As begins go, it has not been too dangerous for Crystal Palace’s new boss, Oliver Glasner.
The Austrian took the reins from Roy Hodgson in late February and has picked up six factors from a potential 15 to this point, with out the star high quality of Michael Olise within the facet.
That stated, taking only one level from Nottingham Forest over the weekend, regardless of main for a big portion of the sport, was undeniably disappointing.
Whereas there have been a number of subpar performances on the day, it could be time to drop Jordan Ayew and provides an academy gem his first begin for this night’s conflict with Bournemouth.
Jordan Ayew’s efficiency this season
It has been an fascinating season for Ayew this yr, as regardless of having loads of video games by which he has appeared fairly ineffective and stunted on the pitch, he has nonetheless racked up a decent haul of 4 targets and 7 assists in 29 appearances, which means he has averaged a aim involvement each 2.6 video games.
Nonetheless, the 32-year-old has carried out briefly bursts for the Eagles this season, registering only one aim and three assists in his first 16 league video games earlier than scoring as soon as and offering two assists in three video games in December after which scoring twice and offering one help within the video games in opposition to Everton and Burnley in February.
Sadly, in his final three league video games, all of which he has began, the Ghanaian veteran has didn’t register a single-goal involvement, and his particular person statistics from the conflict with Forest do not make for fairly studying both.
Ayew’s recreation vs Forest in numbers |
|
---|---|
Minutes |
66′ |
Anticipated Objectives |
0.04 |
Anticipated Assists |
0.01 |
Photographs on Goal |
0 |
Photographs off Goal |
1 |
Dribbles |
0 |
Correct Passes |
16/18 (89%) |
Misplaced Possession |
8 |
Duels (Received) |
11 (6) |
Crosses (Correct) |
1 (0) |
Lengthy Balls (Correct) |
1 (0) |
Dribbled Previous |
2 |
In his 66 minutes of motion, the Marseille-born attacker registered an anticipated targets determine of simply 0.04, an anticipated assists determine of 0.01, one shot off beam, zero dribbles, 16 passes, misplaced the ball eight occasions, received simply six of his 11 duels and didn’t ship a single cross or full a single by way of ball.
In all, the right-footed ace’s dreadful exhibiting was one that might justify his place on the bench tonight, particularly as Glasner may begin an extremely thrilling teen in his place.
Why Glasner ought to begin Franco Umeh-Chibueze
The teen in query is Franco Umeh-Chibueze, and whereas he has but to make a aggressive look for the Eagles, his title may sound acquainted to followers as he has spent quite a lot of video games on the bench this season and was even given 45 minutes of motion within the group’s pleasant in opposition to Bodo/Glimt final month.
Franco Umeh-Chibueze’s Crystal Palace document |
||
---|---|---|
Workforce |
U18s |
U21s |
Appearances |
8 |
20 |
Objectives |
5 |
10 |
Assists |
3 |
1 |
Purpose Involvements per match |
1.00 |
0.55 |
It does really feel like only a matter of time till the Irish U19 ace is given his first correct run out within the Premier League, and with a youth document as spectacular as his, why not check him with a begin in opposition to the Cherries tonight?
Since becoming a member of the South Londoners from Irish outfit Cork Metropolis in February 2023, the “thrilling expertise”, as described by journalist Emmanuel Francis, has been in sensible type for the academy sides. He made the leap from the U18s to the U21s after simply eight video games, by which he discovered the again of the online 5 occasions and offered three assists as well.
Since becoming a member of the U21 group, the 19-year-old, whom academy supervisor Gary Issot described as possessing “blistering tempo”, has scored ten targets, offered one help, and is at present the highest scorer within the squad.
In his 32 video games throughout the Palace youth groups and at Cork Metropolis, the left-footed prospect has predominantly performed within the right-wing and left-wing positions, however he has additionally made appearances in left midfield, as a central midfielder, and as a centre-forward, which suggests he may comfortably fulfill the position Glasner has Ayew taking part in within the first group in the intervening time, because the right-sided attacking midfielder.

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The gifted teen has an unbelievable document on the youth degree.
In the end, after Ayew’s poor efficiency in opposition to Forest over the weekend, he deserves to be dropped, and with how properly Umeh has performed for the youth group and the accidents on the membership, he’s the pure substitute.
That is why the Austrian tactician ought to hand the teenage starlet his maiden first-team begin in a aggressive setting within the Premier League tonight.