This season have proven to be a mixed one for Aston Villa’s Belgian beast, Benteke has seen the good, bad and the ugly this season.
The Belgian did not make his long awaited return until mid September after a long injury lay off. Benteke started sluggish, looking lethargic not match ready. The strain on his shoulders started to show in November, where he was sent off for a headbutt on Ryan Mason. By this point fans were starting to get frustrated and so was Benteke. He really did not look like a player who cared. On his return, he still looked sluggish and not like the enthused player, fans were used to. Again, in December Benteke suffered, with another injury. Since then though he has not looked back.
The injuries and suspension ruined Benteke’s 2014. All has seemingly changed now though. The giant went from scoring twice in the Premier League at an average of one every 10 hours, to racking up more goals in the past eight weeks than anyone else in the top flight. The Benteke of old time was growing in confidence in January with a goal in the cup, but apart from that his engine was not going at any sort of rate that would bring consistency. The real change though came with the appointment of Tim Sherwood as manager.
Tim Sherwood transformed Adebayor’s season last year, when he went in at Spurs. He has seemingly done the same for Benteke. Benteke needed a manager to put an arm around him and give him some guidance. Benteke looked shy to express his ability before Sherwood. Sherwood also aided his supplies. Without ammo Benteke cannot use his ability. Sherwood has given him the ammunition with the wingers given license to put balls in and give Benteke the opportunities he thrives on. Since the arrival of Sherwood, Benteke has found the back of the net nine times. Including an incredible hat trick vs QPR and a goal at Wembley, which showed his pure quality. Without him Villa would already be dead and buried. Without Sherwood, Villa would be dead and buried. Sherwood has turned Benteke into a totally new man again. If the goal scoring charts started when Sherwood took over, Benteke would be top. The power and exuberance he shows is frightening and on his day can destroy any back four. He was unlucky not to get another vs Man City last Saturday, but Villa have their star man back. A Wembley final awaits with joy, only if the big Belgian can help the boys in Claret and Blue survive, will that be a day of joy though.
Again now Benteke has been linked with the likes of Wolfsburg and Manchester United, most recently Liverpool. But as long as the big, Belgian keeps scoring to keep us afloat this season, I will not fear this summer’s transfer window, as Sherwood is the sort of manager that knows what players want to work for his side. If Benteke is not that player so be it. If he is, fantastic
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