Benteke vs Exeter

[LeTallecWiz]

He got into some good positions.
He had a few lovely passes (the pass to Smith to set up Allen, the assist for Tex)
He had some good runs (The run to set up Tex, the run where he missed the goal)

However, he missed two fairly good chances (the header early on, and the last minute attempt) and as Owen went on continuously, he has a terrible habit of pulling back to the penalty spot instead of getting into the 6 yard box when crosses come in.

It's infuriating to watch - it seems like his game intelligence is very low. Is this how he was at Villa? That all the crosses/passes were cut backs to the penalty spot?

I can see why Klopp won't play him in the league ... Can this issue be fixed through coaching?

 

[dmishra]

Benteke is the classic mid-table goal getter - like Kevin Phillips, Darrent Bent and Yakubu.

All had some very good attributes, and were very good goalscorers, but were limited in overall ability. Which is why they never played for top clubs. Phillips was an excellent goal hanger, and scrapper - brilliant in the box, but needed a big man like Quinn next to him to flourish. Bent had pace, and was excellent at playing of the defence's shoulder, and Yakubu was excellent at using his pace and strength to outmuscle defenders and create chances.

Benteke is similar - he has a defined skillset - he's very good at (1) attacking aerial crosses, and (2) at creating space just at the edge of the box, and unleashing that powerful shot.

A large proportion of his goals are scored through use of that skillset, and while he's being coached differently here, he often reverts to his 'comfort zone' so to speak and waits for opportunities to use the skillset that's served him so well so far in his career.

Except playing in a top quality attack is quite another thing - you need to make runs just to create space for your teammates, you need to be in the box as much as possible (Benteke avoids this because he's much better about 12-18 feet away from the box as he prefers to have a little space to shoot), and most importantly, you need to be good with your back to the goal.

The last one for me is the defining feature of a top quality attacker. Torres could spin and move forward with pace with his back to goal, Owen also had that, and Suarez was absolutely brilliant. He could turn the attacker, he could lay it off perfectly, and he could drag it in to draw a foul from the defender. An absolute nightmare to defend. Benteke is severely limited with his back to goal - he doesn't have the technique to either lay it off laterally or draw a foul, he's not quick enough to turn and make a forward run. All he can do is play it back with a heavy-ish touch. There's no amount of coaching that will ever change that.

He'll always be a double figure scorer in this league - I have no doubt about that. The things he's good at will ensure that. For that reason, he'll always have good value. Now it's up to us whether we want to keep him as a valuable squad striker, or sell him for about 20 million. Either is ok with me to be honest.

But it's clear we can't build an attack around him.

 

[davud graham]

He's everything most people thought he would be when we signed him. Good at certain things but not suited to Rodgers style of play and almost certainly not Klopps style of play. Unless he adapts to the way Klopp needs his centre forward to play i don't think he'll keep him for long. As dmishra says he needs to be able to play with his back to goal and help his teammates out with his movement and unselfish running whilst also being a threat running in behind defences. He hasn't shown any of these attributes so far.
Typical LFC signing of the last 20 years really, buy someone that does well against us but isn't suited to playing for us.

 

[Skullflower]

Benteke is the classic mid-table goal getter - like Kevin Phillips, Darrent Bent and Yakubu.

All had some very good attributes, and were very good goalscorers, but were limited in overall ability. Which is why they never played for top clubs. Phillips was an excellent goal hanger, and scrapper - brilliant in the box, but needed a big man like Quinn next to him to flourish. Bent had pace, and was excellent at playing of the defence's shoulder, and Yakubu was excellent at using his pace and strength to outmuscle defenders and create chances.

Benteke is similar - he has a defined skillset - he's very good at (1) attacking aerial crosses, and (2) at creating space just at the edge of the box, and unleashing that powerful shot.

A large proportion of his goals are scored through use of that skillset, and while he's being coached differently here, he often reverts to his 'comfort zone' so to speak and waits for opportunities to use the skillset that's served him so well so far in his career.

Except playing in a top quality attack is quite another thing - you need to make runs just to create space for your teammates, you need to be in the box as much as possible (Benteke avoids this because he's much better about 12-18 feet away from the box as he prefers to have a little space to shoot), and most importantly, you need to be good with your back to the goal.

The last one for me is the defining feature of a top quality attacker. Torres could spin and move forward with pace with his back to goal, Owen also had that, and Suarez was absolutely brilliant. He could turn the attacker, he could lay it off perfectly, and he could drag it in to draw a foul from the defender. An absolute nightmare to defend. Benteke is severely limited with his back to goal - he doesn't have the technique to either lay it off laterally or draw a foul, he's not quick enough to turn and make a forward run. All he can do is play it back with a heavy-ish touch. There's no amount of coaching that will ever change that.

He'll always be a double figure scorer in this league - I have no doubt about that. The things he's good at will ensure that. For that reason, he'll always have good value. Now it's up to us whether we want to keep him as a valuable squad striker, or sell him for about 20 million. Either is ok with me to be honest.

But it's clear we can't build an attack around him.

yep

 

[KopRed]

He got into some good positions.
He had a few lovely passes (the pass to Smith to set up Allen, the assist for Tex)
He had some good runs (The run to set up Tex, the run where he missed the goal)

However, he missed two fairly good chances (the header early on, and the last minute attempt) and as Owen went on continuously, he has a terrible habit of pulling back to the penalty spot instead of getting into the 6 yard box when crosses come in.

It's infuriating to watch - it seems like his game intelligence is very low. Is this how he was at Villa? That all the crosses/passes were cut backs to the penalty spot?

I can see why Klopp won't play him in the league ... Can this issue be fixed through coaching?

RE. the pullback I would think he isn't confident of his strength (or just doesn't fancy a physical battle). He is looking for that few yards to make a run so he can plant more power to his headers. However none of our players can consistently play those inswinging crosses and it makes him look like a lazy fool for taking up those positions.

 

[manwithnoname]

He's very short of confidence, but he was involved in two of our goals, worked hard, and also made three good defensive clearances. plus one marvellous shot that was well saved. The one on one was - again - embarrassing, but he will score goals if he gets games, and should start against Norwich, because he's more likely to score a goal than anyone else in the squad.

 

[keniget]

It was a really strange performance.

He looked like an adult who'd just joined a kids game. He was in full on take the piss mode for much of the game (which highlighted the gulf between the Premiership and League 2 more than anything) but when it came down to it really, there was a real lack of confidence and quality.

It was interesting to hear Owen's take on it. That sentence alone is pause for thought. I don't think I've ever heard Owen that animated before - he clearly thinks the guy is useless.

 

[hmmmmm1]

He 5 chances to score and messed them all up.

His confidence must be shot to pieces if he struggles to finish against Exeter.

 

[nealmac]

He also put a free kick straight into the wall.

 

[superchimp]

Benteke has ZERO natural confidence.

Thats pretty shit for a striker who you want as the focal point of the attack!

 

[tony]

Surely as the main striker you go into a game at home against a league 2 side with the intention of battering the minnows and bagging a sackload of goal bonuses. Not sure why he should lack confidence in this sort of game, he's just not very good.

 

[Judge Jules]

Confidence isn't something one can summon up at will, and I don't agree that "he's just not very good" - there have been times in his career (not least playing against us) when he's looked an absolute beast. Whether he'll make it at LFC, though, is another matter altogether.

 

[Raz]

He's fucking shite.... Period.

 

[tony]

Confidence isn't something one can summon up at will, and I don't agree that "he's just not very good" - there have been times in his career (not least playing against us) when he's looked an absolute beast. Whether he'll make it at LFC, though, is another matter altogether.

Well we'll have to agree to disagree ! If you cannot go into a game like last nights expecting to score there must be something wrong. I don't think he will ever succeed with us. I won't miss the regular offsides when he does go either, for a 25 year old experienced international you would assume he would be more aware

 

[nealmac]

the regular offsides

This. Fucking, this. I'm fed up of it. I've never seen seen a striker get caught offside so much. It's like watching a kids under 12 team who have only implemented the offside rule and haven't a clue how to work it.

 

[Mersey86]

Confidence isn't something one can summon up at will, and I don't agree that "he's just not very good" - there have been times in his career (not least playing against us) when he's looked an absolute beast. Whether he'll make it at LFC, though, is another matter altogether.

Yes - he's an excellent player going through a rough patch. Playing style, different expectations, media focus on his problems - its having a spiraling effect. Klopp has tried to take some of the pressure off. We are lucky to have a manager who wants to work with what he's got, see what can be salvaged, then move on if necessary.

 

[rurikbird]

This. Fucking, this. I'm fed up of it. I've never seen seen a striker get caught offside so much. It's like watching a kids under 12 team who have only implemented the offside rule and haven't a clue how to work it.

I guess you missed the whole Djibril Cisse era.

 

[nealmac]

I guess you missed the whole Djibril Cisse era.

i honestly dont remember cisse being that bad

 

[darkstarexodus]

I guess you missed the whole Djibril Cisse era.

Was going to post exactly this. Holy shit - have never seen anyone with such a horrible understanding of the rule and/or inability to time runs.

 

[KopRed]

i honestly dont remember cisse being that bad

Me either. Offside aside, Cisse wasn't half bad. He wasn't the polific scorer we thought we were getting but he chipped in with some goals and had decent performances while playing on the right.

Baros, Cisse and Heskey had gotten some stick here from time to time which i felt was unfair. They have give us some very good performances. We will be laughing if Benteke could equal some of their better performances consistently.

 

[Shadey]

He's not suited for klopps set up so sell him. Owen slated him on BT sport

 

[Judge Jules]

Owen's a to$$er and one of the worst pundits I've ever seen. I've got my own doubts about Benteke fitting in but I wouldn't take Owen's word for it that 2+2=4.

 

[Glen C]

He's not suited for klopps set up so sell him. Owen slated him on BT sport

Owen didn't hold back on slating him at all. He kept on saying all the things he was doing wrong and to be honest it was hard to disagree as most points were spot on.

 

[localny]

Was going to post exactly this. Holy shit - have never seen anyone with such a horrible understanding of the rule and/or inability to time runs.

Sidebar: I remember we signed Cisse, and they signed Drogba. For the first month or two, it looked like we had got the better player. We were all so sure when we signed he was the better deal. Jaysis that was wrong

 

[localny]

Owen's a to$$er and one of the worst pundits I've ever seen. I've got my own doubts about Benteke fitting in but I wouldn't take Owen's word for it that 2+2=4.

Yes, and he's definitely flawed but he's got enough going for him to be still here. He's already justified it, and every striker misses sitters. Comes with the territory (whistles in air).

 

[Judge Jules]

Agree. As said I do have doubts, but if Klopp hasn't yet decided the game's up with Benteke I'm certainly not going to imagine I know better.

 

[localny]

Agree. As said I do have doubts, but if Klopp hasn't yet decided the game's up with Benteke I'm certainly not going to imagine I know better.

JJ = Humblest Internet Warrior there is.

 

[localny]

PS: Has anyone suggested "Bren-teke" yet? For when things finally go South in 5 years.

 

[Shadey]

Owen didn't hold back on slating him at all. He kept on saying all the things he was doing wrong and to be honest it was hard to disagree as most points were spot on.

Yep and he didn't like the way he edged out of the penalty area when team where attacking which I noticed.

 

[Silver Sean]

He's dumb a bag of spanners. Always has been.