Andreas Weimann

[fredm]

With Bent and Gabby not playing tomorrow it will be interesting to see if Andreas starts alongside Benteke.  I do think his natural position is playing more central than on the right of a three man unit behind the central striker.

I also have this feeling that he might well be our "super-sub"; in that he would cause more havoc/score more goals coming on for the last 30 minutes (see Hernandez's stats for when he starts against when he is a sub).

[PaulWinch again]

I'm very glad that Lambert is giving Weimann a chance, I think he's had loads of promise for a while.

[Ads]

I think Charlie deserves a run out in behind a front two. He has an qbility to move the ball on quickly and I think that speed in the space between the midfield and the forwards is what we need.

We keep the ball pretty well, but we need to drive the game on in the final third too.

[tomd2103]

I think Charlie deserves a run out in behind a front two. He has an qbility to move the ball on quickly and I think that speed in the space between the midfield and the forwards is what we need.

We keep the ball pretty well, but we need to drive the game on in the final third too.

Not sure N'Zogbia would work hard enough to play that position.  I agree with your comment about needing drive in the final third, but feel the player in that position also needs to help out defensively. 

I agree with those saying they prefer to see Weimann in a central role in a 3-5-2 formation, as opposed to out wide in a 4-2-3-1.

[Concrete John]

Fair enough we disagree on Gabby (I just don't trust his movement right up front - I think he's better when the instruction is a simple 'find gaps behind Christian'!). I think Weimann's finishing is actually better utilised arriving late in the box, because he's more likely to get space in front of goal with Benteke bullying their defences backwards than if he's right up front foraging for himself. I also think he is direct enough, quick enough and intelligent enough to play as one of the three, but I agree that he would need to be balanced by more out-and-out creators of the type we've mentioned.

I agree with Monty on this, I think Weimann is potentially a great "inside right" he needs to work on going past his man on the outside but I think he has the industry and quality to add that to his game and then arriving late into the box, either onto crosses from the left or picking up the ball being cleared sits him because his technique when he's coming on to the ball is superb, if he's in the box he looks a bit static and seems to struggle to open up his feet.

A young clone on the left and a Merson clone in the middle are the major requirements and then I'd want another player who can compete with Andy but is more of a threat going past people outside, so we have the 'winger' option.

that's give us:

Weimann/{new guy} --- {MERSON}/Holman/Ireland --- {YOUNG}/Gabby/Nzogbia

Behind Benteke, with Gabby as backup for Benteke in the forward role.  If Bent were to stay I'd drop the need for one of the wide players and gabby could concentrate on that role.

It may well be a case of him being able to fit both roles and doing either as the team requires, a bit like Rooney, but I still think he's best as a more traditional striker right now. 

Speaking of which, given Lambert's liking for changing the formation, I think we'll see enough variety from his Villa sides that we'll see all the discussed options eventually.     

[Risso]

What a truly brilliant finish today.  And it's not like he'd probably have been expecting such an inch perfect back heel either, so he needed to react very sharply.  I reckon we could have £50m+ worth of players in those two one day.

[pbavfckuwait]

A better natural finisher than what we paid 18 mill for

[pbavfckuwait]

And also a better team player who wants to be here

[OCD]

Yep. I really enjoyed watching him today. He is a natural finisher but he also defends from the front - he chases everything down, he signals for someone to pick up another player so that we are collectively closing the opposition down on each pass and he has a go at anyone who doesn't close down quick enough. Even right at the end of the game, he chased down about 4 passes - running about 40 yards after having done that all game. Superb work ethic. The guy loves the club too.

[Rancid custard]

I'm glad he's got his chance, there have been so many 'next big thing from the youth team' and kids who never got a fair crack at regular first team action.

[Summers]

Weimann brings everything Bent does (poaching goals, good runs, etc) and so much more. Work rate, team work, enthusiasm, defending, brilliant.

[avfcpg]

Something the Liverpool fans picked up on was his work rate...they were saying the running he did knackered the back 4 trying to track him...

[eamonn]

Commentators take note: He may be a wise man but it's Weimann!! And Weeman is Bannan.

[Mazrim]

I think it must be the nativity on their mind.

[ez]

I'm trying to remember, was it Weimann who scored our goal at Liverpool last season?