It is fair to say that Crystal Palace striker Christian Benteke is having a difficult season. The Belgian has failed to score or record an assist in 16 games so far this season. It is a record that no forward player will be happy with, and will be a statistic he looks to change in the second half of the season.
On Twitter, some Crystal Palace fans were reminiscing about how lethal Benteke used to be for them. This came after a video was shared of him scoring a curling header into the bottom corner against Everton a few years back. But when many fans pointed out that they wanted Benteke to become a goalscoring beast again, others defended him. They think that the problem is not the finisher himself, but instead the service providers. These fans believe that if the wingers could put in a decent cross, Benteke, who is valued at £11.7 million (as per Transfermarkt), would be scoring again in no time. The side don’t play to his strengths, in their eyes.
Cross to his head rather than his feet and he’ll soon get his confidence back
— Luke CPFC (@LukeRemnant) February 4, 2020
We can, just give the bloke service
— oscar nicholson (@oscarnicholsonn) February 4, 2020
I’d love for us to put in some half decent crosses in for him to attack. Make Wilf and Andros switch wings so they have to cross from the byline.
— James Louis Kelley (@jameslkelley) February 4, 2020
Amazing what a nice early cross can do.
— jjk (@neiltipping) February 4, 2020
Problem is, he rarely gets his type of service.
— Chris (@Gallows777) February 4, 2020
I miss us putting decent balls into the box
— James Macey (@JMac00027) February 4, 2020
We don’t play to his strengths
— CPFC geek (@xbmcpimp_g) February 5, 2020
Do you think service is preventing Benteke from scoring?
Yes
No
What do we think?
If Roy Hodgson has changed Palace’s tactics so that they limit the striker, then perhaps Benteke needs to move on? Alternatively, perhaps he can be doing more to change his style of play to help the team? But, at the end of the day, these fans could have a point. How can a striker score beautiful headers if the ball isn’t being played onto his head enough?