Time for Weimann to be given a start
I was going to put a question mark after the headline of this post, but I want the player to be given a chance so decided to make it a statement.
Once again we’re tacking the same kind of questions after another Villa defeat, with the lack of goals continuing to be an almighty worry. After the blank at Fulham, that’s now six goals in eight league games, which is simply put, an atrocious record. After we’d signed a couple of strikers in the transfer window, I was excited by the number of options it looked like we might have. Bent to finish, Benteke to offer a more physical threat and strength in the air, Gabby with his pace and work ethic, and Weimann as an all rounder. Not to mention Bowery in reserve who has impressed a few to date. Sadly it hasn’t materialised yet as we all would have liked.
Bent isn’t getting the chances, and not winning people over with his perceived lack of effort. Benteke on the other hand seems to be getting all of our clear cut chances, and is simply not putting them away. Gabby can run and run, but his lack of goals is a serious concern, and Weimann has rather harshly been left out in recent times. The following tweet (from AVFC Stats) shows how many shots our strikers are getting in every league game:
‘League minutes per shot of #AVFC strikers (total shots): Benteke 16.7 (16), Weimann 22.9 (8), Bent 31.7 (18), Agbonlahor 53 (6)’
As you can see, Benteke is getting into the right positions, but sadly his final shot has let him down a number of times….he could easily have five or six goals so far this season. Bent has the most shots, but they’re not coming as often as any of us would like. Agbonlahor’s stats are a concern, and while he has a number of positive attributes, he simply needs to start scoring more goals. Weimann has a respectable amount considering the time he has played, and the two games he started this season (Newcastle away and Swansea at home) were arguably our two best displays of the season (league cup excluded).
Going forward I think things need to change. I wouldn’t be opposed to seeing three of the main four strikers used, with Agbonlahor used in a wide position. Things aren’t clicking at the moment for whatever reason, but I think Weimann has the talent to do well in Lambert’s system.
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I think should try a 4 2 1 3 formation like lowton, Clark vlaar , Bennett, ahmadi , Ireland , Holman, gabby bent benteke or 442 with benteke and weimann upfront ! And lambert needs to get players crossing in air into box not across the ground and no point playing long ball as benteke isn’t fast enough !
Totally agree with increasing the amount of crosses Steve. As we saw with Belgium (granted they have a better standard of player and more options) if you get the ball into the box consistently, Benteke can do some damage. Bannan has great crossing stats, and as we saw against Tottenham, Albrighton can swing in a good ball.
Trouble is Lambert looks to want to play quite narrow, which at the moment I don’t think is working as well as it could.
I fully back the headline, and ironically had a chat with a mate about it prior to kick off on Saturday. Personally, I’d have no qualms at all about leaving out what many would probably say are our top two strikers – Bent & Gabby – and giving Benteke and Weimann a go together. Benteke is getting in the right positions and it’ll come for him if he keeps going, and Weimann knows where the goal is, the kid shoots on instinct and I love it. You literally couldn’t pay Gabby £50k+ a week to shoot at the moment.
With a player like Bent on the pitch, hitting the target and forcing the keeper in to making a save can be as good as a pass to his feet – he’s a 6 yard box poacher, and as we saw with Grant Holt against Arsenal it’s an easy way to pinch a goal. We had a few chances in the game Saturday to test Schwarzer but really didn’t. Holman shot mightily wide in the first half, Gabby had two chances to pull the trigger in the box and decided at a fruitless pass across goal to Bent both times, and the one shot he did hit from 25 yards he sliced high, wide and ugly. It’s annoying at best.
Sure Benteke will be fine as well. Like I said could easily have five or six goals already. Keeps getting himself in the positions, just needs to add a clinical streak. I’m sure Bent labelled Weimann one of the best natural finishers he’s seen. Add to that his work ethic and intelligent runs and I really think he could do well if given a consistent run of games.