Christian Benteke

[StefanAVFC]

I think suggesting anything but that spurs is an upwards move is lunacy.

We'd have to have an exceptionally good season and they'd have to have an exceptionally bad one for us to finish above them.

Saying that I don't think it's the right move for him.

[smetrov]

 I think we are getting ourselves too worked up here.

 

 Lets take the worst scenario , and Benteke wants to leave, what can Villa do.Hold him to his 3 year contract, explain to him that unless he toes the line he will be out the 1st team, if he is out the 1st team he might fall down the pecking order for the national team, if he is out the national team he won't play in the WC.

 

 We then explain to him, that we accept he may use Villa as a stepping stone, and in that case, if he gives us one more good season, then he can go with our best wishes, to a club a lot bigger than Spuds.In the mean time, hopefully, Weimann, Okore, abd Sylla plus 2 or 3 more, will step up to the next level, and it means we will be in a lot stronger position.

 

 If i was advising Benteke, or if he was say a Baggies player, then i would say have one more season at your current club, and see how you go, the big teams would'nt buy a player who might be a 1 season wonder.

 

Although legally you are correct - in practice if he wants to leave there is little Aston Villa can do about it - except get the best fee we can.

[StefanAVFC]

Now having money to spend and then spending that money well are two different things but i would again suggest that if Lambert is as astute in the transfer market as the majority thinks then he should be able to replace Benteke with similar quality.

I don't think there are many players in the world with the potential of Benteke who would come to Villa. Hence why he probably will not be here in a years (max) time.

Is Guzan still not counted as Lambert signing? Seeing how he made the decision and had never worked with him before.

Yep, not of the quality of Benteke though.

FPOTS and PPOTS would suggest otherwise.

[TrentVilla]

I think suggesting anything but that spurs is an upwards move is lunacy.

We'd have to have an exceptionally good season and they'd have to have an exceptionally bad one for us to finish above them.

Saying that I don't think it's the right move for him.

 

Agreed on all points, but that said moving to us wasn't perhaps the right move but it was a step in the right direction....

[Woodytom]

 

 

Now having money to spend and then spending that money well are two different things but i would again suggest that if Lambert is as astute in the transfer market as the majority thinks then he should be able to replace Benteke with similar quality.

I don't think there are many players in the world with the potential of Benteke who would come to Villa. Hence why he probably will not be here in a years (max) time.

Is Guzan still not counted as Lambert signing? Seeing how he made the decision and had never worked with him before.

Yep, not of the quality of Benteke though.

FPOTS and PPOTS would suggest otherwise.

 

 

And they would be wrong, imo

[Morpheus]

 

I'll ignore the attempt at point scoring Trent and refer you to a post of mine on the previous page concerning your above point.

 

 

Building a team or to use your reference "progression" is pretty difficult for a club of our standing at the moment. Lambert purchased a diamond in Benteke but whether he leaves this season or next, in all probability he is going to leave and should Lowton or Westwood progress in the same way that Benteke has next season, then they will leave also when a club who can offer Champions League come calling.

 

I don't think we can build a team here in the way you or i or indeed the whole fan base would want. Our best players are continually going to be cherry picked and we are going to be in a vicious circle of replacing players and then selling them should they prove to be astute purchases.

 

For the foreseeable future therefore i do not see us building a team with quality players such as Benteke as the economics simply won't allow us to do it.

 

 

I wasn't trying to point score but your whole 'I thought people had faith in Lambert' was point scoring so don't try that one.

 

I've answered your question, I don't expect you to agree but it was a perfectly reasonable answer(s).

 

But just to turn it on its head, given that you don't rate Lambert and thought he should have been sacked and replaced by Redknapp you should be more concerned than anyone. Unless of course you still aren't convinced about Benteke.

 

 

 

 

Now having money to spend and then spending that money well are two different things but i would again suggest that if Lambert is as astute in the transfer market as the majority thinks then he should be able to replace Benteke with similar quality.

 

 

It really isn't that simple as I'm sure you know.

 

If it was then Redknapp who you seemingly have faith in would always manage to sign the same quality of player, only that doesn't happen does it.

 

Trent for someone who has stated that they are not trying to point score and then post the above posts is again showing the type of hypocrisy which you had to previously apologise for so i'm just going to leave it. 

[Mantis]

Of course any fan can be concerned about losing a player especially a very good one but many have stated on here that they have faith in the manager to do well in the transfer market so that faith should then translate into Lambert replacing Benteke with similar quality.

As Trent already explained, one can have complete faith in the manager while still fear the loss of the team's best player, in this particular case one of the best Villa players in decades. This seems like nothing more than petty point scoring to me.

[TrentVilla]

Trent for someone who has stated that they are not trying to point score and then post the above posts is again showing the type of hypocrisy which you had to previously apologise for so i'm just going to leave it. 

 

 

Ha...that isn't even true. Yes I apologised to you but not because I had to but because I chose to because you took my criticism of your view personally there is a marked difference. Poor form that making public a private conversation and trying to imply it was something it wasn't, I won't do the same in return but I shall keep it in mind in future.

 

You asked a question, I've tried to answer it and you've dismissed every reason given. That is your choice, I didn't expect you to agree but you simply dismissed them all because it wasn't a genuine question to begin with. 

[Macca1888]

 

 

 

I think people are being naive when they say there's no chance he'd go to Spurs. They're in London, they have a couple of Belgians there already ( Vertongen, Dembele ), he'd be guaranteed first choice centre forward and with a couple of quality additions ( and keeping Bale ) , they have a squad that could not only challenge for top 4 but 1st-3rd. Yes they are not in the champions league this season but with all the recent managerial changes, they could do well next season.

If they are prepared to pay the amount we'd consider for him ( £25m + ) then I think they would be a very attractive option to him, sadly

Totally agree.

All the positives you cite for Spurs could be countered by saying he has made some very good mates at Villa (Sylla being one of his big buddies, to name but one), he is first choice forward at Villa, he is part of a top notch strike force at Villa, and, despite the recent managerial changes, he is currently at a club that could do very well next season (yep, Villa can do very well next season - especially if we keep our attacking three together).

There's a reason Spurs don't sign decent players from Villa and that reason is we are a bigger, more historic and successful club than them.

I don't think Benteke would care about our history in all honesty, for most footballers it's about the here and now IMO. At the moment, Spurs are a more attractive proposition than us and even if we do have a very successful season this year, do you think we'd finish above them ? I don't.

I genuinely think that he's quite happy here but if they came in with a big enough offer, I don't think he'd hesitate to move there. Our one saving grace could be the fact that we do get top dollar when selling players (like I mentioned above) which might put off some clubs trying to negotiate with us for a player that's only proven himself for one season

 

Have you seen Spurs' squad?  Yes, they have Bale, they've just signed the Brazilian lad that none of his new team mates have heard of, and they have one or two other decent lads in there BUT there's a whole load of aging, mediocrity in there, too. Dawson, Huddlestone etc. are decent pros but they are hardly world-beaters.  People are being brainwashed by these endless pro-spurs newspaper articles.  Who else do they have?  Dempsey? Defoe? Aaron Lennon...would I want Lambert to sign any of those three?  Hand on heart, nope - they remind me of O'Neill era Villa players whose best days are behind them now.

 

I get the impression AVB is going to go all out for top four next season but Spurs will fall short again as they do not have the quality or strength in depth.  By this time next year Bale and AVB will be gone leaving spurs to begin their inevitable descent to the relegation zone where 'Arry picked them up from a few short years ago.

[coda]

Any news on Benteke's current location?

[Tomaszk]

I don't think we can build a team here in the way you or i or indeed the whole fan base would want. Our best players are continually going to be cherry picked and we are going to be in a vicious circle of replacing players and then selling them should they prove to be astute purchases.

 

For the foreseeable future therefore i do not see us building a team with quality players such as Benteke as the economics simply won't allow us to do it.

What's your point?

[Biskitt]

I think people are being naive when they say there's no chance he'd go to Spurs. They're in London, they have a couple of Belgians there already ( Vertongen, Dembele ), he'd be guaranteed first choice centre forward and with a couple of quality additions ( and keeping Bale ) , they have a squad that could not only challenge for top 4 but 1st-3rd. Yes they are not in the champions league this season but with all the recent managerial changes, they could do well next season.

If they are prepared to pay the amount we'd consider for him ( £25m + ) then I think they would be a very attractive option to him, sadly

Totally agree.

All the positives you cite for Spurs could be countered by saying he has made some very good mates at Villa (Sylla being one of his big buddies, to name but one), he is first choice forward at Villa, he is part of a top notch strike force at Villa, and, despite the recent managerial changes, he is currently at a club that could do very well next season (yep, Villa can do very well next season - especially if we keep our attacking three together).

There's a reason Spurs don't sign decent players from Villa and that reason is we are a bigger, more historic and successful club than them.

I don't think Benteke would care about our history in all honesty, for most footballers it's about the here and now IMO. At the moment, Spurs are a more attractive proposition than us and even if we do have a very successful season this year, do you think we'd finish above them ? I don't.

I genuinely think that he's quite happy here but if they came in with a big enough offer, I don't think he'd hesitate to move there. Our one saving grace could be the fact that we do get top dollar when selling players (like I mentioned above) which might put off some clubs trying to negotiate with us for a player that's only proven himself for one season

Have you seen Spurs' squad? Yes, they have Bale, they've just signed the Brazilian lad that none of his new team mates have heard of, and they have one or two other decent lads in there BUT there's a whole load of aging, mediocrity in there, too. Dawson, Huddlestone etc. are decent pros but they are hardly world-beaters. People are being brainwashed by these endless pro-spurs newspaper articles. Who else do they have? Dempsey? Defoe? Aaron Lennon...would I want Lambert to sign any of those three? Hand on heart, nope - they remind me of O'Neill era Villa players whose best days are behind them now.

I get the impression AVB is going to go all out for top four next season but Spurs will fall short again as they do not have the quality or strength in depth. By this time next year Bale and AVB will be gone leaving spurs to begin their inevitable descent to the relegation zone where 'Arry picked them up from a few short years ago.

You've conveniently left out Dembele, Sandro, Vertongen, Walker, Kaboul, Holtby, Siggurdson and Lloris who would probably all get in our first 11. Spurs have an excellent squad with decent options and cover for most positions but what they really lack is a decent striker.

Look, I hate Spurs as much as you do and i'm properly annoyed that through bad management they have been able to overtake us recently, but if they are willing to pay the cash we'd want, he would happily go there IMO

[brommy]

What makes you think he wants to go? For someone who supposedly wants to leave he's doing a pretty good job of hiding it.

For someone who supposedly wants to stay he's doing a pretty good job of hiding it.

I still say he's open to all opportunities

Wouldnt that indicate that he may not want to stay?

Woodytom, I went to reply with my own words but read that Mantis had put it perfectly, thus:

he's happy to stay but open to leaving if the right offer comes in.

Can you explain why this circumstance appears not to be even a consideration to you?

 

It has

And yet you insist he wants to leave because he hasn't yet signed a new contract with us.

[AshVilla]

Any news on Benteke's current location?

 

Last spotted at a macdonalds drive thru with sylla in the back

[Czechlad]

Benteke is in Germany with the rest of the team. That was just some silly rumor.

[Pez1974]

For me, we either sell early (at a very high price) so that we can get (for example) Bony or Abeumang in as replacements; or we say tough shit, you're staying. The deadline, which we should never publicise, should be the next week or so.

The story in the papers is total bollocks.

[KjParton]

Wasn't he pictured in a car with Sylla? 

[Macca1888]

 

I don't think we can build a team here in the way you or i or indeed the whole fan base would want. Our best players are continually going to be cherry picked and we are going to be in a vicious circle of replacing players and then selling them should they prove to be astute purchases.

 

For the foreseeable future therefore i do not see us building a team with quality players such as Benteke as the economics simply won't allow us to do it.

What's your point?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think people are being naive when they say there's no chance he'd go to Spurs. They're in London, they have a couple of Belgians there already ( Vertongen, Dembele ), he'd be guaranteed first choice centre forward and with a couple of quality additions ( and keeping Bale ) , they have a squad that could not only challenge for top 4 but 1st-3rd. Yes they are not in the champions league this season but with all the recent managerial changes, they could do well next season.

If they are prepared to pay the amount we'd consider for him ( £25m + ) then I think they would be a very attractive option to him, sadly

Totally agree.

All the positives you cite for Spurs could be countered by saying he has made some very good mates at Villa (Sylla being one of his big buddies, to name but one), he is first choice forward at Villa, he is part of a top notch strike force at Villa, and, despite the recent managerial changes, he is currently at a club that could do very well next season (yep, Villa can do very well next season - especially if we keep our attacking three together).

There's a reason Spurs don't sign decent players from Villa and that reason is we are a bigger, more historic and successful club than them.

I don't think Benteke would care about our history in all honesty, for most footballers it's about the here and now IMO. At the moment, Spurs are a more attractive proposition than us and even if we do have a very successful season this year, do you think we'd finish above them ? I don't.

I genuinely think that he's quite happy here but if they came in with a big enough offer, I don't think he'd hesitate to move there. Our one saving grace could be the fact that we do get top dollar when selling players (like I mentioned above) which might put off some clubs trying to negotiate with us for a player that's only proven himself for one season

Have you seen Spurs' squad? Yes, they have Bale, they've just signed the Brazilian lad that none of his new team mates have heard of, and they have one or two other decent lads in there BUT there's a whole load of aging, mediocrity in there, too. Dawson, Huddlestone etc. are decent pros but they are hardly world-beaters. People are being brainwashed by these endless pro-spurs newspaper articles. Who else do they have? Dempsey? Defoe? Aaron Lennon...would I want Lambert to sign any of those three? Hand on heart, nope - they remind me of O'Neill era Villa players whose best days are behind them now.

I get the impression AVB is going to go all out for top four next season but Spurs will fall short again as they do not have the quality or strength in depth. By this time next year Bale and AVB will be gone leaving spurs to begin their inevitable descent to the relegation zone where 'Arry picked them up from a few short years ago.

You've conveniently left out Dembele, Sandro, Vertongen, Walker, Kaboul, Holtby, Siggurdson and Lloris who would probably all get in our first 11. Spurs have an excellent squad with decent options and cover for most positions but what they really lack is a decent striker.

Look, I hate Spurs as much as you do and i'm properly annoyed that through bad management they have been able to overtake us recently, but if they are willing to pay the cash we'd want, he would happily go there IMO

 

In my opinion Benteke would happily stay with us.  The players you've mentioned are good but Lowton has impressed me as much as Walker and Holtby and Siggurson have been steady if unspectacular. The phrase "would probably get into our first eleven" is meaningless. The only other guy I rate is Dembele, but my original post did state that Spurs  had one or two other decent players.  There's no being selective about it, I rate our players.

 

Now, if people can't quite get their heads around how quickly things can change in football, I ask them to read this article from the Daily Mail and remind themselves of how things were not too long ago.  Villa are rebuilding and are back on an upward curve. Don't let spurs supporting journalists - and their short memories - get the better of you.

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1153063/Harrys-game-Sportsmails-guide-Tottenham-wont-40-point-safety-barrier-Redknapp-targeted.html?ITO=1490

[Woodytom]

 

 

 

 

 

 

What makes you think he wants to go? For someone who supposedly wants to leave he's doing a pretty good job of hiding it.

For someone who supposedly wants to stay he's doing a pretty good job of hiding it.

I still say he's open to all opportunities

Wouldnt that indicate that he may not want to stay?

Woodytom, I went to reply with my own words but read that Mantis had put it perfectly, thus:

he's happy to stay but open to leaving if the right offer comes in.

Can you explain why this circumstance appears not to be even a consideration to you?

 

It has

And yet you insist he wants to leave because he hasn't yet signed a new contract with us.

 

 

 

That is one of the indicators of why I think he will leave/won't be 100% happy should he stay yes. Hardly going round insisting it is true. Just offering my opinion. I have looked at both sides of the argument and decided that I 'think' he is most likely to leave.

 

It would appear that I am far from alone with that opinion too. 

 

However, I don't think any one of us want him to go and there won't be many more disappointed than me.

[StefanAVFC]

 

 

 

Now having money to spend and then spending that money well are two different things but i would again suggest that if Lambert is as astute in the transfer market as the majority thinks then he should be able to replace Benteke with similar quality.

I don't think there are many players in the world with the potential of Benteke who would come to Villa. Hence why he probably will not be here in a years (max) time.

Is Guzan still not counted as Lambert signing? Seeing how he made the decision and had never worked with him before.

Yep, not of the quality of Benteke though.

FPOTS and PPOTS would suggest otherwise.

 

 

And they would be wrong, imo

 

 

How good a player is is usually based on opinion. The opinion of 2 distinct and very different groups of people have decided that Guzan was bigger for us last season.

 

The players and the fans are wrong? That's a huge statement to make.