Christian Benteke

[Belgian guy]

 

So he's out for 6 weeks is this correct?

That's what BBC Sport says, but judging from the reactions in this thread you'd think it was 6 months.

 

I mean, him being out for a month/6 weeks is bad and all but it's not like he's out for the rest of the season. Some people really need to get a grip and stop overreacting to everything.

 

 

take it back...

[Belgian guy]

ama sacrifise a goat anyway... who knows it might help..

 

i hoped lambert was right but when i saw him on crouches i feared the worst. but Benteke has a reputation to heal faster then the average player. he stunned the medical staff from genk a few times after a injury. lets hope he'l pull it off again.

Edited September 25, 2013 by Belgian guy

[Zatman]

he will miss a minimum of 4 games and if look at them id imagine we would only get 3-5 points with Benteke in the team. 

 

id rather he back and fresh for these

 

Premier League

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Sat 30 Nov 15:00  

[vandaq]

 The great news just keeps on coming

[PaulC]

4-6 weeks so I guess the earliest he could be back is for the Spurs game. We've seen what we are like without him last night. Its bad news but I guess it could be worse. It will give an opportunity for Kozak or maybe even Helenius who despite the score-line held the ball up better than Kozak did. I fear its going to be a tough watch against city. I hope we have Westwood, Gabby and Delph back for that one.

[Belgian guy]

[Belgian guy]

interesting article about the importance of benteke to aston villa imo im gonna copy it here:

 

Not many fans of domestic clubs enjoy the prospect of an international break but it's fair to say that Aston Villa's supporters will be thankful for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. One player that will definitely not feature for his country in a fortnight is Christian Benteke, who Paul Lambert confirmed would be sidelined for 4 to 6 weeks with the hip injury he sustained against Norwich at the weekend.

It begs the question as to how Villa will cope in the absence of the man that undoubtedly kept the club in the Premier League last time round, but if the forward were to pick up an injury this season, the timing could have been much worse. Plenty have taken Lambert's quotes and claimed that the 22-year old will be out towards the upper end of the timeframe stated but Villa will no doubt look to get their star man back in action in a month or so.

If they can manage that then the Midlands outfit may only have to cope without their top scorer for matches against Man City, Hull, Spurs and Everton, three of which they would have been expected to lose regardless of Benteke's absence. They'll hope to have the target man back for the eminently more 'winnable' fixtures against West Ham and Cardiff before another hiatus due to the World Cup qualification play-offs. 

It's fair to say that the heavy Capital One Cup defeat against Tottenham is not worth reading into when you consider Villa's credentials without the former Genk striker. Lambert fielded an XI without the likes of Guzan, Clark, Luna, Delph, Westwood, Weimann and Agbonlahor in addition to Benteke, with at least 5 of those players likely to be back in action at the weekend.

It is, however, also reasonable to predict that the test coming up for Lambert's young lions couldn't be much tougher. They host a City side fresh from netting 9 goals in the space of 3 days, including 4 against champions United, with home matches against Tottenham, once more, and Everton to come in their next four matches. 

With most sides fighting for survival the notion that their home record is all-important is applicable, but that's certainly not the case for the Villans. They’ve picked up fewer points in their last 13 home matches than any other current Premier League side (10) and their struggles at Villa Park remain the key concern for the club.

 

In contrast, in their last 15 league away matches only United, Arsenal and Spurs have lost fewer than Aston Villa's 4, with those defeats coming at the hands of Arsenal, United and Chelsea twice. It makes their trip to Hull in early October somewhat of a must win match if they are to avoid dropping into the relegation zone before Benteke's return, while the fact that the three upcoming home fixtures are against tougher opposition may be a blessing in disguise with regards to the Belgian's absence.

Lambert's side are renowned for their counter-attacking style nowadays but when tasked with the initiative to break teams down they struggle, and they'll do so even more without Benteke. Ten of Villa's last 17 league goals at Villa Park have been scored by the man that they desperately fought to keep hold of this summer and without those goals it's near impossible to see them picking up points in their next few home games.

Interestingly enough Gabby Agbonlahor played through the middle at the weekend against Norwich, even before Benteke's substitution, and looked lively, creating a match high of 6 key passes including Libor Kozak's winning goal. The former Lazio fringe player is one of those that Lambert has challenged to relish the chance to start in Benteke's absence. His main competition will come from fellow summer signing Nicklas Helenius, who is likely to be remembered somewhat unfortunately for being unwittingly exposed by Jan Vertonghen in the week for some time.

Weimann's shift to the left in the match at Carrow Road also proved beneficial, with the young Austrian close to netting twice in the opening 5 minutes, attempting 4 shots in total, as he was able to cut in onto his stronger right foot. That may well be the way to go with their prized asset sidelined, leaving the right-sided spot vacant for one of Tonev, Albrighton or Bacuna to claim.

However, while Villa's lack of goals without Benteke will be the primary concern for the fans, it's the creativity that he brings that is often underrated, the loss of which could in fact be felt more. Since the start of last season the Belgium international has made almost twice as many key passes from open play as any teammate, with 59 way ahead of Agbonlahor on 29. In terms of big chances created his figure of 12 is again close to double that of the next best in the squad (Weimann - 7). Indeed, when you look at those figures compared to the league's top creators only 11 have made more key passes from open play, while only 8 have created more big chances for teammates. 

Benteke isn't just Villa's goalscorer, he's their link man, creative force and aerial target all rolled into one. Their means and end if you will. While Lambert is unlikely to be able to replace his threat in the coming weeks, Villa's tough start to the fixture list should, in a strange way, come as some sort of relief to the club's fans.

Edited September 25, 2013 by Belgian guy

[Nigel]

Remember when we lost Carew all those years back...Gabby time!

[CrackpotForeigner]

Hmm. I'd certainly not "expect us to lose" against Everton with Benteke in the side.

[JoshVilla]

It's a massive, massive blow for us, but I agree the timing could definitely be worse. Now is really the time for Weimann, Gabby and Kozak to step up to the plate and prove that we aren't the one man team that everybody thinks we are. It's true that we're a better side with him and he provides the greatest threat, which is obvious because he's a class player that would be an improvement to any team, but the rest of our strike force needs to use this bit of sh*t news to show that we can still be competitive without him, which is probably what we'll be next season.

[VillaChris]

4 weeks is 28 days, we play Spurs in 25 days time.

 

If he is a quick healer then I reckon he'll be back on the bench for that game. I only think he will be unavailable for two league games, one of which would probably be a defeat even if he played.

[KjParton]

As long as he's back against West Ham & Cardiff (games we need to win) then i'm okay with it. It may give other players a chance to shine. 

[villa-revolution]

I really hope that we are just blagging the true extent of the beast's  recovery time for  our own selfish purposes & that in reality he will actually be fit much earlier. Just before the International break in fact but ofcourse we won't let on about his true availability to Belgium in case they try to use him & knacker him up completely. Instead we can quietly use that period to build him back up again behind close doors at Bodymoor Heath ready to unleash onto a poor unsuspecting Spurs as pay back for last night & for what went on over the Summer.

 

The Beast will return fitter & stronger.

[KjParton]

As in Villa have said 4-6 weeks but are secretly keeping it under wraps that he's actually only going to be out for 3 weeks. 

 

Belgium play internationals on the 11th of October. I would hope that would be the case, but i'm unsure as to whether Christian Benteke would be too happy about it? 

[villa-revolution]

As in Villa have said 4-6 weeks but are secretly keeping it under wraps that he's actually only going to be out for 3 weeks. 

 

Belgium play internationals on the 11th of October. I would hope that would be the case, but i'm unsure as to whether Christian Benteke would be too happy about it? 

 

We can always lay blame on the Scanning Machine & claim it developed a fault because :

 

"You know when you've been Benteked!"

[PaulC]

4 weeks is 28 days, we play Spurs in 25 days time.

 

If he is a quick healer then I reckon he'll be back on the bench for that game. I only think he will be unavailable for two league games, one of which would probably be a defeat even if he played.

 

yes those 3 days will make all the difference. I'm sure Benteke will be as disappointed to miss the international game. I take it his priority is the world cup and to be in that Belgium team. This make give Lukaku a chance to show what he can do.

[Voinjama]

Trying to look at positives here. This may reduce the chance of him being sold in January if he is out injured until November.

[vandaq]

I dont think he was leaving either way in january. That is up for discussion of course but I seriously doubt it. 

We are playing to his strengths, he is banging in goals, there is a world cup coming up and his focus should be to maximize his performances, have a great world cup and go the next level. Cannot blame him at this stage, he looks above as at the moment. Still, this has been discussed to death, opinions will vary.

[CrackpotForeigner]

Trying to look at positives here.

 

Here's one: Seeing as the maximum amount of time he's predicted to be out for is six weeks, and it seems pretty fair to expect him to be back in about four, anyone who says he's out for two months (and there's at least one) is a pessimistic little sod who can safely be "Ignored".

[AntrimBlack]

As long as he's back against West Ham & Cardiff (games we need to win) then i'm okay with it. It may give other players a chance to shine. 

 

Very much in agreement with this. The timing could have been much worse. And this will show if we really are a one man team, because if this is the case it will have to be addressed next summer. No way of knowing if this is the case without testing it over several actual games. 

For what it is worth, I have always thought Kozak was back up for Benteke and not his replacement.

However, Kozak has his chance now.