Star striker Christian Benteke has failed to hit the next in his last seven games now, his longest dry run for Aston Villa ever. Against Sunderland he was substitute off and Lambert has admitted that Benteke may be dropped in the coming games.
“You have to make a decision, do you bring him off, do you start him?
“You’re doing it for the benefit of him as well.
“But he’ll come through as a footballer.
“You don’t chastise him, he’s my player and you pick them up.
“That’s the way I try and do it. I’m pretty sure his team-mates will try and do it.
“It wasn’t really a difficult decision to take him off. You make decisions for the good of the football team and the club. He wasn’t up to scratch in the way that he normally is. I decided that was it.” – Paul Lambert
Paul Lambert will have to make a tough call, he knows he needs to rotate the squad in December and could give some other players a chance to shine. Kozak is our last forward to score and in my honest opinion, he has played better than Benteke in the last three games. He scored against Cardiff, where he played superbly, against West Brom he looked the more likely to score. Kozak is very good in the air, and if Aston Villa can give him some sort of supply I reckon he’ll score. And now I believe we have the player to just do that, Marc Albrighton. He played a few minutes against Sunderland I reckon he produced a few good crosses, Albrighton is now match fit as well.
But besides Benteke Aston Villa have loads of strikers to call upon. Agbonlahor may do well if he’s given a run in attack. Weimann brings loads of energy. What about forgotten Helenius? He scored twice in pre-season and looked very good, maybe if he is given a run he could display his potential and his talent. And lets not forgot Bowery, when he’s come on he hasn’t done to poorly, he created a few chances for himself.
Southampton isn’t going to be an easy game and Lambert will change up the starting 11 a little bit. Villa will play on the counter and if Lambert decides to play an attacking 4 of Albrighton, Weimann, Agbonlahor and Kozak Villa would offer a different threat upfront from previous games. Perhaps we’d be less reluctant on the long ball and instead seek passes to the wings and allow Agbonlahor and Albrighton to throw in a few crosses for Kozak and Weimann?
Would dropping Benteke will benefit him? Lambert has dropped Lowton and Westwood and I reckon they’ve been player better. Could it be the same story for Benteke? I think so, defenders now know the threat of Benteke and are marking him more closely then ever before. Changing tactics will make us a little less predictable and less reluctant of Benteke
If it was me I play 4 3 3 back 4 of lowton vlarr clerk luna then Delph holding bacuna weieman then Albrighton kozak gabby get mark and gabby to bomb the wings get cross in for andy and kozak to feed 2nd half bring benteke and westwood on to see the game through what you think lads?
I totally agree, I’d give Lowton another chance and allow Bacuna to return to midfield. Bacuna has been a bit shaky in defence in his last few games.
The only thing I’d change is Weimann and Benteke on the bench and allow Westwood and Albrighton to start.
There is little doubt IMO that Lambert will have been given instructions NOT to drop Benteke and thus risk reducing his valuation. Randy will already rubbing his hands in glee at the massive profit he is about to make in Jan or the summer whilst Lambert will be given a pittance and be expected to keep us up next season. This pattern, developed over the last 4 years is scary,and will eventually be our downfall.
Fuck off Lerner, the Villa is OURS,
what pattern is that then? players playing above there weight!asking to go to another club to sit on a bench well good riddance i would rather we were in the third division than return to the money grabbing ways of the modern premiership players. the villa way is the future, if benteke wants out then sell at great profit the club is bigger than the prima donnas and the currant crop of whinging non fans
I think lambert should have a good word in his ear to find out what the fucks wrong with him,i feel for hellinius he must be thinking what the fuck do i have to do for a chance to prove myself.mind you i must agree with langford.
Its a no win situation with thinking Benteke’s should not be dropped, the team comes first not the player, so things not OK in the camp for me, just look at his movement not like he used to be getting into space, tackles just watching and no determination to go in, we all sore his body movement Saturday, even the fans knew things are not good with him, and thought that change was right.he wants away sticks out a mile with me, make him suffer like we have to do, put him on the bench.
Bill he could do with a rocket up his arse mate,there are players sitting on the bench watching poor performances week in week out it can’t continue imo.
Hi giddy, he is at the moment a disappointing spoilt man’ using us for his own means, many will not agree with me but been seen many times in my time as a fan, let him proove me wrong, he was not on the same planet as Obongahor on Saturday, he tried Benteke didn’t.
yes definitely drop him to the bench, bring him on with 30 mins to go. It might help the team knowing kozac will work harder. Also I would bring back lowton and push bacuna up field. Start albrighton instead of Weimann. Again bring on Weimann with 30 mins to go.
Good thought Adam, I’ll go with that, we cannot have players rubbing their fat fees in our face. He did not play on Saturday he had an attitude in that match. Some things gone on in the club.
It’s starting to make me think now maybe in jan sell him off & get someone in who wants to wear the claret & blue shirt.im slowly but surely going off the lad & i thought i’d never say that.
In fairness he was injured and returned to the side more rapidly than was widely expected.
It could well be that one goal will set him off again on a hot streak. He didn’t try to miss his penalty, and I think that affected the one on one that he had shortly after against Everton.
Strikers suffer with a lack of confidence more than any other player, doubt creeps in and he feels he can’t score for trying.
He’s undoubtedly got the ability, he has shown it for a season and the beginning of this prior to his injury.
However, if he isn’t putting in the work rate and required effort, nobody is immune to replacement.
Hope he scores against Saints and/or Fulham. I wish him well.
I’d bench him and bring him on as a substitute. He was bird watching the entire Sunderland game and whatever his issue is I think he needs to sort it out off the pitch now. Then again, I just read Boruc is injured, as well as, Schneiderlin and Ramirez. All good news for us, but I bet Lambert ends up starting Benteke as a result.
As for the comments of Lerner instructing Lambert to play Benteke or else, I just don’t see it. The whole Lambert – Bent fiasco proves that theory wrong. Lerner may be trying to cut overall expenditures at the club, but from my viewpoint he has never been one to tell a manager how to pick his team or do is job.
Completely different with Bent, whom we simply wanted off the wage bill!
Not immediately and only after he was excluded the entire second half of the season – due to his relationship with Lambert or injury. Although, at the beginning of the season Bent was our leading scorer from the previous seasons and arguably our biggest asset at the time, much like Benteke now.
I think you are on to something with the Albrighton recall, perhaps Lambert as a cunning plan involving wide play and crosses (heaven forbid).
Well only around 80% of goals from crosses so it’s probably not be the worse idea he’s ever had.
Part of the reason he hasnt scored is that we havent created any chances for him. One half chance against Sunderland was all he had.
Has everyone forgot how weak we looked up front at Hull?
More important for me is to get Lowton into the team and push Bacuna furhter up. Lets get some crosses in for Benteke…and then he might just score. And take Westwood off corners!!
I’m glad you mentioned corners, I’ve hated them for ages now, started with bannan from what I can remember then westy took over and they are still shite. What happened to the good old side foot curler with pace? Instead we get some shitty floated ball in that we never score from!
Width is certainly something we’re lacking for sure.i just hope the pennies now dropped with lambert.
Lamberk if clueless hasnt got any tactical sense. Lamberk out lerner out.
Happy Birthday to Benteke!…celebrate with a goal or two against the Saints,
Cant see Benteke being dropped although I do think we will win 2-1
I would be tempted to drop him if I was Lambert. I guess we would learn a lot from his reaction. It hasn’t helped that we are playing badly, but that didn’t stop him last year. I hope his form comes back soon, but maybe coming off the bench might be a wise move. I hope this isn’t all to do with wanting out though.
I havent posted on here for a little while now. ive been keeping an eye on this site for the last 4 years and i have to say its so negative these days. i used to enjoy getting involved with the chats and following ianrobos days of speculation and the trees lolol. anyway i cant help but think a partnership up front of benteke and gabby. The reason being is benteke is now attracted 2 to 3 defenders now and is finding it a bit difficult to get into space and get shots away like last season. so i say stick him up front with gabby who always has atleast 2 guys marking him because of his pace. im thinking the two can pull defences apart and create openings for each other. what tjis does mean is one or the other will have to start making some smart dummy runs to allow this tactic.
defence i say we stick with bacuna ay right back as his presence has really had an impact. Just look at the clean sheets. Bring in albrighton who can start fireing balls into the box. Maybe invest in a Left winger and a creative midfield in January. Formation for me is below. What do you think?
. guzan
bacuna Clark vlaar luna
. ahamdi. Delph
albrighton new player
. benteke. Gabby
Albrighton and New Boy would never get a look in because neither of Almahdi or Delph could unpick a stitch let alone a defence with a pass.
Out the present squad Gardner is our only hope but unfortunately the lad spends more time on the treatment table than on the pitch.
Agreed BWS Delph is the best if a crap midfield.
Good to see you back:-). Thing Albrighton worth a go nothing to lose giving him a few games he can’t be worse than tonev ffs. Negativity has taken over this site and I’m the main culprit. Having said that I do actually expect us to win 2.1 tomorrow.
I would drop him to the bench and bring Kozak in. If a player isn’t performing they don’t deserve to be an automatic starter, why should Benteke be any different to every other member of the squad.
Kozak looked more lively in the few minutes he got v Sunderland than Benteke all game and for that reason he deserves a go against the saints.
We need to rotate the squad a little through December and January as well as the games tend to come thick and fast this time of year, part of the reason why we re called Albrighton too IMO
Pointless dropping him he’ll be gone on January anyway.
Bannan looks quality for Palace against West Ham. Why didn’t we keep him and get rid of Ireland ffs.
Oy get your own user name there’s only one oohahpaulmcgrath on here and that’s me!
benteke is the kind of player that can win a game for you as we know so I can see its difficult to bench him and we’re all hoping he clicks at some point and do what we know he can.
the problem as I see it is not his lack of goals but as has been said in the comments his whole attitude, he just doesn’t look committed does he? he’s been given the managers and the fans confidence for enough games now, I think starting on the bench against Southampton may not be a bad idea and having the option to bring benteke on 2nd half sub is always going to handy.
I still hold concerns that benteke is trying to keep himself fit and injury free until jan, very cynical of me but he just looks like hes not trying which is what bothers me the most.