Christian Benteke might be the most important player in the
English Premiership.
The forward's strengths (especially physically) by
far outweigh any weaknesses: the deadline-day
signing from Genk is fast, accurate, remarkably powerful and has an
incredible happy knack of finding space in the box.
Any questions as to Aston
Villa manager Paul Lambert starting “his man” over the similarly-named
Darren Bent have been made completely redundant. Benteke has goaled 13 times this term and
assisted four more scores, making him responsible for over half of Villa’s
goals during 2012-13 – 54.8% to be precise.
While numbers usually tell only half the tale, this figure is
nonetheless impressive: of all players with more than ten goals this term, he
ranks alongside the likes of Celta Vigo’s Iago Aspas (59.25%), Messi (59.1%), Zlatan
(56.6%), Atalanta’s Erik Lamela (53.3%) as players who contribute to over 50%
of their club’s goals.
However important as his goals have been, his physical and implied
presence has had more of an impact in this year’s relegation struggle. In Villa’s recent wins against fellow
battlers QPR and Reading, he has not only scored goals but routinely drawn
multiple defenders, thereby allowing striking partners Gaby Agbonlahor and
Andreas Weimann the freedom they need to score.
Quite simply, he has been the difference between Villa’s
recent wins against their struggling brethren.
None of Reading, Wigan Athletic or QPR
have a player who demands the same respect from defenders and tacticians alike.
And with the
amount of money staked upon Premiership survival, this probably makes him the
most irreplaceable man in the league.
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