Is Christian Benteke to Blame for His Poor Form?

aston villa tough

What’s up with Christian Benteke?

 

Once upon a time…well, last season, Christian Benteke was immortal. He carried the Villa team and supporters on his own back to Premiership safety, destroying a few defences along the way. From the start of 2013, his 14 goals in 17 starts put him up there with Messi and Ronaldo in terms of the top European goal scorers. He started the 2013/14 season where he left off, but then an injury picked up against Norwich seemed to make Benteke mortal again.

Benteke hasn’t scored since, with his drought now lasting 10 games with is last goal coming in the  2-1 home defeat by Newcastle on the 14th September. Benteke is the only world class player at Villa’s disposal, but surely such a player doesn’t lose his mojo just like that?

As reported elsewhere, Jamie Redknapp suggested last weekend that Villa’s talisman was playing like a pussycat instead of the lion of last year, while fans have cited a lack of effort from the Belgian in recent games. The more cynical fans amongst us, have even said the Villa striker’s heart isn’t in it anymore and that he’s waiting for a move in January. I don’t believe any of that.

Christian Benteke is still only 23-years-old and at that age temperament and confidence can always be issues. He has the added pressure of competing with an on-fire Romelu Lukaku for the lone strikers spot in the Belgian national team for the forthcoming World Cup.  Benteke’s injury was also the first proper one of his career. When you look at his demeanor, Benteke is more the humble and quiet type off the pitch, rather than the cock-sure confident kid, so these things may get to him if he isn’t getting the rub of the green.

The key to his frustration though perhaps lies in the kind of service he’s been getting. Villa had possessed one of the most prolific Premier League strikers there’s been, in the shape of record signing Darren Bent and he ultimately ended up starved of chances and surplus to requirements. There was more to Benteke’s game then Bent’s, in terms of making him a better all-round focus for Lambert’s Villa’s attacking play, but once he was no longer a surprise package in the Premier League, teams obviously began to make provisions for playing against him.

A team without possession isn’t going to maximise the chances they create for their forwards and Villa’s average possession in a game is 42.1%, only Crystal Palace have a lower figure in the league. As a direct result, Villa have had the lowest percentage of shots within the six-yard box of any team in the Premier League.

 

Benteke on that evidence, seemingly doesn’t have too much to work with.

 

A lot of his goals last season were fashioned by linking up with fellow forwards Andi Weimann and Gabby Agbonlahor on the counter attack. But teams this season have become increasingly wise to the threat of the Villa trio, closing down the space behind them, so not to get caught out.

 

Due to the Villa midfield’s lack of prowess when it comes to possession, this leaves Benteke heavily marked and feeding off long balls.

 

Christian Benteke feeling the heat

 

christian benteke heat map
Benteke’s heat map against Cardiff

 

As we can see from Benteke’s heat map in the home win against Cardiff,during most of the game, the Villa striker is trying to pick up Guzan long balls down the centre or lefthand side.  The brief time he spent in the penalty box seems to be his position for corner kicks. The heat map matches ones from other recent games like the one below against Manchester United.

 

benteke heat map
Benteke’s heat map vs United

 

It’s getting pretty predictable to say the least. Just put a couple of men on Benteke behind the half-way line on Villa’s left-hand side when Guzan gets the ball, and you’ve neutralised him!

How does he compare to other strikers? Well, lets pick one of the supposed more lazy strikers in Dimitar Berbatov. A player that this month was accused by Rodney Marsh of “walking around like he is wearing an overcoat, smoking a cigar”.

 

bebatov heat map fulham
Bebatov’s heat map for Fulham vs Villa in their 2-0 win

 

He may not be the most mobile of players, but look how Bebatov benefits from playing in a team with the majority of possession and that plays a more astute passing game. Bebatov is much more involved in the play, linking things up and also has a bigger presence in the opponents penalty box.

We’re almost bored on MOMS about whining about the need for an attacking midfielder to feed Villa’s front three and to pull defences out of position. Idealistic? We don’t think so. He’d be the player that Westwood lays the ball off to, a player that Delph could link up with when driving forward, then the provider to set up Villa’s front line. Of course, quality players in this position don’t grow on trees, but they do exist. Certainly a more forward-thinking player is better than how the current three Villa midfielders play, which is ultimately a variation on a theme.

As I’ve hinted at in other articles, opportunity knocks for Lambert in the January window. If the right player is purchased, then Benteke may have the opportunity to begin 2014 as he did 2013, and become immortal once again.

 


 

5 COMMENTS

  1. Helenius is a ‘different type’ of striker alright, one that isn’t even good enough to get a game even as a sub, in ‘that’ team.

    • Recently on Twitter the question was asked what is a fullback but in respect to this topic we should be asking “What is a striker ? ” I know most think of a striker as an attacking center forward , and folk are asking for an Attacking Midfield but what is the difference ?
      I note fom the Villa squad list that Tonev is listed as a forward , but it would seem most view him as a midfield .
      And last time I watched Helenius play , which was for the U21’s ill fated last cup match , he was doing a very good job of running down the ball as one would expect a midfield would do rather than a striker

  2. But what is the right sort of player ? I realise the article is hinting @ the need for an AM yet Lambert bought Helenius instead of an AM . And with Lamberts emphasise on buying players who have multiple roles I suspect that was deliberate , especially as he’s comented several times that Helenius is a different type of striker . But why then has he hardly used him ?
    I suspect the answer to that lies in the fact that we have not had a player capable of playing as the lone DM and instead have been using 2 players as blockers in midfield , reducing the numbers available to support attack . So I’d suggest that rather than an AM we are in greater need of a DM
    But having said that with rumours that Herd may start tomorrow it will be interesting to see whether he starts @ DM or as a 3rd CB especially if we may have a proper winger in the Shape of Albrighton possibly in the line up !

    • My guess is that Herd would start as the second centre back, alongside Baker. Since Clark is suspended, and Vlaar is a maybe, and even if Vlaar is deemed fit, he will not have trained much, and probably won’t be fit for 90 minutes of action, so I can’t see us going with three at the back, or of leaving it to Vlaar and Baker.

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