So there I was. I’d driven down to London to do a shift this morning. I nipped into the local shop to pick up a copy of the Mirror, but had to settle for a copy of the Stun, as they had no Mirrors in.
Just about better than nothing, I guess and having had a quick flick through, noticed a small article saying that Lambert is considering resting Christian Benteke.
You’ve got to be kidding me. We’re only three games in, for gawd’s sake!
The article does go on to say that he’s played lots of games when you add in the Belgium team.
To which I’m asking when?
Perhaps I’m missing something (easily possible with my work situation and lack of internet), but I don’t see where this “lots of games” is.
And why does a twenty two year old player even need resting at all?
I don’t know about you lot, but I was gagging to have a game, albeit at no level whatsoever, just because I had energy to burn and needed to get rid of it, at that age.
I know I’m old fashioned in my way of thinking and have never had to perform at the very highest level in any sport, but do players not long out of their teens really need this molly-cuddling?
I mean, how hard is it to train for four hours a day at that age?
Today, I was up at 5.00am, drove down to London, put in a strenuous 8 hour shift in 80+ degrees heat and then drove back to Brum, arriving home at 5.30pm.
I’m not looking for sympathy. It’s the sort of thing I’ve always done for the last thirty odd years.
So why does a bit of training each day and a game maybe twice a week justify a rest?
I just don’t get it and to be honest, “lazy bastards” springs to mind.
All that said, I’ve always wondered what Lambert said to Benteke, that convinced him to stay after he’d put in a transfer request.
My money says we’ve agreed he can go.
No news there though, as we all think it.
But if the quotes from Lambert were true, I’m now wondering if this is just a hint that we might “rest” Benteke because we don’t want him injured ahead of a previously agreed move in the winter window.
It would certainly explain Kozak’s signing, which left most of us perplexed.
I’m speculating though and it probably won’t happen, as regardless of how we all think our attack is very decent, without Benteke, it will look a lot more toothless, in my opinion.
Would Lambert really want to rest Benteke, to the detriment of the team?
But if it does happen and Benteke gets rested or hooked earlier, we should see it as a bad sign.
This article isn’t the best. Based on no facts and just a load of waffle over a newspaper article.
It’s just a talking point about something that got mentioned in the press, on yet another slow news day, because of an England game that no-one gives a toss about, as the national side is worse than the Villa could ever be.
And the waffle aside, the original article included quotes from Lambert, which are facts.
I’m saying the article is probably wrong, that’s all.
But it does ask a genuine question about the state of the game and how today’s kids need to be treated.
I’m sorry you didn’t like it. Feel free to contribute your own post that will no doubt be more interesting.
Sorry. That’s harsh; I’m fucked, after working a proper shift and just don’t have much time for kids at their peak moaning that they’re tired and need a rest.
Not that I’m suggesting Benteke said it, at all.
But it does make you wonder why it was said in the first place, even as an answer to a question.
Surely the answer should have been diferent?
Or better still, just a smile/snigger and move on, type answer?
What gets me is why does he need a rest this year when he was ok last last year and played the same amount of games. Dosnt make sense to me is he throwing his rattle out because he had to stay with us?!
OOHAH, no mention of Benteke’s involvement in this, just Lambert’s comments being blown up by a newspaper. :
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/aston-villa-christian-benteke-burn-out-2256280
Hmmm he’s being linked with utd today as well. Now we know why kojak was signed to replace benteke in jan. I reckon he has thrown his toys out the pram again and lamberts covering for him unless he dosnt want him injured because utd have told lambert it will affect his value. Either way he is def off in jan IMO
Again forming a bullshit opinion based on no facts. You really do set yourself up for abuse don’t you OOh Vlaar?? Muppet!
Rubbish jim t if that was the case why wasn’t benteke rotated with a more than capable deputy in bent last year. We all no he’s going just a ques as to who and how much. U talk complete bolloks my friend!!
Usual garbage. How has Bent gone from a lazy, useless, wage eating player to “more than capable deputy”. To make an incredibly poor argument, I guess is the answer.
Honestly never understood all the shit that players need rest, even all this xmas break shit, im in mid twentys now but as a youngster i played football for my hometown, school and county while rowing at the same time, for years i never had 1 day off i would train for football 3 times a week, rowing training everyday, play a football match 1-2 times a week and a regatta once a week, once i played the final of the millennium cup and 15 mins later was rowing a race, won the cup and came 3rd in the race, and never in all that time did i feel burnt out or that i needed a rest, these guys play 2 matches in a week and need 2 weeks off its ridiculous! Fair enough this is the top top level of sport but i still don’t get how they are not fit enough to play 2 matches in a week! Also don’t tink benteke is goin anywhere till next summer.
Me to mate though my peak was a longer ago than u. Has a full time job went to Kung fu classes about 4 times a week after work then onto football training at 9 at night on Tue and thu on the old AstroTurf in highgate, sat am was Kung fu again then played a morning and afternoon game on Sunday no problem. Plus I’d have a couple of runs in week on top. Absolute joke that players today are bigger stronger and fitter than we ever were and yet they are tired what absolute bollocks!!
in a word ‘no’.
if we go a couple up and look comfortable against Newcastle id like to see one of the new guys get a few mins.
don’t think there’s much in the story as has been said and I doubt lambert would rest tekkers unless he was carrying a knock or something.
The problem is we never really win a game comfortably if we 2.0 up against anyone with 10 mins left I’d still worry
lol yeah, fair point. but you can never say its dull being a villa fan eh? no wonder houlier had a heart attack. although we experienced the dull under McLeish, my god that was a long season.
Mollycoddled springs to mind, as a lad played in snow storms thick mud, played Sat,Sunday,kicked a ball everyday in my local park. What have we done to the game today? No they get paid money, they are fit men and only 90 minutes is asked to play in a day, we have become a race of people that wants something for nothing, its a game enjoy what you have.
Its just a story to fill paper inches. Completely made up. People will use any bull to have a good moan about how its not “the good ol’ days” anymore. We have a squad, it will be rotated based on what we have to do to beat the oppo. Simple. If he gets rotated, so what. We are not a one man team.
Sorry Ooh Aah, I don’t. As you well know Bent couldn’t fit into the system we played with Benteke and had issues with other players. This is what deterred Lambert from rotating with him. This season we have a player in Kozak who seems to be more like for like so its easier to rotate. There’s no need to rest him or ‘rotate’ at the moment, but it makes a hell of a lot more sense to have Kozak backing up rather then the lazy Darren Bent. Also, there is not a chance he’s going in Jan. Maybe after the World Cup, but by then hopefully, Kozak or Helenius will be up to the pace of the league and we have a ready made replacement.
So let me get this straight.
Villa are going double/triple his wages, just so that we “rest” him (meaning he won’t start every game but I guess you can’t expect much from some), so he doesn’t get injured just to sell him in January? I really, really have to wonder about some people on here. It amazes me.