The last thing we need is somebody holding the ball up for us and slowing down play. Carroll, Balotelli, Lambert - none of them fit into BRENDANS style of play.
I find all the people saying he "doesn't fit Brendans style" absolutely hilarious. Didn't Brendans style get us 6th place? Look I know that's unfair but the real question here is, is that style sustainable? Isn't it too one-dimensional? Benteke looks like a striker who can play up top on his own, if we need it, or with a partner, if we get that luxury (ie. Sturridge gets on the park), or flanked by the quality we have in attacking midfield positions.
I find it hilarious people like you don't grasp what we mean.
I've got no problem with us signing Benteke if we were to play to his strengths. Despite my comments, I actually think benteke would be a good signing if we were prepared to be a bit more direct. While Brendan is the manager though, we won't be direct. We will keep playing on the deck football, possession football, high tempo pressing football etc. That's the football I enjoy to watch and its the football I want us to play personally and Benteke doesn't fit in with that style.
That's why I'm baffled to why we are linked to him. We need a flair mobile player in attack, not a big meat head who is at his best with his back to goal and when you supply crosses to him in the box.
I keep banging my drum but Brendans been here three seasons and he has never used a target man so I've no idea why people keep saying Benteke is his choice. It just doesn't make sense to me at all. I'm still waiting for somebody to explain to me why Brendan persisted with Sterling last season despite having Balotelli available - who is actually a better footballer than Benteke. Or even Lambert, who banged in around 14 goals (or so?) for Saints the previous season. Both Balotelli and Lambert looked out of place in a Brendan side and so will Benteke.
Those convinced Benteke is a Brendan signing then please tell me where Sturridge comes in? He would be wasted out wide in a front 3. Wasted on the bench. And a front 2 pairing of sturridge and benteke wouldn't work. If we play a 4-3-3 then Sturridge HAS to be our central striker so again this benteke signing doesn't make sense. Why would Brendan want him? If we play 4-3-3 then Sturridge plays in the middle and if he isn't fit then we have Ings and Origi as back up now - who will do a better job than the strikers we had last season BECAUSE THEY MOVE. Ideally though, we will go back to the diamond and Sturridge will partner a different type of striker to Benteke, somebody with movement and flair.
An midfield/attack like this:
Sturridge Firmino
Coutinho
Hendo Milner
Can
is far better than an midfield and attack like this:
Benteke
Sturridge Firmino
Coutinho
Hendo Milner
So to summaries if Benteke comes then we need to play 4-3-3 and Sturridge doesn't get a game or he is played out of position. Or we do play sturridge and bench our 32.5m Benteke.
Coutinho and Firmino will also be slowed down because Benteke doesn't run the channels or in behind the back four. He is a target man plain and simple. Likes to hold the ball up, get it out wide and follow his run into the box. Hes got a shot on him yes, might even do a nice flick here and there, but we need far more movement and pace than what he offers to link up with our flair players.
Its a massive no for me.