one that we look to & is the only one trying to link with him.

Henderson & Milner are playing too deep. Both players are a hell of alot better than just work horses. And the trend in the first few games is an anomaly, the likes of Chelsea & Arsenal will kick in like they always do Bob so wouldn't read into that.

[BobTheCharmer]

I think being work horses is exactly what Henderson and milner excel at. It's their non stop running and closing down. Neither are double figures in front of goal. Given time they will learn when to drop and when to kick on. It's so early, what two games they played together? No time at all to make a judgement.

[danperkins]

Ah bob come on mate, Henderson had 6 goals and 10 assists last season.. he is much more than just a work horse. Milner 5 Goals & 8 Assists and that's with limited game time. Both are better players when they are not played so deep.

[BobTheCharmer]

Ah bob come on mate, Henderson had 6 goals and 10 assists last season.. he is much more than just a work horse. Milner 5 Goals & 8 Assists and that's with limited game time. Both are better players when they are not played so deep.

No their running and pressing ability is their main strengths. This enables them to get in positions that they can score goals. I'm not saying they should be doing all their work in our own half. I think given time both can play in a two and take it in turns to join the attack. McMahon got forward and back,scored and created. It can be done. I agree if both end up playing like Lucas its a waste of both. But stoke away and Bournemouth at home isn't evidence enough to suggest thats the case.

[danperkins]

No their running and pressing ability is their main strengths. This enables them to get in positions that they can score goals. I'm not saying they should be doing all their work in our own half. I think given time both can play in a two and take it in turns to join the attack. McMahon got forward and back,scored and created. It can be done. I agree if both end up playing like Lucas its a waste of both. But stoke away and Bournemouth at home isn't evidence enough to suggest thats the case.

I really don't think Henderson's pressing has been on show since the SAS season 13/14. I agree he has it in his locker, but it really isn't on view as much as it should. Although I do think he was exhausted covering for Gerarrd last season. Henderson has a great delivery and eye for a pass & makes surging runs into the box. You play him deep and you lose that... the evidence is there to see. 6 Goals & 10 Assists last season with a team that had no striker... that is nothing to be sniffed at.

When Milner came here he said he wanted to play more centrally. I don't know if anyone remembers Milner at Villa before City snapped him up but he got 7 Goals & 12 Assists playing at the tip behind the strikers. I would play him there vs United. He will be great for harrying the likes of Schneirdlin/Scwheinstiger/Herrera.

Vs United IMO we should line up like this. Solid and some support for Benteke.

------------------Mig--------------
------Clyne-Skrtel-Sahko-Gomez
---------------Lucas---------------
---------Can----------Hendo------
---------------Milner----------
------Firmino/Ings--Benetke-----

[DannyMan2006]

When teams drop deep it leaves little space. I thought in signing Benteke we'd have a way to combat that by getting some crosses in.

Instead we ended up with this:

Coutinho & Firmino dropping deep and rarely if ever going wide. Neither were ever anywhere near Benteke on a regular basis. We ended up with both full backs pushed forward instead of alternating as we had done very well earlier in the previous games. And our use of Gomez reminded me of when we played Villa with Aly Cissockho as our LB who forced the play down our left to someone who didn't have a clue what to do.

As our full backs were pushed up we had Lucas dropping as the third centre back initially and by the end even he'd given up but by then tbf, we were 2-0 down and down to ten men.

Really poor set up and if we copy that format we will regularly come up short against the lesser sides.

[el matador]

Anthony martial going to united for 80m euros. that makes the benteke deal look like absolute peanuts.

[BootRoom]

When teams drop deep it leaves little space. I thought in signing Benteke we'd have a way to combat that by getting some crosses in.

Instead we ended up with this:

Coutinho & Firmino dropping deep and rarely if ever going wide. Neither were ever anywhere near Benteke on a regular basis. We ended up with both full backs pushed forward instead of alternating as we had done very well earlier in the previous games. And our use of Gomez reminded me of when we played Villa with Aly Cissockho as our LB who forced the play down our left to someone who didn't have a clue what to do.

As our full backs were pushed up we had Lucas dropping as the third centre back initially and by the end even he'd given up but by then tbf, we were 2-0 down and down to ten men.

Really poor set up and if we copy that format we will regularly come up short against the lesser sides.

When we do cross it, Benteke is usually in the box on his own, or with at most one other team mate around the edge of the box. We've got no threat at all.

[Chris]

Kristof Terreur @HLNinEngeland 41m41 minutes ago
Christian Benteke won't train today with the Belgium national squad. He's undergoing a scan on his thigh injury. #LFC

[Norbs]

Ingsy and Derek up front together

[Exiled_red]

Kristof Terreur @HLNinEngeland 41m41 minutes ago
Christian Benteke won't train today with the Belgium national squad. He's undergoing a scan on his thigh injury. #LFC

FFS that's all we would need

[Cormack74]

FFS that's all we would need

No it's good (so long as it's only minor obviously), it gives him a nice rest before the Utd game and means he won't get injured on International duty.

[Fosterbloke]

If he does miss Utd then it should be Ings and Firmino.

[Chazza]

Let's hope the injury is fully cleared up as he is starting for Belgium.