Meanwhile the rest of the team links up and doesn't score.
Ease Off On Benteke
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Meanwhile the rest of the team links up and doesn't score.
Very true..
I just can't be bothered to debate this.
Ok maybe a little. It bothers me that when we do put a good ball into the box, he's either:
A) not in the box
B) moving away from the ball - like he's expecting a flick on or a knock down
C) not attacking the ball
This is supposed to be one of the real strengths in his game, along with his hold up play - which I think is good. In fact someone said that no one from midfield runs past him. I'd agree, but with Milner, Lucas and Henderson as the regular trio, this is not going to happen.
When we try to play to his strengths he just doesn't look confident enough. When we don't he looks lost. Confidence is necessity in a striker. So whilst I didn't want him, I'm willing to accept that this is not all his fault and he's become an easy target - and I admit I'm one of those people.
I just can't see it working out. But at the moment what choice do we have with Ings, Sturridge and Origi all injured.
Ok maybe a little. It bothers me that when we do put a good ball into the box, he's either:
A) not in the box
B) moving away from the ball - like he's expecting a flick on or a knock down
C) not attacking the ball
This is supposed to be one of the real strengths in his game, along with his hold up play - which I think is good. In fact someone said that no one from midfield runs past him. I'd agree, but with Milner, Lucas and Henderson as the regular trio, this is not going to happen.
When we try to play to his strengths he just doesn't look confident enough. When we don't he looks lost. Confidence is necessity in a striker. So whilst I didn't want him, I'm willing to accept that this is not all his fault and he's become an easy target - and I admit I'm one of those people.
I just can't see it working out. But at the moment what choice do we have with Ings, Sturridge and Origi all injured.
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D) standing behind two or three defenders looking aggrieved that they won't let him win the ball. Usually at the wrong post too.
D) standing behind two or three defenders looking aggrieved that they won't let him win the ball. Usually at the wrong post too.
But he wins loads of headers when defending corners....
We do need a good centre back...
I wouldn't play him. I'd play Ojo simply cos he's got pace. Benteke destroys our play when he's on the pitch & offers nothing in return.
I wouldn't play him. I'd play Ojo simply cos he's got pace. Benteke destroys our play when he's on the pitch & offers nothing in return.
On a sidenote, as much as Ojo has pace he strikes me as a innately languid player lacking the natural inclination to work too hard.
He came on a sub the other night vs West Ham and, one tracking back run aside, mooched around mostly in his own half without breaking sweat.
When Origi is back he'll be given a few weeks run.
He came on a sub the other night vs West Ham and, one tracking back run aside, mooched around mostly in his own half without breaking sweat.
When Origi is back he'll be given a few weeks run.
Benteke is devoid of confidence right now. He's dropping deep to pick up the ball in easy safe positions, plus he wants to get on the ball. It's prob as frustrating for him as it is for us. Christ, it wasn't long ago that he was scoring winners for us. Hopefully he regains his confidence and we go on some decent cup runs. Best we can hope for now.
The difference is, Giroud is actually quite good at being a pivot, playing with his back to the goal and bringing teammates into play, playing one-touch football... Benteke has a huge powerful frame, but doesn't use it all that well to shield the ball. Sometimes he can do nice flicks or short passes, but not with enough consistency to build plays around.
That's why @dmishra and several others, including me, were saying right after this signing was announced that the only way it's going to work is if he's a 2nd striker who focuses purely on goal-scoring, instead of being a "pivot" for which he's just not suitable. This could still work, in theory, but we need to get the 1st striker fit and firing and that's been the problem for the whole season.
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I highly doubt it, it probably would of broke the system, in the same sense that Suarez/ Carroll never really worked..
He is a completely different type of player..
Benteke is the type of player that relies in others contributions to score..
Whilst those 3 you mentioned can create something from nothing..
Benteke scores goals given the chance.
The rest of our team don't give him the chance.
Hence he looks shit.
We ignore the other wankers because it's easier to find a scapegoat.
There's no mystery.
The rest of our team don't give him the chance.
Hence he looks shit.
We ignore the other wankers because it's easier to find a scapegoat.
There's no mystery.
That's BS Jexy and you know it. You only have to watch him play, poor control and passing, lacking in technical skills and an awful lack of movement. Yes, he's capable of amazing goals but overall he doesn't do anywhere near enough on or off the ball. Also I'm very surprised that he has no 6yd goal poaching sense at all. Give me Ings all day every day - and this coming from someone who was pleased we bought him. Big mistake on my part, a multitude of times bigger on Rodgers' part.
Suarez was boss with Huntelaar who is a tall striker who doesn't really create much himself.
Yes he can score goals, but he looks far too a static for me, especially for a side that plays a pressing game..
It is true though his supply line is equally to blame, though he hasn't looked anywhere near what he should be when he does have the ball..
Like I said his game thrives on what others can contribute to his game, he is not the type of player that will turn a game round on his own..
In a poor Dutch league..
That being said Huntelaar scored goals for fun, classic poacher, in the right place at the right time, I'm not so sure Benteke is that type of player..
I'm not saying Benteke = Giroud or anyone else. The point is that other teams full of floaty attacking midfielders find a way to play with different types of strikers, something we seem pretty incapable of doing.
I didn't want us to sign Benteke as it just seemed like another bad idea but remember making a similar point before we signed him.
The point was that we need to tear down this idea that we can only play with a striker who has pace, skill, finishing and great movement - in short, someone world class. If only we had a player like that, we'd be so much better... well, yeah, who the fuck wouldn't be?
There is of course an issue of quality to varying degrees with the supporting cast and the strikers but we shouldn't be this bad and it needs to be addressed one way or another.
Even when he's presented with chances half the time he's missed them. He scored a couple of goals over Christmas that won the games for us but he was still hopeless in them games even managing to miss an open goal against Leicester. His confidence shouldn't have been down then as he'd already scored in the game.
I have little sympathy for so called confidence players. Players that need a hug or the manager telling them they're great rarely win a great deal.
I want him to do well but i think it's unlikely as it's clear that Klopp hasn't much belief/faith in him or he wouldn't be playing the cup games with the kids. Klopp plays Firmino ahead of him as he has better link up play with our other tippy tappy players and plays Origi as he has a better work rate and looks to get in behind defences. Benteke doesn't offer enough at this moment to keep his place in the team.
It's hard to see anything other than a summer exit for the lad unless he manages to turn it around and find some goals and some form. I hope he does as it will save us offloading him and cost us a fortune.
I have little sympathy for so called confidence players. Players that need a hug or the manager telling them they're great rarely win a great deal.
I want him to do well but i think it's unlikely as it's clear that Klopp hasn't much belief/faith in him or he wouldn't be playing the cup games with the kids. Klopp plays Firmino ahead of him as he has better link up play with our other tippy tappy players and plays Origi as he has a better work rate and looks to get in behind defences. Benteke doesn't offer enough at this moment to keep his place in the team.
It's hard to see anything other than a summer exit for the lad unless he manages to turn it around and find some goals and some form. I hope he does as it will save us offloading him and cost us a fortune.
It's odd though, Benteke CAN create something from nothing. He did at Villa. He often picked the ball up, went past a few defenders and buried his shot. He scored goals of all nature. He has already scored bicycle kicks, volleys, headers and tap ins for us so far.
It's all just very frustrating.
Giroud has a beautiful touch in fairness and can join in with Arsenal's one touch passing when needed.
Someone earlier in the thread commented that it's not him being lazy so much has having no clue where to go and I think there is something in that.
He's playing in a new style and while it doesn't mean he can't adapt to it, right now he just doesnt have a Scooby at all and - caught between two minds - ends up standing still doing fuck all.
Does my head in but I've come away from the notion that he is lazy.
The quality of some of the goals he's scored, as you note, demonstrates the talent he has.
Carroll and Suarez as a partnership didn't fail, Carroll failed as a signing but they barely played as a partnership. Benteke, as you said, relies on others to contribute, to do the donkey work, he thrives on jumping on chances, so he would have capitalised on their movement and creativity. Quit with this braindead stereotyping him as another Andy Carroll.
He's more of Heskey tbf, has the ability but a confidence Player, without the pace... No stereo typing him as another Carroll from me.. Im just saying it like most others see it..
Benteke isn't anything like Heskey.
On his game you are probably right, but on current form he is every little bit like him
When Heskey was at his very best he was superb. Sadly, we only saw that for one season.
The treble season? Agreed.
He's key was an enigma, he had all the attributes of a striker in footballing terms. Pace, power and ability. But he lacked confidence, bar that good season and the odd game. That hat trick at Derby was what he could achieve.
Collymore the same. All the attributes to frighten the opposition witless with Fowler as the perfect foil. But is inconsistency is his legend.
Benteke reminds me of both in terms of the negative side of them. I know it's early days and he's been in and out of the team, but these days you do just don't get the luxury of time afforded to settle in. People want results immediately.
There's no patience in the game anymore,.
Collymore was a more obviously gifted player. He was, at his best, sublime. So frustrating really. Both of them. I was at the Derby game and Heskey was unplayable. And I was also there for Collymore's Anfield debut, when he casually swatted in a 25 yard side footed winner against....erm...Sheffield Wed maybe?
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