For me, the clear lack of a consensus (on this forum) underscores the fact that the club simply lacks attacking players who are good at finishing. I don't mean Kane/Salah level players; I mean players who'll simply put the ball on target more often than not. PV must be even more frustrated than we are, and he's experimenting in hopes of finding SOMEONE who can finish now and again.

The ball doesn't find itself in the box enough to find out whether the two you mention are up to the job. From what I've seen they know where the net is when the occasion has arrived. They've looked good when playing together. IMHO the return of Zaha has upset the playing balance; turns possession over, dithers, slows play down, wants the glory for himself.
I think of the Coppell team; strong in defence, hard working in midfield, and lethal up front. No overplay side to side bollocks for the sake of it. And crucially, in regards to the title of the thread, a settled side that picked itself, and wasn't chopped and changed every week.

I question this assertion.
Edouard has scored a goal for every 208 minutes on the pitch. This is better than all of the following PL forward players:
- Bowen and Antonio of West Ham
- Maupay of BHA
- Saka of Arsenal
- Kane of Spurs
- Foden of Citeh
and the same as Mane of Liverpool.

The problem is as the OP has said. PV needs to give a striker a proper run of games. I tend to agree with Southnorwoodhill that the return of Wilf has unbalanced the side and we need to see the Edouard/Mateta partnership given a chance to show what it can do (aided by Olise on the right). I'd love to see Wilf morph into a player who plays for the team rather than for himself but I suspect he passed the point of being able to do that.

The only problem with Edouard's figures are the Scottish league is not a very good yardstick, Premier, La Liga, Serie A and the Bundesliga are the real yardsticks

“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

I agree, but it probably then works best as a 4-4-2 which PV apparently doesn’t want to play. Personally speaking with the players we have at our disposal I reckon a 4-4-2 with Jimmy Mc and Gallagher central, Eze left and Olise right, Edouard sitting behind/alongside Mateta would work. I’m not sure playing Edouard on the left in a front three works as well.

Vierra got the tactics vs. Chelsea spot on and we were unlucky not to come away with 3 points let alone 1 point