New Signings – Fantasy Premier League 2015/16. Benteke
Liverpool strikers managed a total of just eight goals between them last season, so the Merseysiders were always going to dip into the transfer market for a new striker this summer and it hardly came as a surprise that that striker turned out to be Christian Benteke. Liverpool’s transfer policy over the past 25 years has been questionable at best and one look at the signings made by Brendan Rodgers since his arrival at the helm would leave anyone scratching their head. It wouldn’t have come as a surprise had Liverpool’s owners dispatched with the services of Rodgers over the summer, and one thing is for sure, if Benteke isn’t a success over the coming season Rodgers will be sent packing next May!
Christian Benteke (Liverpool 8.5)
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The Belgian arrived in Birmingham as an unknown quantity back in August 2012 but soon made a name for himself finishing the 2012-13 season with 19 leagues goals from 34 appearances. He missed large chunks of the following two seasons through injury, but he arrives at Anfield having scored a total of 42 league goals from just 88 appearances over the three seasons. Clearly he knows where the net is but that’s not the issue, the issue is whether or not he fits into Liverpool’s style of play. Some will say that he doesn’t as he scores goals!
Villa undoubtedly played to Benteke’s strengths i.e. they got plenty of crosses into the box. As Tim Sherwood said prior to the FA Cup final, “We cross more balls into the box than any other club in the league and Christian has said he feeds of those crosses…there’s no point going to a club where they don’t cross the ball”. The stats certainly back up Sherwood, last season Benteke won more headers than any other forward in the league while the previous season he won the second most. To put this into context, Liverpool have ranked the lowest and second lowest for crosses over the last two seasons. After reading this most of you have probably decided that Benteke in no longer an FPL option, but before you make such a decision I should point out that of his 42 league goals only 13 of these have been scored with his head.
The arrival of Benteke at Anfield will undoubtedly bring comparisons with one Andy Carroll and while both are devastating in the air and have the ability to bully defences, there are differences between the two. Carroll failed because he lacked pace & movement, Benteke should have no such problems. Granted his recent injuries have probably robbed him of some pace, but compared to Carroll he is Usain Bolt. Despite this, however you look at it. something has to give, either Benteke’s style or that of the team and with the likes of Philippe Coutinho and new signing Firmino in the team I would suggest that Benteke will be asked to somewhat alter his style of play. If this is the case I would be very surprised if the Belgian can break the 20 goal barrier this season, rather he will be asked to bring others into play and thus the goals could be spread around the team. This of course will be good for Liverpool but perhaps not so good for those FPL managers with big hopes for the Belgian.
Liverpool have a mixed bag of fixtures throughout August, September & October. Home games against Bournemouth, West Ham, Norwich & Villa are counterbalanced by away games to the likes of Arsenal, United, Everton, Spurs & Chelsea. So if you’re waiting for Liverpool to have a decent run of fixtures before bringing Benteke in you’ll be waiting a while. My advice is that if you fancy Benteke jump on early to take advantage of those home games and hope that both he & Liverpool pick up a few results in those tough away games.
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Thanks Kop, very well done!
Think I’ll probably steer clear of Benteke to start and see how he fits in. I’ve got him, Milner, and Hendo on the radar though. Is anyone going to roll the dice and get him in for gw1?
Right now I have Tekkers and Milner and the plan is to sell Tekkers I’m GW3 to aid my moves for Kun.
Red, hes in mate. :thumbup:
Nice little article Kop, cheers.
Nice one Matt and elle, hope he starts off well!! I’m cautiously optimistic but don’t want to get my hopes up too much.
Do we think Stoke will be a decent outfit this year? Looking at a differential third striker and was reading up on Joselu…has a good grounding and some talented midfielders supplying him? One of the lowest ownerships out there too.
Second thought: Adebayor to be first choice at Villa under Sherwood once more? Or Ayew and Ade to rotate and battle it out?
Ade will start the season anyway
Kop
Thanks for your write up on Benteke mate.
I think I’ll let him settle and then I look at those home games and I panic. :noshake:
Thanks for the write up Kops. Benteke is a fixture proof player, he showed that at Villa even. So he’ll be in my squad, for sure. Also, only team that can defend in England is Chelsea. 😉
Hey, great article Kop!
Personally I think he is great value in a Liverpool team that will create more chances than Villa did.
The current draft of my team is:
Boruc (Speroni)
Morgan, Azy, Cedric (Ward, O’Shea)
Hazard (c), Ritchie, Silva, Ozil (Poyet)
Bentekers, Costa, Vardy.
I’ll be monitoring Morgan and Costa for injury (prob to Huth and Roo). Any comments would really be appreciated.
Also, how can I get a nice honey badger as my pic? I’m pretty new to this!
Honey badger don’t give a shit about gravatars.
😉
I thinks this sums up the HB
Nice team. I’m not sure about Poyet’s game time though, there are certainly more nailed on 4.5 midfielders, such as Wanyama.
You have to make an account at http://www.gravatar.com using the email you used to register here, and then you can upload your honey badger (that’s not a euphemism, is it?)
Cheers mate.
I just want to share my honey badger with the rest of the community!
Ye – I figure Poyet is a bit of gamble but with downing gone and his assist record in France I think I’ll let him be a placeholder atleast at first. Ritchie will be fielded ahead of him.
Wait, do you have Poyet or Payet? Payet is 7.5m and came from France. Poyet is 4.5m and is Gus’ son.
Poyet scored the other day, not Payet. He’s 3 m cheaper. :dance:
Seriously, how can they put these games in the same team. If I were Poyet I’d move on, get away there. This is just terrible, especially for us FPL managers. 😉
Sheet! looks like I’ve got the wrong man in my team!
Cheers Honey. 😉
I’m not sure how Boruc & Speroni rotate, have you looked into it?
Apparently Ranieri has said that Morgan might feature in GW1, but I’m not convinced.
I’m expecting big things from Rooney this season, so I’d certainly get him over Costa.
Do you have any plan to get Kun in?
Yeah I agree Kop, but is Rooney on pens?!
Depends on who you listen to 😉
I think Mata is on pens. Don’t know for certain though.
I’m also expecting big things from Rooney this season!
Ruben, I just assumed he was but forgot about the Mata thing from the end of the season. Anyway I think I caused a twitter fracas over it! Ended up tweeting Wayne himself but he hasn’t responded
I’d put money on Rooney taking the first penalty United get in a competive game this season.
I would too Kop, for what it’s worth. Just hope he scores it too as I’ve bookmarked the whole lot of tweets