Lanzo-Ad is that you?
2019 season Ayew was POTY, goal of the season, top scorer. He replaced Benteke and took his chance. What happened since? Successive managers decided he was a right sided winger. Why?
Rather than find fault with Ayew, who at least does as he is instructed, ask yourself why Zaha is now centre forward, a player who, judging by opinion, has lost his mojo.

Ayew is like a completely different player , when he has a chance on goal, than the rest of the game.

Although I disagree that we have proven goal scorers on the bench. Benteke was , for one season, 5 years ago,
The other 2 aren’t, in the premier league.

Of those you mention only Eduoard looks like a proper centre forward. we have had a few in our time, players who time their run, know instinctively where to be in the box etc. Players who have a natural eye for goal and don't panic. Murray was certainly one. Andy Johnson. Dave Swindlehurst another. Wright and Bright need no introduction. Clinton and Dougie. All different types of player but they had that ability to be in the right place at the right time, and were generally composed in front of goal.

If the main reason for Ayew’s inclusion is to protect the right hand side, why not try Gallagher there instead?
He has the energy to get up and down the field all day, puts in the tackles and is far more likely to score and create than Ayew.
We now have Mcarthur and Kouyate back in central midfield and Olise or a returning Eze could provide the guile in the advanced midfield position.
It would mean potentially playing a 451, with a question of who should be striker.
Ayew is a solid hard working player, but he creates very little and provides minimal threat to the opposition goal.
Winning free kicks and covering the right back should not be enough to guarantee him a start every week.
Watford will defend deep on Wednesday and we will need more than Ayew to open them up down the right.
For their part they will have the speedy Sarr who is a proper right sided attacker..

No, this is me, firstly we have to play, Zaha, Goalscorer, Olise as our front three
1, Edouard 141 games 66 goals in, top divisions in France, Scotland, England, goal every 2.13
2. Ayew, 352 games, 58 goals, in top divisions in France and England, goal every 6.11 games
3.Benteke, 368 games 115 goals, in top divisions in Belgium and England, Goal every 3,3 games
4,Mateta, 86 games, 26 goals in top divisions in Germany, France and England, goal every 3.2 games
Edouard and Benteke's records are a bit clouded as the Scottish and Belgium leagues are Not at the same level
As PV bought both Edouard and Mateta he has to decide on which of the two he prefers and give them the rest of the season in that position

“That’s a joke son, I say, that’s a joke.” “Nice boy, but he’s sharp as a throw pillow.” “He’s so dumb he thinks a Mexican border pays rent” “ “Son… I say, son, some people are so narrow minded they can look through a keyhole with both eyes.”__ Forhorn Leghorn

Well I think that the early season optimism was buoyed by the performances of Gallagher, who single handedly dragged the rest of the team along with him. Supporters know that standards he set have dipped a little, and that he won't be here next season. But you know, we're ok. Just a bit of fine tuning.

Edited by southnorwoodhill (20 Feb 2022 9.23am)