Not with the current injury list but I think he could if Studge returns from being injured with a vicious pimple and joins the first team.
If we're not very good at providing the striker we're better off playing a striker like Studge or Ings that doesn't need it. I think Benteke is a good little big striker. But if our other players dont compliment his style he may not always be the best option to play and may be better off the bench. He's doing well in recent weeks though.
If we can pick a subject to talk about without arguing...... You find a lot of strays are mongrels - the smartest dogs of all (like humans). As for mistreatment - I remember walking my dog when he was a six-moth old puppy. He's gregarious now, but then he went up to EVERY dog, large or small for a bum-sniff (and often tried to mount the mutt, even if was a ****ing Mastiff). Anyway, there's this bloke walking a muzzled Rotty, and Astro ran up, tail wagging, and tried to lick it. I'm wary of any dog on a lead when out in the country, fr away from traffic (there's usually a bad reason) so I ran up and dragged him away, with apologies. from a distance, the bloke explained that he was walking the dog for the RSPCA, and he didn't know how she would react to other dogs. Turns out it'd been kept by pikeys as a breeding machine for five years in a shed, never going out nor socialising with other dogs or exercising except when a breeding partner was brought around to impregnate her. I don't believe in heaven or hell, but sometimes I wish some people could have the same wickedness inflicted on them for eternity that they knowingly inflicted in this life.
There's just a small problem with that though........ I think he's been doing ok and I'm certainly not going to write him off because he doesn't "fit our style" like some fans are. For the moment we have to rely on him whether we like it or not as he's the only one even half-fit (Origi just isn't ready yet). It shouldn't be beyond a good coach-and I believe Klopp and his team are- to tweak a "style" to suit his needs better. Last night's game was poor in terms of crosses to him, but we've done better before and can do so again. One other thing I should say; although Rubin were shocking coming forward, their defence was solid enough and not too easy to break down.
I'm not writing him off. I think in recent weeks he's adapted well. I just think Studge/Ings free of debilitating injuries (like pimples, hangnails, and an itchy bum) is better for us. I've been happy with Benteke lately.
Benteke isn't a "doesn't fit" in the same way Lambert, Carroll or Balotelli were. Benteke is willing to work at it, he tries harder than all three of them put together (not that thats difficult) and he's getting goals.
I wasn't accusing you, just discussing it. I think some are writing him off for the reason I mentioned, but a style doesn't have to be that rigidly adhered to. He's a strong player, and will get goals even if we don't feed him properly. Ings is out for the season and sadly I don't see Sturridge ever being injury free- he could do himself a mischief picking his nose. The only place we'll see them together is in the physio room so, unless we buy in January, Benteke is it and we have to make it work.
I do, however, think that had we stuck with Rodgers; Big Ben would have flopped. It was clear he was out of place in Rodgers XI.
To be honest, if the loss of his backroom staff wasn't proof enough that Rodgers was on his way out, the Benteke signing was. I still don't think we'll see the best of benteke until we bring in some better wide players though. We have too many number 10s and not enough proper wide players
I don't think anyone is writing him off. The ones that appear to be writing him off didn't want him to begin with and therefore never 'wrote him on' lol
I never wrote him on or off... Thought the money could be better spent at the time but other than that played a wait and see game. Thought he was dire at first but never completely wrote him off. Thought tactics were more at fault. Now Origi on the other hand I'm not certain will amount to much. Could be wrong but unlike Benteke I think he's too lazy to adapt.
Just to be clear - I was looking at long term. At the moment, we do have to rely on him. But going forward, is he the long term option or should be buy a more mobile, quicker striker who will feed off through balls from Coutinho and Firmino? And he is scoring goals - but if we look at how, 3 out of 4 goals have come from crosses. Whilst this is always a good avenue to score, it appears to the primary one for Benteke. Judging from Klopp's teams in the past, crossing isn't the way he would want to set up the team.
