Christian Benteke

[Raziel]

Naija, not arguing with you re Villa of the past, however, I think people need to realize Villa of even two years ago was a very different team, that was a comfortable mid table team and could afford to make certain stands.

The team that finished last year was awful, and Hudd, Livermore, Parker and Defoe would likely walk into a first team spot on that squad. They didn't get relegated because QPR & co were just a little bit worse than them.

I'm not sure Villa has the luxury of turning down a certain amount of cash early (so they can get some additional players), plus a couple of proven quality PL players.

 

[braineclipse]

Lambert seems to favour youth and it looks like he wants to bring through a group of players together, I doubt that he would be interested in Hudd, Parker or Defoe.

A bit of balance goes a long way.

If Lambert wants to avoid a situation similar to where they found themselves last season perhaps injecting a bit of experience into their squad wouldn't be the worst idea ever.

 

[NaijaSpurs]

Naija, not arguing with you re Villa of the past, however, I think people need to realize Villa of even two years ago was a very different team, that was a comfortable mid table team and could afford to make certain stands.

The team that finished last year was awful, and Hudd, Livermore, Parker and Defoe would likely walk into a first team spot on that squad. They didn't get relegated because QPR & co were just a little bit worse than them.

I'm not sure Villa has the luxury of turning down a certain amount of cash early (so they can get some additional players), plus a couple of proven quality PL players.

And last season Lambert refused to use Bent and wanted to do things his way with young players. This summer the chairman has backed the manager who has brought in youn players of his choosing.

 

[NaijaSpurs]

A bit of balance goes a long way.

If Lambert wants to avoid a situation similar to where they found themselves last season perhaps injecting a bit of experience into their squad wouldn't be the worst idea ever.

But even if wants experience I guarantee you 100 percent it will be experience that he chooses and not experience we dump on them just to get Benteke.

 

[Raziel]

And last season Lambert refused to use Bent and wanted to do things his way with young players. This summer the chairman has backed the manager who has brought in youn players of his choosing.

Mate, if the season was a month longer, Lambert would have been fired (and quite honestly he probably should have been). Your view of being backed by the chairman is 5 players out (including some established), 5 in (so no net squad growth) of mostly unknowns with a highest price of 2.5M, rest undisclosed but likely similar range?

Again, I know nothing about Villa, but the widespread assumption that they are in a great bargaining position, would walk away from decent quality PL players and don't the cash, doesn't seem to bear out.

 

[Raziel]

But even if wants experience I guarantee you 100 percent it will be experience that he chooses and not experience we dump on them just to get Benteke.

I agree, he shouldn't take anyone just because we are Spurs and want Benteke. I would be surprised if Parker wouldn't be a good move for them (defensively they were a disaster)

 

[AberYid]

I agree, he shouldn't take anyone just because we are Spurs and want Benteke. I would be surprised if Parker wouldn't be a good move for them (defensively they were a disaster)

So was Parker last season.

 

[DubaiSpur]

I really don`t think it`s particularly respectful to Villa to offer them their pick of Hudd, Parker, Livermore or Defoe. Our hand-me-downs, essentially.

No, I think we`ll only get anywhere on this supposed player swap deal if we gave them a pick of, say, Carroll, Smith, Rose, or Townsend: i.e, young players with a lot of potential who can fit into Lambert`s youth-centred system without costing the earth in wages. These are guys who can fetch us large transfer fees on the open market (or start for us given a little more development), so offering them to Villa doesn`t look as dismissive as offering them Hudd, Parker and the like. Plus, these are young players who would in all probability be open to a move to Villa. Just speculation, though.

 

[Kingdawson]

I really don`t think it`s particularly respectful to Villa to offer them their pick of Hudd, Parker, Livermore or Defoe. Our hand-me-downs, essentially.

No, I think we`ll only get anywhere on this supposed player swap deal if we gave them a pick of, say, Carroll, Smith, Rose, or Townsend: i.e, young players with a lot of potential who can fit into Lambert`s youth-centred system without costing the earth in wages. These are guys who can fetch us large transfer fees on the open market (or start for us given a little more development), so offering them to Villa doesn`t look as dismissive as offering them Hudd, Parker and the like. Plus, these are young players who would in all probability be open to a move to Villa. Just speculation, though.

yep they will probably ask for one of Townsend, Rose or Naughton to be included.

 

[indianspur]

I really don`t think it`s particularly respectful to Villa to offer them their pick of Hudd, Parker, Livermore or Defoe. Our hand-me-downs, essentially.

No, I think we`ll only get anywhere on this supposed player swap deal if we gave them a pick of, say, Carroll, Smith, Rose, or Townsend: i.e, young players with a lot of potential who can fit into Lambert`s youth-centred system without costing the earth in wages. These are guys who can fetch us large transfer fees on the open market (or start for us given a little more development), so offering them to Villa doesn`t look as dismissive as offering them Hudd, Parker and the like. Plus, these are young players who would in all probability be open to a move to Villa. Just speculation, though.

good points there, and like KD said, I think it they would most probably ask for one of either Rose, Townsend or Naughton. Tbh honest if it meant we could secure Benteke I wonder mind if any one of those 3 youngsters left.

 

[Nigeyman]

I reckon that Levy has already enquired and values Benteke around the 18m mark in my opinion, which means we are probably a good 7m off the asking price with little hope of movement from Lerner. I think the valuation is a fair one (18m) and because of this I cant see how we will be getting this player bearing Levy in mind. I would pay the 25m because I believe in his potential and ability to push us to the next level but I am not privy to our finances like Levy.

It looks to me that we will favour a direct style of attacking this season (quick passing) it looks like our style will be to pressure this season playing the ball early to our attack using the strength & pace and dynamism of our front players, but with that in mind we are also deadly on the counter attack and you can not pressure and dominate teams for 90 minutes so I expect our style to blend from quick direct attacking high pressure switching to counter attacking when the need arises.

that is my assumption of avb style and plans for us this season....I think he understands the epl like Mourinho where tippy tappy slow build up possession football is better suited to other leagues.

This is my thinking and why when I look at Benteke I see a striker who is perfectly suited to the lone central striker role who has the technique, pace, power, strength to be able to switch between a quick direct (short) passing game and then being able to execute the counter attacking strategy.

I really do hope we can get him because I feel he is the fit for the strategy mentioned.

Either way if ade & defoe stay it is imperative we at least sign another striker.... we need to rotate at times and ade & defoe will do better not having to rush back from injuries and playing when tired.. although it helps with no African Cup of Nations.

Really wanted us to get in a striker early.......Perfect Planning prevents tinkle poor performance.

 

[milo]

A bit of balance goes a long way.

If Lambert wants to avoid a situation similar to where they found themselves last season perhaps injecting a bit of experience into their squad wouldn't be the worst idea ever.

Villa had experienced players on the bench and left in the stands last season. I think it is pretty clear that Lambert made the bold decision to blood a whole group of young players at the same time. It is probably not a discussion for this thread, but having avoided relegation, it will be interesting to see if those players have gained from a seasons Premier League experience and are stronger this year.

 

[BrainOfLevy]

It will be interesting if Villa set a deadline for this like Dortmund did with Lewandowski.

If the asking price is £25M and we end up paying it on the 28th August, they would be in a mad rush to sign anyone they could, and couldn't make the considered signings of young players that fit into their club that they would like to.

Villa should set a deadline, and that means this story could end sooner rather than later. I really hope Levy isn't over-playing our hand here. They aren't going to accept our cast-offs and they probably won't budge from the asking price, because they have no reason to sell. This is especially true if we leave it too late to bid and they have no time to replace the guy that virtually saved them from relegation last year on his own back.

So, I really don't think they are going to budge more than £1M or £2M and that's if we are incredibly lucky, I can't even see that to be honest. Villa hold a few aces, but he's handed in a transfer request and wants to come to us. If we can pay it, we should pay it sooner rather than later, to get Benteke accustomed to the squad during pre-season, because if we arse around and end up paying it later anyway we look like fools. And like us with Modric and Bale, I think Villa totally get how to dig their heels in no problem, and fair play to them for doing that.

For what it's worth, I think Benteke will be perfect for us. Mainly because he can be adaptable and that's what AVB wants. If we need to adjust game plans on a game-to-game basis, we can. Or even in game. He can be the battering ram if they are sitting deep or run in behind if the opposition has pushed up. He can finish, he can head, he has good technique and bring others into play. He is absolutely perfect for us and I really hope everything has been calculated well and that we can actually afford to pay the asking price. Because if we are hanging our hat on him, we need to get it done. He can be the main man here like he wouldn't be anywhere else and that would help him thrive like he did last year. We need to just get it sorted.

 

[Gutter Boy]

I reckon that Levy has already enquired and values Benteke around the 18m mark in my opinion, which means we are probably a good 7m off the asking price with little hope of movement from Lerner. I think the valuation is a fair one (18m) and because of this I cant see how we will be getting this player bearing Levy in mind. I would pay the 25m because I believe in his potential and ability to push us to the next level but I am not privy to our finances like Levy.

It looks to me that we will favour a direct style of attacking this season (quick passing) it looks like our style will be to pressure this season playing the ball early to our attack using the strength & pace and dynamism of our front players, but with that in mind we are also deadly on the counter attack and you can not pressure and dominate teams for 90 minutes so I expect our style to blend from quick direct attacking high pressure switching to counter attacking when the need arises.

that is my assumption of avb style and plans for us this season....I think he understands the epl like Mourinho where tippy tappy slow build up possession football is better suited to other leagues.

This is my thinking and why when I look at Benteke I see a striker who is perfectly suited to the lone central striker role who has the technique, pace, power, strength to be able to switch between a quick direct (short) passing game and then being able to execute the counter attacking strategy.

I really do hope we can get him because I feel he is the fit for the strategy mentioned.

Either way if ade & defoe stay it is imperative we at least sign another striker.... we need to rotate at times and ade & defoe will do better not having to rush back from injuries and playing when tired.. although it helps with no African Cup of Nations.

Really wanted us to get in a striker early.......Perfect Planning prevents tinkle poor performance.

This is a good post, but I don't agree with the bits in bold. Benteke is too clumsy and lacking in intelligence for the short intricate stuff around the box.

We'll have an awful lot more possession than Villa ever do, so being a great target man is of far less use to us.

 

[Nigeyman]

This is a good post, but I don't agree with the bits in bold. Benteke is too clumsy and lacking in intelligence for the short intricate stuff around the box.

We'll have an awful lot more possession than Villa ever do, so being a great target man is of far less use to us.

perhaps its not his strongest quality.... I saw a lot of really good link up from him and Weimann, (Liverpool away for example) and his movement impressed me also which is why I will still think he will be a force playing for a team that has more possession in games than Villa. I think we hit a dead end from poor forward movement last season and bales pile drivers saved us a lot - not only do I think he will get us the goals I think he will bring better rewards out of lennon, Bale, which is why I would be a happy bunny if we got him.

 

[Nigeyman]

It will be interesting if Villa set a deadline for this like Dortmund did with Lewandowski.

If the asking price is £25M and we end up paying it on the 28th August, they would be in a mad rush to sign anyone they could, and couldn't make the considered signings of young players that fit into their club that they would like to.

Villa should set a deadline, and that means this story could end sooner rather than later. I really hope Levy isn't over-playing our hand here. They aren't going to accept our cast-offs and they probably won't budge from the asking price, because they have no reason to sell. This is especially true if we leave it too late to bid and they have no time to replace the guy that virtually saved them from relegation last year on his own back.

So, I really don't think they are going to budge more than £1M or £2M and that's if we are incredibly lucky, I can't even see that to be honest. Villa hold a few aces, but he's handed in a transfer request and wants to come to us. If we can pay it, we should pay it sooner rather than later, to get Benteke accustomed to the squad during pre-season, because if we arse around and end up paying it later anyway we look like fools. And like us with Modric and Bale, I think Villa totally get how to dig their heels in no problem, and fair play to them for doing that.

For what it's worth, I think Benteke will be perfect for us. Mainly because he can be adaptable and that's what AVB wants. If we need to adjust game plans on a game-to-game basis, we can. Or even in game. He can be the battering ram if they are sitting deep or run in behind if the opposition has pushed up. He can finish, he can head, he has good technique and bring others into play. He is absolutely perfect for us and I really hope everything has been calculated well and that we can actually afford to pay the asking price. Because if we are hanging our hat on him, we need to get it done. He can be the main man here like he wouldn't be anywhere else and that would help him thrive like he did last year. We need to just get it sorted.

amen [-o<

 

[Pandy]

This is a good post, but I don't agree with the bits in bold. Benteke is too clumsy and lacking in intelligence for the short intricate stuff around the box.

We'll have an awful lot more possession than Villa ever do, so being a great target man is of far less use to us.

I don't agree with this, I think part of the reason teams were so successful sitting deep against us last year (in addition to our lack of creativity) was the fact that no matter how deep they sat, they would never be letting a lethal player in/around the penalty area. Of course at the end of the season Bale became such a player, but only from very long range, as when teams sat back he found it impossible to penetrate them.

With Benteke in the box, you always have the option of hoisting one in there, and unlike the days of Redknapp/Crouch I feel under AVB we would never resort to pumping it into Benteke out of desperation if in need of a goal. Ade is rarely in the box/in a decent position to score in the box and Defoe is not strong enough, tall enough, or clever enough with his movement to be a threat from deep crosses.

Teams would fear sitting back and inviting a 6ft4 tank like Benteke into their box far more than they would either of our current strikers. They would then be posed a problem: Push up and allow Bale space in behind, or sit back and allow Benteke to be closer to the goal?

Provided we also signed a creative LWF I think Benteke could actually be a good signing for a more possession-based team such as ours, while he is also very comfortable playing on the break.

 

[Wriggly]

Ba's available for £7m according to the rags.

Ba £7m
Benteke £25m

It's a fudging no brainer.

 

[indianspur]

Ba's available for £7m according to the rags.

Ba £7m
Benteke £25m

It's a fudging no brainer.

the no brainer was Ba from Saudi Sportswashing Machine for 7 mill in Jan. Fcuk that even, the no brainer was Ba from West Ham for free.

Now as has been said before, we wont be buying players from Chelsea because Levy refuses to sell our better ones to them. Blame Arnesen

 

[Nigeyman]

the no brainer was Ba from Saudi Sportswashing Machine for 7 mill in Jan. Fcuk that even, the no brainer was Ba from West Ham for free.

Now as has been said before, we wont be buying players from Chelsea because Levy refuses to sell our better ones to them. Blame Arnesen

spot on, absolutely no chance of any dealings with Chelsea lot so not much of a no brainer imo