Andreas Weimann

[PaulWinch again]

I'd like to see Weimann get a good chance, he seems to have great striking instincts and I think he'll be a quality player. I also think Benteke will come good and it is about a season too early to even consider judging him.

[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.

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).

I   don't get to see the reserves and don't really see it as a reliable gauge as it's very different from the PL.  My liking for Wiemann started during the Liverpool home game last season, just before Christmas.  Bent was injured and Fonz started. Fonz did okay in his half arsed way but we were generally awful.  Weimann came on with about 15-20 minutes to go and I noticed his movement straight away. He made 5 or 6 excellent runs off the ball into great positions, more than the rest of the team had done all game.  Not one of them was noticed by a team mate and he never received a pass.  He was just starting to show what he could do with a few players who are aware of his movement when he got left out.  Shame.

[PaulTheVillan]

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.

Snap. It's early days and I hope he'll become a hit for us, but I got a few comments back on the old twatter when I said I think he'll be a flop.

[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).

I   don't get to see the reserves and don't really see it as a reliable gauge as it's very different from the PL.

True but it is a gauge of potential to an extent. People who went to the reserve games told me about his good runs as well as his more then handy finishing. Which is why it was no suprise to me when he started to do it with the first team. 

[Steve R]

...

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.

I couldn't agree more. Benteke is just 9 months older than Weimann. Whereas Weimann was unlucky not to score against Swansea, Benteke gets the banjo/cows arse treatment for missing against Spurs.

They are both very good players. If Benteke had graduated from the academy we'd be raving about him too.

[Aston Villa]

...

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.

I couldn't agree more. Benteke is just 9 months older than Weimann. Whereas Weimann was unlucky not to score against Swansea, Benteke gets the banjo/cows arse treatment for missing against Spurs.

They are both very good players. If Benteke had graduated from the academy we'd be raving about him too.

This. At least Benteke looks like he'll get a couple of chances a game. Which is why I don't get these Heskey comparisons too. Heskey didn't look like getting a couple of chances a season.

[paul_e]

I think both Weimann and Benteke are doing the right things at the moment, both are capable of finding space and getting shots away, now it's a confidence thing.  Once they start scoring these chances they'll both grow for it, add in Bent and Gabby and we've potentially got a very good strike force but, much like other areas of the team, it getting the confidence and experience at this level where it needs to be.

[Percy McCarthy]

Drogba? Meh. My old mate (who knows about these things) likens Benteke to Gerry Hitchens. Now you're talking.

Quite agree it's unfair to judge him negatively after five games. It's not like he's had no impact.

Scored and looked dangerous in his cameo v Swansea. Showed excellent vision when setting up a great missed chance for Bent at Southampton, an assist each for Gabby and CNZ at Man City, was a real handful against West Brom and Spurs. Missed some good chances, but has been in position and found the space and time to make them look easy, and if/when he starts putting them away occasionally he's going to be a top player.

[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.

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.

I haven't labelled him as anything. I merely opined that based on his first few games, when he has been largely disappointing, that he doesn't resemble Drogba at all, and that if I did have to compare him to somebody, based on those few games, it would be John Fashanu, who displayed a similar level of skill to that displayed by Benteke so far.  He may turn out to be a good player and I hope he does, but in line with the title of the thread, I think that Weimann is a much, much better player, and should be in the team ahead of Benteke.  I think it's only the fact that Benteke cost £7m that's keeping him in the side, he isn't in there on merit in my opinion.  Fine, by all means "give him time", but why isn't that being extended to Weimann, who is more experienced in the Premier League and was a major reason that we stayed up at all last year.

[PeterWithesShin]

You have labelled him, you liken him to Fashanu and have called him a donkey. If you prefer Weimann to Benteke why not just say so and praise Weimann rather than being negative about Benteke? I''m hoping all 4 get plenty of starts and chances as they all offer something different so would make use of those strengths depending on who the opposition are.

And how many times did you see Fashanu score a goal like the one Benteke scored against Swansea?

[Risso]

And how many times did you see Fashanu score a goal like the one Benteke scored against Swansea?

Lionel Fashanessi!

[PeterWithesShin]

Awooga! Still didn't have the skill and deft touch of Benteke though <evilgrin>

[Aston Villa]

Made his international debut for the senior team tonight. Shame is was in the 84th minute and should have probably come on sooner considering it finished 0-0 against the mighty Kazakhstan. Still, maybe he'll start next game considering their strike force didn't exactly endear themselves tonight.

[SoccerHQ]

Became a man tonight in a football sense.

I've said for a while I think Weimann will get into double figures this season even if he's sometimes a sub.

Really impressed me how he's progressed in th last year, think he's got the tools to succeed in the prem.

[richardhubbard]

He got a great future now his getting a run he looks v good