{"id":11019,"date":"2016-08-31T12:37:56","date_gmt":"2016-08-31T11:37:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.colossusbets.com\/?p=11019"},"modified":"2019-04-15T16:33:44","modified_gmt":"2019-04-15T15:33:44","slug":"can-benteke-keep-crystal-palace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colossusbets.com\/blog\/can-benteke-keep-crystal-palace\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Benteke keep Crystal Palace up?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Can Benteke keep Crystal Palace up? 2016 has been a year to forget for everybody associated with Crystal Palace. The Eagles\u00a0have failed to inspire confidence in the Premier League, winning just 2 of their fixtures since the beginning of the calendar year. And if truth be told, some fans are beginning to get restless and\u00a0worried about their top flight status in what could be a defining season for the club.<\/p>\n

The only real sliver of positivity was their FA Cup<\/a> run at the back end of last season. Alan\u00a0Pardew\u2019s side managed to defy the odds to reach the FA Cup<\/a> final but came up short\u00a0against Louis van Gaal\u2019s Manchester United side at Wembley \u2013 and that was against a\u00a010\u00ad man United side after Chris Smalling was dismissed during extra \u00adtime.<\/p>\n

However, that was then and this is now. Palace have to start looking forward and to do\u00a0that, Pardew must build around new club \u00adrecord signing<\/a> Christian Benteke. Last season,\u00a0Benteke failed to hold down a regular spot in the Liverpool<\/a> line\u00adup but a link up with\u00a0Pardew at Selhurst Park could re\u00adignite his career.<\/p>\n

At Aston Villa<\/a>, Benteke was on another level. The Belgium striker showed that he was\u00a0able to win matches more or less on his own and he was a real handful for opposing\u00a0defenders \u2013 both physically and mentally. You don\u2019t lose that ability overnight, you just\u00a0need the chance to showcase your talent and he will get that opportunity at Palace.<\/p>\n

It didn\u2019t work out for him at Liverpool<\/a> but Benteke has kept himself fit and looks raring to\u00a0go at Selhurst Park. If truth be told, the fit at Anfield wasn\u2019t great. Brendan Rodgers\u00a0struggled<\/a> to incorporate the big Belgian into his attack and Jurgen Klopp\u2019s arrival almost\u00a0immediately signalled the end for Benteke.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, that particular risk didn\u2019t pay off for him but it was a move to an historic\u00a0football<\/a> club that he simply had to make. And now, he will be the main man<\/a> at Palace \u2013\u00a0just as he was at Villa Park. And to be honest, being a big fish in a small pond may\u00a0actually suit Benteke a lot more than being a small fish in a big pond…<\/p>\n

In a way, Pardew could follow the Jermain Defoe\u00ad Sunderland model as he looks to make\u00a0full use to Benteke\u2019s skillset. Last season, Sam Allardyce<\/a> used Defoe as the focal point\u00a0and his goals were vital as the Black Cats avoided relegation once again. Benteke has\u00a0the ability, the intelligence and the temperament to handle the pressure of being the main\u00a0man.<\/p>\n

Resting hopes on one player<\/a> may seem a tad risky but it could completely change\u00a0Palace\u2019s fortunes going forward. The Eagles<\/a> have already lost a few key components of\u00a0their attack this summer but Benteke could step up to the plate. On paper, the Belgian fits\u00a0their style of play and he should benefit directly from their attack\u00ad minded wingers.<\/p>\n

Palace are struggling for confidence and form but Benteke could be the difference maker\u00a0as the Eagles look to climb up the table. If the Belgium forward can regain his Villa form\u00a0and his team\u00admates can create plenty of chances, Palace will stay up \u2013 they\u2019re too good\u00a0as a collective unit to go down. Feed the Belgian and he will score; it is as simple as that.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Can Benteke keep Crystal Palace up? 2016 has been a year to forget for everybody associated with Crystal Palace. The Eagles\u00a0have failed to inspire confidence in the Premier League, winning just 2 of their fixtures since the beginning of the calendar year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[643],"tags":[241,174,177],"class_list":["post-11019","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sport","tag-alex-mcmahon","tag-news","tag-ticker"],"yoast_head":"\nCan Benteke keep Crystal Palace up?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Can Benteke keep Crystal Palace up?\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.colossusbets.com\/blog\/can-benteke-keep-crystal-palace\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" 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