Disagree that we need a striker that can score at the top level, what we need are midfielders that can supply strikers and also midfielders that can score goals between them. Goals need to come from all over, including defenders at set plays. Yes, Benteke needs service from out wide which isn’t happening but he is a top striker in my opinion for which we rely on just him? Would have been interesting to see what Vieira would have done with Townsend? Midfielders need to open up play as well for which our one seem better defensively but not attacking wise? Let’s hope we get some quality in before the window closes.

Realise posters have picked up and disagree with me about Benteke but my main points are that we don’t have goals throughout the team, Especially midfielders. Plus the existing midfielders don’t have a split the opponents defence pass to give our forward(s) goal scoring chances. If Benteke had more than one chance a game he would stick at least one away unlike Mateta at this time. I understand we made chances for him last night and no goals resulted? Perhaps Vieira is changing things but we need goals from everyone and not just the main forward. Sadly Zaha doesn’t seem the player he was as well :-(

Edited by palace chick (25 Aug 2021 1.11pm)

Benteke has 16 league goals since the start of the 2017/18 season (4 and bit seasons).

He's played 139 games in that time.

The sooner we give up this fantasy that he's a top striker who might come good and score enough goals, the sooner we actually recruit someone who might.

An absolute joke that he's had his contract extended because he decided to pull his finger out for 5 games at the end of the year when he needed a new deal - took us to the absolute cleaners.

I guess neither Benteke (or Batts for that matter) really play for the national team.

But your point is still correct, a 'top' footballer needs to have more to his game than we currently get

Realise posters have picked up and disagree with me about Benteke but my main points are that we don’t have goals throughout the team, Especially midfielders. Plus the existing midfielders don’t have a split the opponents defence pass to give our forward(s) goal scoring chances. If Benteke had more than one chance a game he would stick at least one away unlike Mateta at this time. I understand we made chances for him last night and no goals resulted? Perhaps Vieira is changing things but we need goals from everyone and not just the main forward. Sadly Zaha doesn’t seem the player he was as well :-(

No surprise as Lukaku is everything in a striker that they are not. Take his goal against the Arse. Held the ball up, layed it off to James who played it low across the box for him to finish. No thinking time needed, knew exactly how the play would go and where he needed to be. James showed there and on his goal how you play on the wing, albeit the defending was shocking. Push it low first, second time clear sight at goal take a shot. Unfortunately for us at the moment, service and/or movement in attack just isn't there. Hopefully (surely ?) we are looking at further options.

“ [T]here are known knowns; there are things we know that we know.There are known unknowns; that is to say there are things that, we now know we don't know.But there are also unknown unknowns – there are things we do not know we don't know. ”
—United States Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld

Think part of Benteke's problem, which I have been Critical in the past, is That he does not make runs in the box and expects things to be on a plate for him. However, if he does not expect the ball to come in - which we have been guilty of in the past - then he will not make the correct run.
He needs to learn where to position himself for playing with our new midfield.. (which currently looks like our old midfield!) hopefully Olise (and eze - and even Ferguson when/if they return) will provide more of this, which CB will need to learn to be on the end of.

As for goals all over the pitc - I whoeheartedly agree. Although even with our new signings, I'm not sure we have any goalscoring midfielders? and have Anderson/Guehi ever been a threat in the opposition box ?

"It was a Team effort, I guess it took all players working together to lose this one"