Well, this is all we needed isn’t it?
I’ve just heard the news that Christian Benteke suffered a torn Achilles heel in training, which could leave him out of the game for up to six months.
Obviously that means he won’t play again this season and probably worse from a personal point of view for him, means he won’t make the World Cup either.
The selfish part of me thinks that it will probably mean any move in the summer will also be off, meaning we get to keep him for another season.
Mind you, we bought Downing with a major injury, so you never know.
No doubt some of you will probably thinking it’s not that much of a loss as he hasn’t exactly been on fire recently, but he’d always be the first name on my teamsheet, as he’s by far our highest threat.
Hence I think he’s a major loss.
It’ll be interesting to see how Lambert attempts to get round this.
Could he actually put Gabby in the middle again, so we use him in his best position?
I’ll leave that part down to the tacticians to possibly answer.
Comments
70 responses to “Benteke out for up to six months – torn Achilles”
Time to give Robinson a chance! But knowing Lambert he will see this as a chance to start Holt…. Which will prove he has lost the plot, cannot rely on Gabby or Wiemann for the goals.
P.S. Gutted for Benteke even though he was probably off in the summer still don’t wish it on a player.
Means we have him for at least half of next season. Good job lambert had the foresight to sign a world class’s replacement in grant holt. What a great manager we have!!
Notice the “up to six months”, as opposed to N’Zog’s already 10 months?
OMG, I forgot about Holt!
Yes, that would make perfect sense.
Jeez 🙁
Time for helenius to start. Gabby is also out the weekend.
Maybe holt crippled hin
I think Lambert is cursed, lets just get rid of him!! Lambert that is, not Benteke!
Bad luck, Helenius should get an opportunity but as Lamberk is a deluded twat he’ll play his fat useless lump Holt.
Do you think the same player nobbled Kozak? Hopefully like mentioned we get to see some of the fringe players opposed to Holt.
Could have really done with him for the Fulham game to see us over the finishing line. I’m nervous that we’ll stagger to safety and it’ll put anxiety and doubts in minds of players for the run in.
Wouldn’t worry we will limp our way to safety with or without him no probs. apart from Norwich game he’s hardly set the world alight anyway and please don’t say he dosnt get service he should of scored 3 at least v utd
Wheres Bowery? couldn’t make it up Holt to the rescue hoof ball time Lambert out sick of this crap fans need to wake up time to stand up and hit Randy in the pocket . vtid
It’s now time for the fringe players bar holt to prove themselves,as they know chances don’t come along very often when benteke’s fit.will we see benteke wearing a villa shirt again? i ask myself.i beleive he’ll be bought injured in the summer.
Fringe players have to get the chance to prove themselves. Helenius, Robinson, 2 good enough strikers that can score goals that should get a chance. Question is, does Lambert play them, or does he change his formation up to put either Gabby or Weimann up front (if one or both are fit) instead of allowing the others to prove themselves?
Hi Andrew off subject I know but told you utd v bayern would be closer than everyone was saying. Expect them to get thru on away goals or pens
You were right, though I forgot the first game was at Old Trafford. I still expect Bayern to go through comfortably, but they were absolute pants the first game and a host of injuries in midfield could cause a problem, but I don’t think it will in all honesty as long as Mandzukic actually starts, they’ll go through pretty easy still.
I’m still not convinced Andrew they never do well v English clubs at home anyway. I can’t see utd winning on the night but can see a score draw and them winning on pens. If BM go thru it will be closer than we think.
True but unlike against Arsenal and City, this time they don’t have a lead, so they can’t play like they usually do. It might be closer, but I can only see Bayern going through.
possibly we shall see but I think it will go to the wire either way. If they had RVP fit id make utd favourites
Never favorites, even with a fully fit team. They have to go to Germany to face the best team in the world still. But Rooney’s injured and could miss the game now so they’re screwed if that’s true.
Not heard about Rooney. But either way they will park the bus try for 0.0 then last half hr will have a go. Obviously without Rooney if true then they will struggle but bayern will have to play better this time. Too much tippy tippy football but all played in front of utd defence if defence dosnt commit then your not going to create much. Even on tue utd had the best chances despite BM having most possession. Also they will be without sweinstiegar.
Yeah but they still have the likes of Kroos and Gotze (who can play midfield), Mandzukic will no doubt start this time around. Just can’t see it. But who knows? United have to score which will be incredibly tough for them to do.
I agree Andrew, it gets Lambert off the hook of being accused of rashly bringing in strikers when better ones – though misfiring – were available. Holt cannot do 90 mins even against Fulham. As for Robinson and Helenius CARPE DIEM.
Was starting to panic then, but remembered we have a world class striker ready and waiting in the wings…Grant Holt! Phew! Crisis averted!
Everyone still think we’re safe already??
Off topic, but AVFC season ticket office have tried to ring me a few times today. Hmmm I wonder what they want….
Anyone else got a call?
Injured in training? What do they do in training? Westwood’s free kick was the first move this season that I have noticed as having an element of Training-ground move in it. Anyone else like to name others? Our defending at corners has improved when Vlaar is there, looks ropey when he isn’t. But when we are attacking corners or free kicks into the oppos box, it really looks like the deliverer does not know what runs are planned and the receivers, for want of a better term, have no idea where the ball will land.
Ah, the oft mentioned Villa coaching issue raises it’s head again.
While I was under the impression we’d got new coaches in (sure I saw references suggesting that on here), it seems it’s still Lambert and Culverhouse doing the coaching;
http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/WhosWho/
That’s ok then.
And of course it’s much cheaper.
Calls for Helenius will prove wide of the mark, with him having had the cheek to complain about not playing.
And some of us thought MON was an egotistical type?
Same here, can’t be asked to speak to them. Really looked forward to having my first season ticket the past 2 seasons, has been a real let down, the clear lack of effort week in week out for the badge against the teams seen as average is a joke. The players are never up for these games and just mince round the field like they are the big I am. Also it’s not good when your sitting there with head down coz the football is so dull and frustrating due to the lack of the basics being performed. Love the club it’s in my heart but would rather get frustrated on my sofa at home rather than the 4 hour round trip to leave pissed off 80% of the time.
I think this is actually really good news for the club provided we stay up, as Ooh Ahh said, at least we’ll have him next season.
good news all around (apart from his injury of course, hope he pulls through soon). He won’t get to show off at the world, we won’t lose him, he’ll come back with something to prove, we can try to develop our other players and not be a one man team.
Regardless of his form the lads a class act and his mere presence on the pitch puts the fear into opposition defences that added to the fact they are likely to double up on him creating space for others to exploit.
His impact on the Villa faithful is not to be underestimated either, the fact he’s on the pitch is a massive boost, yea an enormous loss and one I hope doesn’t turn out to be disastrous.
We could always call back the Fonz from Cov?
Bent?
Lambert appears to have ruled that out, in the B’ham mail he is quoted as saying after being asked if Bent was part of his plans ” “No, the club’s moved on”.
Pride comes before a fall, let’s hope we don’t.
What the feck are Culverhouse and Lambert doing to them in training ???
Not Bent’s biggest fan but you can’t knock his scoring record and he ‘s got to be an improvement on Holt but at least he cant hurt us tomorrow.
Oh well you never know there could be a silver lining Lambert’s hand could be forced and he might try something different (Helenius and Callum Robinson?) but then again I doubt it.
But he wouldn’t have been with us next season if fit anyway. So effectively we would have to plan without him anyway. Thus we can try out different players now we are safe
“apart from Norwich game he’s hardly set the world alight”
True but the ability is there (imo) and you can’t say that about too many of our lot.
No that was me paraphrasing Ooh Ahh, i think he’s a huge talent and is still our top scorer this season.
Sorry mate I hadn’t read his comment.
I think if we beat Fulham then we should be safe in which case the Benteke injury could be a blessing with him not being able to showcase his skills at the World Cup, which could mean perhaps another half a season with us?
On the other hand, lose to Fulham, which i can see happening, and things don’t look so rosy, in which case this injury could be serious for all concerned.
Big weekend this.
I think we are safe(ish) anyway with the bottom 3 averaging less than a point a game and I can’t see that changing but as you say massive game tomorrow, win and we’re as safe as houses.
Robinson, Burke, Helenius – Start those three up top and put Gabby and Weimann on the bench please Lambert! – Benteke is a big loss, we have little to no threat with gabby and Andy so surely we have to see now if the youth can step up. If Holt starts which im 99% sure he will then AVFC is becoming more of a farce than I originally thought.
Looks like Gabby’s out with a sickness bug anyway, this isn’t looking clever.
£200k raised for acorns at the Stoke game fantastic news and makes me very proud to be a Villa fan
Yes that does make you proud to be a fan.
interesting news faulkner has joined fa board of directors and the club are advertising for a market exec.
Does that mean he’s fucking off then mate? 😀
not sure its on the VP OS. Sounds like he will be with us still unfortunately but in a reduced capacity
‘in a reduced capacity’whats that then mate?you actually mean he’s lost some weight?wow
Lol
Ooha no preview for the fulham game mate? 🙁
This is great news for Lambert. He has got all the excuses he wants now til the end of the season.
And just when Gabby needs to step up he feels a bit poorly. Typical
Not only that with us not being able to sell benteke we can’t rebuild. Bertrand is out the question thou not bothered as not sure about him. Then with the £10 mill or so he gets from Lerner at £5-8 me will be spent on a decent striker. Leaving lambert the perfect excuse not having enough money to strengthen midfield. At least benteke will be back for Xmas to help us out of bottom 3 bit like what bent did only this is effectively free
no Oohah your forgetting this is Faulkner and Lerner, they will pay over the odds to get him repaired from his injury, just in time for the January window !!
true one things for certain anyone who buys a st to watch a repeat of our last 2 seasons at home needs certifying as insane. Im saving my money and going to away matches instead next season as football is at least more entertaining and Im supporting the team rather than lerner
20m*… If he can get 20m for the last 2 years, it won’t drop. 😉
It would be nice to see Lambert try something different rather than just play Holt. I guess the obvious point is that Holt was brought in to provide experienced cover for Kozak. It is the simple solution and no one could accuse Lambert of being imaginative or experimental in his approach to these matters. I must be getting old but something in the back of mind tells me that Lambert was forced through injury and suspension to change the shape of the team last year, and it seemed to coincide with a change in Villa’s performances and results. Am I imagining that?
Trying to find a bright spot in a depressing season that has just got even worse, maybe the same might happen if he brings in Helenius and Robinson for Benteke and Gabby for example.
Holt can’t play tomorrow as he has an extra shift down the building site, hod carrying and its time and a half so can’t turn it down
Last year when villa were playing well (after Feb) we had a centrel midfield trio of Sylla, Westwood and Delph. Sylla hasn’t had a run in the team this season. 20mins here and there doesn’t count.
Bacuna and Luna are more suited in wing back roles and 3 centre backs. Not a flat back 4.