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Crystal Palace: Three hopes, one fear

By Sean Maslin

Crystal Palace's Ivorian-born English striker Wilfried Zaha runs with the ball during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace at White Hart Lane in London, on August 20, 2016. / AFP / Glyn KIRK / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images)
Crystal Palace's Ivorian-born English striker Wilfried Zaha runs with the ball during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace at White Hart Lane in London, on August 20, 2016. / AFP / Glyn KIRK / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images) /
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MIDDLESBROUGH, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 10: Christian Benteke of Crystal Palace (L) is subbed for Jonathan Benteke during the Premier League match between Middlesbrough and Crystal Palace at Riverside Stadium on September 10, 2016 in Middlesbrough, England. (Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images)
MIDDLESBROUGH, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 10: Christian Benteke of Crystal Palace (L) is subbed for Jonathan Benteke during the Premier League match between Middlesbrough and Crystal Palace at Riverside Stadium on September 10, 2016 in Middlesbrough, England. (Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images) /

Hope #1: That the Benteke brothers can ignite the Palace attack.

Never since the Hanson brothers ran roughshod over Johnstown have two brothers come to a club under as much fanfare as the Benteke brothers. Christian and Jonathan both joined the London club during the summer transfer window and have immediately become fan favorites. But beyond the novelty of having two brothers on the same team there is one specific task that the two have been handed: score goals.

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Of the two Christian is obviously the more prominent player. After a strong tenure with Aston Villa Benteke moved to Liverpool last season with the hope of becoming one of the top strikers in the Premier League. But he never really took under Brendan Rodgers and got lost in the shuffle under Jurgen Klopp.

Part of  the problem was that both Rodgers and Klopp had him playing wide where is he much more of a center-forward. Look for Pardew to use Benteke in a similar fashion to how he used Papiss Cisse while he was serving as the manager of Newcastle.

Although Jonathan has not had the same level of success as Christian he will certainly still play a role with the side. He is a bit stronger than his older brother and showed in limited time last season with Zulte-Waregem that he can help set up faster forwards making a break. It will be interesting to see if Pardew gives him time during the League Cup and if he can turn that into additional Premier League minutes.

Next: Hope #2: That reuniting with Pardew will get Loic Remy's career back on track.

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