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da bwin： This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
Recently, Football FanCast detailed what exactly has changed at Crystal Palace for Christian Benteke to become as nullified as he has been over the last two years.
Under Sam Allardyce and Alan Pardew, Crystal Palace were amongst the most frequent crossers of the ball in the Premier League, a system in which the Belgian thrived, with 17 goals in his first season at Selhurst Park.
However, following Roy Hodgson’s arrival, the former Liverpool striker has just four goals to his name in over two seasons of football – two were scored with his head, whilst two were penalties.
So far this term, it seems as if Hodgson has realised that Benteke no longer suits his system and has dropped him for Jordan Ayew, a man who has two goals in three starts and looks a much better fit.
However, with the 6 foot 3 forward’s exclusion comes another sufferer as a result of Benteke not being in the team: Andros Townsend.
Like Benteke, the 13-cap England international has also found himself sat on the bench in the last two Premier League games, and it seems as if he has become a casualty of the 28-year-old no longer being the focal point of the side anymore.
Having averaged 1.6 key passes per game and 1 cross per game last season, Townsend has recorded just 0.5 key passes per game and no crosses so far this term, numbers which Hodgson may have seen as a reason to drop the former Tottenham man along with Benteke.
In fact, it is rather telling that Hodgson decided to bench the pair at the exact same time – the trip to Old Trafford being the first instance – and also wanted to bring the pair on at the exact same time against Aston Villa – before Ayew scored and the pair were told to sit back down.
It is evident that Townsend isn’t as effective a performer without Benteke being the main man up top.
If the latter stays out of the team, so could the former.
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