Benteke is slow, he's probably not as slow as Lambert, but he's not a mobile striker. And Rickie Lambert is so much more technical and better with his feet than Benteke its honestly not even worth having a conversation about. Benteke is a big, back to the goal striker that requires service to score his goals. Unless we're going to change to a system where our fullbacks just bomb on and play crosses into the box non-stop, the guy isn't going to succeed at Liverpool. 60% of Benteke's goals have come from his head.
This article does a good job of summing up my feelings on Benteke: How does he plan on using Benteke? If he uses one striker then where do Ings, Origi and Sturridge fit into that? If it's two up front then what role do Coutinho, Lallana and the plethora of other attacking midfielders have? Benteke needs service from out wide, which Liverpool cannot offer with their current style or personnel. Liverpool cross the ball less than every other team in the Premier League. They also attempt more through balls than anybody else, which makes the targeting of Benteke puzzling. He could still be a useful asset, as he has more to his game than just getting on the end of crosses, but by taking that away from him you're reducing his effectiveness. http://www.espnfc.us/club/liverpool/364/blog/post/2471373/benteke-potentially-a-waste-of-325m
Just because that's how villa played doesn't mean that's how we will play. He doesn't play that way for Belgium.
Yes I think bacca could be good for us. But he never plays a full 90 for Sevilla and he's 29. Paying his release clause at his age is extremely risky because if he flops we won't be able to resell because of his age. With Rondon nobody really knows enough about him. He plays in russia so no one here is an expert on him. We know benteke and he's dominated us on multiple occasions.
To be fair, most strikers in the premier league have dominated us at one point or another over the past 3 seasons.
He also has 7 goals in 24 appearances for Belgium which includes 1 in 5 in the most recent euro qualifying run. Not nearly as effective, my point exactly
Just don't get all of the criticism. If he was playing in a mid table Spanish or Italian team everyone would be in love with him. Hes managed a goal every other game for a shit villa side which is impressive. He was trained by standard liege who have a great academy and had a massive injury two years ago which has effected his form. Three years ago he was a revelation, two years ago he had a major injury (Achilles) and last year was trying to regain form under a team who wanted to play long ball. Is he the best striker in the world, no. But don't forget that all small and quick strikers from la liga pan out (Aspas and Soldado).
At least with benteke there's resale value if it doesn't work after two years. Bacca would be 31 at that point with no resale value. Benteke would be 27 and the epl has been proven time after time to buy our flops for decent money (God forbid it's another flop).
If he was on a midtable club in any other league he'd cost 10 million. That's the problem. It's the same thing with Lallana, the same thing with lovren. You can't pay huge money for average players. We just paid 29 mil for a 23 year old Dynamo, chelsea paid what 27 for fabregas and 30 for costa? And now in back to back years were going to spunk 70 mil on 3 players from midtable sides. There's a reason you aren't seeing any top teams anywhere in Europe going after benteke right now.
And regardless of the fact that he's over priced and doesn't fit our system, the guy can't stay healthy. We complain about Sturridge all the time but look at benteke's injury history. He's already had a catastrophic injury with that torn Achilles and he's what 23?
You are mistaken that we can attract a world class striker that is a finished polished player. There are maybe 3-4 players available in the world in that range and none want to come to our project because of the lack of CL football and we aren't owned by a sheik. If we could get a world class striker, I'd be all for it. But realize that hasn't been who we've been for twenty years. Nando was potential from la liga at atletico before atletico was sexy and Gerrard turned him into the striker he was. Suarez was damaged goods from Ajax after biting a guy there, and turned world class. In our glory days, we could sign a Ronaldo or a messi as a finished piece. But now we don't have that luxury because we aren't seen as a top tier club in the past 10 years. Who would you rather us sign that is a sure 20 goals a years striker?
I agree we can't attract a polished striker so #1 don't pay that kind of a fee for a second rate player and #2 get someone that meshes with the current roster. Getting Firmino just blows the notion that we can't sign top players right out of the water. Liverpool is a super rich club compared to 99% of teams out there. They should have been after Vietto who went for 15 mil to atletico Madrid or Aubameyang from Dortmund, Icardi from Inter. Players like that. Those players are out there but Brendan loves him some "premier league proven" players.
I think Dortmund have publicly stated he's not for sale but lots of teams say that but then when a huge offer lands in their lap they pull the trigger.
Jay Riley@Jay_78_ 25s26 seconds ago So it looks like Sebastian Coates will depart from Anfield soon to Sunderland for around £4m. #LFC
@DaveHendrick_AI: Having Coutinho and Firmino, and then giving them Benteke as their striker, is like using Ferrari's to tow caravans.
@AnfieldHQ96: Liverpool have decided not to pursue a deal for Sevilla striker Carlos Bacca. (James Pearce) #lfc
It's whatever as long as it means we're getting rid of Lambert, Balo, and Borini or at least 2 of the 3
Latest Rumors. Clyne having physical. LFC will offer up Borini, Lambert and cash as part of deal for Benteke.
Other, not so reliable, rumors. Second bid for Illarramendi (Sunday People) Eduardo Salvio (Metro) Chicharito (Spanish AS Paper) Mario Gomez (some Italian source) Luca out (Daily Mail)
I've yet to see the "Benteke will be perfect for Liverpool" articles yet http://eplindex.com/69034/liverpool-not-sign-benteke.html The long-ball game that sees him flourish was impossible as Villa couldn’t get the players forward to provide Benteke with the support he needed. As a result, the striker had no choice, but to drop deep to help build play. That is perhaps where Benteke showed his biggest flaws, as he was dreadful playing this role. His pace was very slow, due to which he had lack of possession. He became stagnated when off the ball. Also, he was absolutely negligent as far as the defence was concerned. As was evident on the field, even his team-mates grew increasingly frustrated at his inability as the game wore on. Benteke completed just 63.3 percent of his passes at Wembley, less than any other outfield player. When it came to playing in areas that mattered—in each sides’ penalty area—Benteke was always overpowered by a fiery Mertesacker, with most of his nine duels won coming in wide areas. Basically, he was far from the strong centre-forward that Villa needed, and Rodgers seems to think can help Liverpool progress. Of course, it might sound unfair to write Benteke off based on one dismal team performance, but this display indicated his overall game—limited, and one-dimensional. It appears as though it’s the Mario Balotelli situation all over again for Liverpool. Like Benteke, Balotelli survives when players run off him, and he likes to drop deep to help influence play. Like Benteke and Villa, when Liverpool are unable to play to Balotelli’s strengths—and arguably they never have—he is a non-essential figure; completely wasted in an unsuitable system. Balotelli is likely to look for new opportunities this summer, and if Liverpool replace him with a player who would find himself in very similar situations having cost twice as much, both club and striker will have made a huge mistake.
This Is Anfield @thisisanfield 1m1 minute ago NEW: Sampdoria manager rules out summer move for Mario Balotelli http://dlvr.it/BMW9yS
Get French Football@GFN_France 22m22 minutes ago West Ham and Liverpool are in discussions with Aymen Abdennour's representatives, according to RMC http://goo.gl/pQenep Guy is a left center back so the link doesn't make sense but who knows.
This Is Anfield @thisisanfield 15m15 minutes ago Liverpool are set to sign Barcelona's 16-year-old Nigerian-born wonderkid Bobby Adekayne, according to reports today. LIVERPOOL are set to complete the signing of exciting Barcelona starlet Bobby Adekayne. The 16-year-old winger, who was also coveted by PSV Eindhoven and Ajax, is expected to complete a move to the Kirkby Academy. Adekanye was born in Nigeria but was brought up in Holland after his parents moved to Amsterdam when he was four. He was available as a free agent after being caught up in a dispute between Barcelona and FIFA over the recruitment of youngsters to their highly-acclaimed La Masia Academy. FIFA ruled that Adekayne was signed illegally from Ajax at the age of 12 in 2011 and he was banned from taking part in competitive games for Barcelona. As a result last season he was sent out on loan to PSV, who had hoped to make the transfer permanent. Barcelona wanted him to stay in Holland until the row had been resolved but with no solution in sight the youngster has decided to cut his ties with the Catalan giants and it appears that Liverpool have won the race for his signature. Skilful and blessed with great pace, Adekayne has plenty of potential and the Reds will hope that Barca’s loss is their gain.
Viktor Fagerström@ViktorFagerLFC 1m1 minute ago #LFC are expected to appoint the England Under-19 head coach, Sean O’Driscoll, as their new assistant manager. (Andy Hunter)
James @JimWynn7 35m35 minutes ago So basically answer to a lack of top level experience in coaching staff is to appoint someone whose never been near a top club? Well done.
@IndigoLFC: Fun fact - Sean O'Driscoll had a 25% win ratio at his last club, Bristol City. @DaveHendrick_AI: Bournemouth - 36.2% win ratio, Doncaster - 36.19% win ratio. Forest - 38.46% win ratio. Bristol City - 25.0% win ratio.