Wouldnt complain about all that. Shame about Enrique, when fit and on form one of best full backs in league but unfortunately can't stay for long enough
Getting rid of Lambert and Balotelli, and spending £20m plus on another striker who does not move isn't good business sense. Disagree on Enrique - he can only do one thing really well and that is use his strength to shield the ball. Absolutely awful footballer.
Well, hopefully selling Borini, Enrique, Lambert and Mario will raise a few pennies to cover the Benteke, Milner and Ings costs. Would anyone take that in a straight swap leaving our budget intact for other business...? I would. Three non-existent forwards and a practically unused LB for a cheap young fourth choice striker that's arguably a better option than all three leaving, a midfielder that will without doubt improve our midfield and a strong powerful striker that actually moves!
Hard to say - I think both sets of players represent poor deals IMO. Either way, it's rather depressing
I edited to give my opinion I don't want Ings and although I like Benteke, I think there is better players out there that represent better value for money. I'd prefer to spend a bit more and go for Auyemburg (sp). Obviously I'd be happy with Milner but let's not go there lol PS... If we actually signed Pierre, I'd learn to spell his name lol
Yeah I agree with you mate - IMO, it;s the lesser of two evils. But it just doesn't fill me with much confidence going into next season.
Struggling to understand the Benteke signing - his movement (or lack there of) is poor. Read an interesting analysis on the goals he has scored: - only scored 12 non-pen goals this season. - of which 7 have come from crosses - LFC put in the least number of crosses in the entire league bar Swansea. - of the 5 that didn't come from crosses, 3 came against QPR who boast the worst defence in the league
Actually, now I've thought about it a little more I wouldn't take it. If we signed Benteke and Ings, they join Origi and Studge to form our attacking foursome, that's not good enough IMO (I'd forgot about Origi). We really shouldn't be signing Ings. Origi should be that fourth option leaving Studge, Benteke and A.N.Other to fight it out for the two attacking spots (assuming we go back to two up top). I think you know who'd I'd want in that situation but we won't get him; Tevez! I wouldn't mind the young Argentinian (?) lad in Italy though Edit; Vietto
Benteke has dominated our defence (admittedly not that hard I know) every time we play them. He may be big and strong, but he can move when he gets going. 24 years old and 42 goal in 82 appearances for a Villa side that create **** all... no reason him and Sturridge couldn't form a lethal partnership. Sturridge in behind and Benteke to be someone to play off who does have good movement and pace and provides a real threat in the box.
Maybe we put in the least amount of crosses... because most of the season we had Sterling in the middle? A lot of times this season we were easy to defend against because teams would push us wide knowing that we wouldn't/couldn't cross the ball as we had no option. This meant teams stayed narrow, allowed us down the wings and cut out the space for Coutinho/Sterling in the middle. Have someone that is a real threat and it means that when Moreno actually does something decent going forward he can put in a cross rather than stop, cut back and pass the ball back to the half way line
Couldn't that be more a reflection of how Villa play (wingers, counter attacking and lack of creativity when in possession) rather than a reflection on Benteke? Benteke doesn't move as much as I'd like to see when the team is defending but he does make decent movement off the ball when the teams in possession. Bit similar to Studge in that regard. Also offers something in the air, something we lack at both ends!
FFS on your bolding skills Well hopefully with someone that can head the ball he'll put in a cross suitable for them
Think it just comes under the "attacking" part of his coaching, which goes along with "defending" part as well. Other than those 2 small things, perfect full back Edit: Still better than Flanno though because he can run quickly
Anyone think Rafa going to Madrid will help us? Not that he will have much say in who goes where in terms of transfers
As you said, he won't be involved in transfers (unless it's a loan?) so can't see how it would help tbh.
