Atholy

It seems we have found the funny clown in our locker room http://instagram.com/p/boZecdnts9/

You should consider his past as it comes to this matter. Although I can understand that his attitude is understood to be ungrateful & disloyal Benteke started his career in the youth of Standard de Liege. At the age of 16 he was taken over by another top side in Belgium: Genk. He made his 1ste team debut at the age of 17. After this game.. the trainer got sacked. The other coach used Benteke frequently in the beginning. But in the second season he almost never came of the bench. After being benched that much... he decided to go back to his first club Standard de Liege in the Winter Mercato. Strangely enough Standard bought like 34 other strikers this season, just after buying Benteke back. As a result Benteke was on the bench again. With only a few subs in this first season back... he was loaned out to KV Kortrijk (a mid table team) where he would get more chances. Under former Belgian NT coach Leekens, Benteke got his chances. And with succes! At the age of 19 he scored around 14 goals for his team. Kortrijk ended in the top 5 this season (a historical moment for the club). Benteke played a big part in this succes => Standard de Liege decided to call him back for the next season. Ironically enough, on the last day of the summer mercato (and with Benteke thinking he could finally get his chance at Liege) Standard bought Nong (a player from Mechelen) and as part of the deal... Standard send Benteke to KV Mechelen => this was all arranged behind his back on the last day of the transfer period! Benteke was hugely dissapointed in Standard de Liege but had no other choice than to play for KV Mechelen. So he did and seen the circumstances he had a rather good season with around 6-7 goals. At the end of this season he had to go back to Standard. Of course you can understand that here the bound was broken. So he got in contact with his other 'home club' Genk again. Here he was given a lot of thrust by Genk manager Mario Been (former Feyenoord). Benteke was thankful to finally get some confidence... and scored 19 goals. Genk would also become Champions this year (with KDB and especially Courtois playing also a huge part in the title). In the summer of 2012 Aston Villa show interest in Benteke. He immediately wanted to go to the EPL (the dream of all young players). But Genk didn't want to let him go. After playing 5 games (scoring 3 goals) in the past season... he got permission to leave Genk and arrived at Aston Villa. The rest of the story you all know. Conclusion: Clubs have never really given confidence to Benteke and have even used him in an unethical way. He was swapped between teams like if he was a toy. I can imagine Benteke have never really felt loyalty from his clubs... so it's difficult for him to be loyal visa versa. I think the past made him think about himself more instead of the 'good of the club'. Because the clubs never thought what would be good for him as a person. There is something to say for the fact Aston Villa gave him a chance in the EPL and he should be loyal to Lambert and the Villa fans for this chance. But on the other hand... the plain truth is that Benteke almost single handedly is responsible for the fact Villa is still in the EPL => With his past... I can understand he now thinks about himself and his own dreams. If his dream is to play for a big EPL club... than I think he should just go for it! Clubs are loyal when a player excels for the team. But when it's difficult.. they have no problem of sending you away or just selling you to any team that gives some money for you. It would be a very loyal thing for Benteke to stay at Villa. But the be fair... this is not a top EPL team. So imo they should be happy Benteke crossed their path this year and saved their season! It makes sense for him wanting to try on another level. Certainly if you know that almost all his NT teammates are playing for the TOP 6 teams.

It's good to see him back at Cobham!! Rom = well-reasoned as always! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMyR122KYyY

We should set things straight here. Many people think Lukaku and Benteke are the same type of player. Well actually there are NOT. Benteke is 100% a target striker. Perfect with his back towards the goal, amazing heading ability and just a plane powerhouse with powerful shot. The only thing he lacked in his period in Belgium was his scoring rate. He just missed to many sitters to be played as the #1 striker in Belgian top sides like Genk & Standard. When he moved to the EPL almost everyone in Belgium thought things would go horribly wrong for him. But look at him now... scoring 19 goals in the EPL and being massively important in the NT. He just proved all haters wrong! I know many of you think Lukaku is also a target striker (I cannot blame you seen his physical presence!!). But actually Romelu's strongest point is not playing at the 16 yard box with his back to the goal... NO his strongest point is his physical presence combined with an amazing speed and power for a man his size. Proves himself to be almost unstoppable once he starts running with the ball on his feet (simply knocking anyone over who comes near him). So he's actually your perfect counter striker! In our system at Chelsea he should actually be used just behind the target striker OR in a 4-4-2 together with a target striker. I would compare Lukaku much more to Torres as it comes to playing style as to Benteke! The fact they didn't played a lot together in our NT is simply because Wilmots doesn't want to break the 4-3-3. In a 4-3-3 there simply isn't place for both Lukaku & Benteke (unless you use Lukaku in the back of Benteke => this happened in the game against the USA). Also againt Serbia they were both in the team at the same time. This time in a 4-2-2. I must say this worked out really well! Also Lukaku himself told he loves to play with Benteke and they are very compatible! So if you ask my opinion... I would say getting Benteke wouldn't be a bad option at all. BUT this only counts when Villa starts to get real and drops his insanely high price of 35million! Also it will be interesting to see if Benteke is able to confirm to excellent form he showed in his first year op EPL. But if both happen... Imaging to be playing against Lukaku & Benteke as a defender... pffff I would just shit my pants... so much power, running ability and headers & 50/50's will almost all be won...

A kit # shouldn't be a big deal. i agree on that one. Although it's just a simple fact that players are very sensible as it comes to these matters. I don't know if Kevin is like that... maybe he couldn't care less?! Could well be, but maybe he does! But if Schürrle took a number that was clearly already used by another chelsea player... one could ask himself the question why? KDB have chosen #6 (or another new #) himself => all smiles and they lived happily ever after! KDB might go on loan again => #14 is free.The board/manager have chosen #14 for Schürrle => completely the wrong message towards KDB (who needs confidence)!Schürrle claimed the # himself and the board approved => this would be completely f*cked up!I would think option 1 is the most plausible. All 3 others would be very stupid IMO! All here saying his number was free... give me a break . He actually played in it (so one could actually think he have chosen it himself last summer)!

14 was his kit number at Genk. Also his Instagram nickname is #kalle14. I think he's more attached to that number than everyone thinks here! Do some research boys

I bet the designer must be Dutch because this kit really looks like a retro kit for Holland. You risk the belgian players refusing to play in this 'holland' kit .

Can't believe they 'gave' away his number. I sincerely hope KDB has given his approval for the # change. We all know kit numbers are a sensitive issue amongst any sports player! BUT because we don't judge without knowing the truth... I expect this to be well discussed and KDB gave his approval for taking another kit number! If Schürrle claimed #14 out of KDB's hands however... he's just a ****. Really nice way to get the competition going between those two lads!

THEY SURRENDER!

Romelu himself makes an end to all the rumours about a new loan spell! "I had a very positive meeting with Mourinho. He show great confidence in me and said I will get my chance next season. It has always been my ambition to play for Chelsea. Now it's my turn to prove that I deserve my spot in the team" link: all across Belgium's (trustworthy) media!

Great video! Still remember the scepticism of a lot of people when I was posting similar video's of him dancing around French League players. "This is the premier league... if he tries to dribble or fool defenders like that, they will absolutely tear him down!!!" But Eden... ... just kept on dancing !

My god lamps was having a bad when they did that shoot

Don't know if it's a repost... but still rather funny!

Fro art:

Had no clue Eden is a surfboy!

Surely not 1st squad material since he hasn't proved himself yet (not even at Anderlecht). So should go on a loan. If he comes here... we might see the following: that is if Roms get's nr 46 next season

Leif you do realize this is what the Spanish press & Atleti fans want to hear right? I wouldn't put too much weight on these kind of quotes since those things are surely provoked by questions! Nevertheless it makes sense for him to praise the team that did put him between the posts and gave him confidence the last 2 seasons! On the other hand... don't worry. I'm sure Thibaut's biggest wish is to play for us (certainly with all his belgian buddies from the NT here)! But the stress is on the 'play'. As soon he's garantueed to get enough gametime... he will be at the Bridge!!

If you're looking for something funny: wtf => http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEzbbXYvzu0&list=PL17A2C630F137F550&index=17 If you can loose the headphones and change it for a starbucks coffee => 1:06min http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPeAFGzkvVg&list=PL17A2C630F137F550&index=33 ps: can't you just make a video of Lukaku? He seems to have big sponsorship contracts with Beat By Dre!

Let's see... I've got Romelu with a winter jacket and headphones, Eden pushing a gay man trolley... Thibaut walking the walk with the biggest headphones ever... and oh yes... there is KDB at 00.28 sec. Unfortunately walking behind Gillet. But I guess a good video editor like yourself surely can make something of this (zoom, slow mo, etc...) :eyebrows: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5zbi0TTddQ

I think I will quit my job and go for a career as a Goalie in Madrid! => many benefits come with it Casillas' girl Sara Carbonero

for the non believers: picture proof!!

I can think of one good reason for him to stay another year in madrid: his new girlfriend !!!

What about Mathew Ryan? I know he's young. But how good is he?

Because any reason to party is good!

Please feel free to jump on the wagon ... plenty more space! You might also wondering if our boys (Courtois, Eden, Romelu & KDB) are good dancers... I'm afraid the answer can be found in the video below http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATxeA1mdjcE Once the boys were in front of the 'all ladies' stands... they amazingly seem to find some new moves! At 5:00min the famous image of Eden on Rom's big shoulders... funny view btw: this was only the party after the win against Serbia. Imagine once we qualify for the WC OR book a good result there! BIG PARTY... feel free to join us!