Christian Benteke

[Paul12]

We're not a really well managed club in terms of planning in the transfer market. Bar Suarez and Torres and a few others under Rafa, we've been a shambles.

This is what I find most annoying. Either we build a versatile squad but adjust our style of play depending on who plays or we buy to a style - and don't keep chop and changing our style.

Personally I don't think a high-intensity game is sustainable every minute of every game all season. I think a team that inspires to win things has to be able to break down well-organised defences. And I think that means strikers that are able to do more than "get on the end of crosses" and midfielders capable of scoring so many goals that opposition's will be drawn out towards them/distracted by them.

[Irishnev]

I sort of agree, there doesn't appear to have been any sort of coherent plan of how we will play and the type of players we need for that to happen and not just the starters but throughout the squad

History tells us that Klopp has a coherant plan in terms of how his teams play and I think he will buy to suit his formation.

Kenny tried to go back to the little and large (AC and LS) with good set pieces (CA) and delivery from out wide (JH and SD) - the problem was that most of those players were useless so although he had a plan it just wasn't a good one.

Rodgers, well we know that one. He started every season with a 4-3-3 binned it after one bad result and never bought players to suit it. In the end it was a mixed of good players who could never suit a formation to play them all together! He bought 'technicions' who nad no stomach for the fight or pace and the mad thing is the diamond we played was never replicated, after Suarez left he should have bought as close as possible a player like him and then built around that.

[lickedlollipop]

He won't go in Jan, too risky with current injuries, crazy as that statement sounds. He'll be nudged out of the door in summer when Klopp's had a word with a few friendly Germans who fancy mixing it up with him in the Premier League. Certainly need more steel, more grit and determination, strong leaders in the spine of the team - and Benteke as captain last night showed he doesn't have that either.

He may be back to Villa at the end of the season (it's mad to expect that he will leave in Jan, although Villa indeed needs new striker), or he will stay for next two seasons just because LFC (over)paid him that much..

+

I can't believe he's that bad.. he was a monster for Villa.

[Shaggy]

Heskey was a lot better than Benteke.

[danperkins]

I would like to see Benteke up top in a two with Sturridge but that's probably never going to happen. Sturridge always injured & sure Klopp likes 1 up top. He is better than he is showings, no doubts... the chap look shot of confidence but sure that's no good to us. Let's see how he gets on for the rest of the season and if he can change his game to suit what Klopp wants.

Anyways we need alot better from him that's for sure.

[Mattshark]

He may be back to Villa at the end of the season (it's mad to expect that he will leave in Jan, although Villa indeed needs new striker), or he will stay for next two seasons just because LFC (over)paid him that much..

+

I can't believe he's that bad.. he was a monster for Villa.

He scored well for villa. He was never a good footballer.

[danperkins]

More of an effective goalscorer than a "good footballer". Whatever wat you think of him, he is better than he is showing. The Heskey comparisons are interesting, both huge guys but both fairly soft. If both had of had a nasty streak, they could have been much more effective players IMO.

[Irishnev]

He may be back to Villa at the end of the season (it's mad to expect that he will leave in Jan, although Villa indeed needs new striker), or he will stay for next two seasons just because LFC (over)paid him that much..

+

I can't believe he's that bad.. he was a monster for Villa.

Outside of highlights + games vs us how much would any of of us have seen of Benteke? The only other time I watched him in a full game was the cup final and he was ****. Our defence under Rodgers made any remotely physical forward look like a beast so I think we are influenced by that. I also thought he't at a minimum bring a real presence up front but it looks like he doesn't give a ****. I genuinely think he was scouted based on how he did vs us ala Bogdan.

Heskey looked timid whereas Benteke looks like Balotelli in terms of mouthing off when the ball isn't on a plate for him. He is also always dropping way to deep, who needs him involved in the build up play when his touch is so poor, he should get on the full back and attack anything in that zone yet he doesn't. Mightn't be the brighest either then!

[G]

He's a very streaky striker, total confidence man. He might have kicked on and got some confidence for us after those two goals recently except that each one was followed by him missing an absolute sitter.

He's lack of movement and work rate are the main concerns for me cos he can clearly score goals. He's playing for his future but hasn't seem to have noticed this. He was absolutely shocking last night. Completely disinterested.

[Exiled_red]

He may be back to Villa at the end of the season (it's mad to expect that he will leave in Jan, although Villa indeed needs new striker), or he will stay for next two seasons just because LFC (over)paid him that much..

+

I can't believe he's that bad.. he was a monster for Villa.

Villa will be relegated at the end of the season so there's no way he's going back there.

Can we even sell him in January if we wanted to? Wouldn't the 3 clubs in a year rule be a problem?

[Mattshark]

Villa will be relegated at the end of the season so there's no way he's going back there.

Can we even sell him in January if we wanted to? Wouldn't the 3 clubs in a year rule be a problem?

We can, it is by year not by season.

[gratziani]

We are gonna do another Andy Carroll and sell him for 18 odd million aren't we.

I was quite happy with us signing him after what we had last season but he does not have the arrogance or belief to be a striker for us getting bossed around by **** defender week after week.

[Mattshark]

More of an effective goalscorer than a "good footballer". Whatever wat you think of him, he is better than he is showing. The Heskey comparisons are interesting, both huge guys but both fairly soft. If both had of had a nasty streak, they could have been much more effective players IMO.

Is he? What he did was enough to look good in a terrible Villa side, his play hasn't changed for us. All his issues are the same as his issues at Villa, they just stand out more here.

[baitman]

Heskey was a lot better than Benteke.

heskey only looked good as a partner for owen. on his own he would have been ****e for sure. benters needs someone to play along side him. we dont get anyone up along side him, he is often isolated.

[Mattshark]

heskey only looked good as a partner for owen. on his own he would have been ****e for sure. benters needs someone to play along side him. we dont get anyone up along side him, he is often isolated.

That won't make him less ****.

He played alone up front for Villa too. So makes you think having a partner will make him better at the fundamental basics of football? Not that isolated arguments has much weight anyway since he has rarely been isolated.