Andreas Weimann

[Brend'Watkins]

What I like about our striker options is that the 4 main strikers have different main qualities.
Bent as the goal sniffer, Gabby pace, Weimann workrate and Benteke strength. So in an ideal world we'll swap and change depending on who we are playing.

Yes, nice to have strikers with different qualities.  This season so far they all have a similar quality though and that is they can't seem to score with any regularity. 

[Dante Lavelli]

I think we've got one forward too many.  Bent, Gabby, Benteke and Weimann going for one sometimes two spots.  And that ignores Bowery, Nzogbia, Holman, Grelish and Johnson who could be asked to do a shift if we suffered injuries.

Compare this with Spurs who according to the Fantasy Football have Defoe, Adebeyor and a fella called Lancaster listed as strikers.

[curiousorange]

Much as it seems counter-productive, I agree with an earlier poster who said it's time for Bent and Benteke to get a run together. Chopping and changing strikers is usually as effective as changing your centre-back pairing every week and to be fair, there were signs of a good understanding against Southampton even if we got a tonking. Benteke has fluffed at least three obvious chances but he's getting the chances and I reiterate, that one against West Brom where he put it over the bar was a chance he created all by himself, which I can't remember Bent doing for us.

Put simply, Benteke is only going to start scoring if you leave him on the pitch. I really do like Weimann, to return to the original topic, but until Benteke has proved that he's hopeless we can only go on Weimann's previous partnership with Bent, which looked hard-working but not very productive.

[Percy McCarthy]

I'd persevere with Gabby and Benteke. They (mostly Gabby) destroyed Lescott and Toure, and with better finishing from Benteke could have done the same to Spurs. Bent scores the odd scrambled effort in 1-1 draws or 4-1 defeats, but never seems to be part of a an all-round attacking display.

[Dante Lavelli]

Benteke reminds me of Drogba when he first appeared in the premiership, he can look cumbersome but on other occasions he looks unplayable.  Thankfully he's not into all that diving malarkey. 

[Percy McCarthy]

Agreed. I think he's going to be great on the proviso that his finishing improves.

[PaulTheVillan]

I'd try Gabby and Bent in the next game. If Given was dropped for the mistake v Everton, then Benteke should be dropped for the header v Spurs

[ktvillan]

I've been banging on about how good I think Weimann is for ages but for some reason thought I was in a minority.  I'm glad to see plenty of others agree.   His movement is excellent, way better than Gabby's.   He has been very unlucky not to get at least two goals this season, hitting the post against Everton and having one cleared off the line against Swansea and I think Citeh as well?  His finishing is certainly no worse than that displayed by Benteke in the last few games, which haven't even been on target.  He is very unfortunate to be finding himself apparently 4th choice at the moment.  I just hope he doesn't do a Cahill through lack of chances, because we'd be kicking ourselves again in a few seasons.

[Risso]

I just can't see the Drogba comparison at all with Benteke, other than the obvious fact that they're both big and black.  Benteke reminds me more of Fashanu than Drogba so far.

[Aston Villa]

Much as it seems counter-productive, I agree with an earlier poster who said it's time for Bent and Benteke to get a run together.

Problem with that though is that the B&B partnership involves Benteke becoming the second striker which causes the team to revert to long ball tactics. I think it should be one or the other spearheading the attack.

[Aston Villa]

I've been banging on about how good I think Weimann is for ages but for some reason thought I was in a minority.  I'm glad to see plenty of others agree.   His movement is excellent, way better than Gabby's.   He has been very unlucky not to get at least two goals this season, hitting the post against Everton and having one cleared off the line against Swansea and I think Citeh as well?  His finishing is certainly no worse than that displayed by Benteke in the last few games, which haven't even been on target.  He is very unfortunate to be finding himself apparently 4th choice at the moment.  I just hope he doesn't do a Cahill through lack of chances, because we'd be kicking ourselves again in a few seasons.

This. You are not the only one. I remember as far back as the MON days those who went to reserve games constantly telling we that they rate him over the Fonz (and this is when most of us still rated the Fonz too).

[PeterWithesShin]

I just can't see the Drogba comparison at all with Benteke, other than the obvious fact that they're both big and black.  Benteke reminds me more of Fashanu than Drogba so far.

I'd say Benteke is a far better player at 21 than Drogba was.

[N'ZMAV]

I'd take a 45 year old Drogba over Benteke at the minute.

[Risso]

I just can't see the Drogba comparison at all with Benteke, other than the obvious fact that they're both big and black.  Benteke reminds me more of Fashanu than Drogba so far.

I'd say Benteke is a far better player at 21 than Drogba was.

Maybe so, but then Drogba is famous for being a late starter when it comes to turning pro.

[PeterWithesShin]

I just can't see the Drogba comparison at all with Benteke, other than the obvious fact that they're both big and black.  Benteke reminds me more of Fashanu than Drogba so far.

I'd say Benteke is a far better player at 21 than Drogba was.

Maybe so, but then Drogba is famous for being a late starter when it comes to turning pro.

So considering Drogba was pretty much bobbins until he was 24, maybe we should wait more than 5 games before labelling a 21 year old who has just moved country the new Fashanu. Give the kid a chance, we should have learnt that from the like of Savo and Crouch.