Dave, in reality both Wilf and Andros switch during games.
Example our goals at West Brom.
And proof that day that Andros can play anywhere on the left or right side.

Palace 13th 2017/18.

I see it differently, he plays people in the roll he thinks suit their skills, to allow him to judge where he needs to buy. If we get a RWB, it shows he prefers Townsend further forward or doesn't think he's up to playing deep. Also FdB knows Townsend can play as a RF, so he doesn't learn anything by having him there. In contrast, he's less sure of Anderson or Sako in that position.

We haven't seen enough of FdB Palace team to make any serious judgements on who he prefers where really. Schalke will be the game where we actually see what FdB thinks, up until then it's all speculation.

FdB spoke highly of him, saying he's an important part of his project. You could say he has to say that, but if you question that, then you can't be sure he doesn't fancy him as a player either. Benteke definitely isn't a wide player.

Thank you, I knew someone out there would see what I was getting at. I think most people just imagine Benteke trying to dribble past a full-back and crossing for someone else but that wouldn't be the aim at all.

In theory you can actually maximise his potential in the air, having him force central defenders to think "do I stick or twist" and having small full-backs losing aerial duels with him. For crosses from the left, he will be in the blind spot of the CB's and can get a running jump on them. If we attack down the right then he could hold up the ball on that side, dragging defenders to him, then get Townsend overlapping him or Loftus-Cheek/Cabaye finding pockets of space to run into. Remember you'll already have the central striker in there and then you can overload the box with Benteke running in before the cross comes in.

In particularly the West Brom match Sako (RF) was quite central a lot of the time. At the moment I can see that RF position used quite unorthodoxly anyway.

My thoughts aren't to stick Benteke on the wing but to find a striker who can play across the front three positions and then let them all switch.

Munri El Haddadi I think would suit this role as he appears comfortable on either side and through the middle.

Townsend Wilf and Benteke could probably play like this from the get go.

I'd be surprised if RVP wouldn't be able to do the same.

Doubt Benteke would be asked to play on the wing for 90mins but im maybe the idea will be for them to regularly switch.

Yes, adding some unpredictability to how we line up can't be a bad thing under a manager who has such a wealth of experience at the top level. Very different to having Pardew trying to coach these things. Today we have De Boer, Trustfull and Sammy Lee, who know what they're doing.

Wilf has always showed signs that he could play centrally, at the moment I think De Boer just wants to free him of a bit of his tracking back duties and get him on the ball in dangerous areas.

And Sven played Andrew on the wing.

Palace 13th 2017/18.