In our latest instalment of the Flashback series, we take a look back at a certain moment and look at how things might have changed those initial reactions.
When Jordan Ayew was announced as a £2.5m (per BBC Sport) permanent transfer this summer from Swansea, let’s just say Crystal Palace fans were hardly inspired.
The Ghanaian international had spent his last season on loan at Selhurst Park, but he failed to make an impact in SE25, playing only 20 games throughout the season, starting 14 and coming on in six, managing just the one goal and two assists (WhoScored).
From his performances, WhoScored’s algorithm rated him a 6.5/10 from his 20 appearances in the league.
With Palace still needing a forward after Michy Batshuayi – Palace’s top goal-scoring striker last season – left to rejoin Chelsea, it was unsurprising to see so many Palace fans be so pessimistic about his signing.
Here’s just a look back on some of the tweets from Palace and Swansea fans after the Ayew deal was announced (July 25).
https://twitter.com/truenene/status/1154308984779792384?s=20
Relegation incoming
— Niall Judge (@Niall_Judge26) July 25, 2019
Imagine being happy signing this waster
— Charlie C (@CharlieSwans8) July 25, 2019
https://twitter.com/JoelGray_/status/1154309453958848513?s=20
I beg ayew ain't the only striker we sign this window, we will struggle for goals this season if we do not sign a quality goal scorer
— matthew (@matthew01700823) July 25, 2019
Of course, at that specific moment in time, those messages were hardly harsh. At that point in the window, the Eagles remained without attacking reinforcement.
This, in turn, put even more pressure on Christian Benteke to start firing again – something which he couldn’t achieve in his first two games.
Benteke and Ayew both started the opener for Palace versus Everton while Wilfried Zaha sat out the first match. Indeed, Benteke started the second match while Ayew sat on the bench, but two games without a goal for Palace spurred them to remove the big Belgian from the starting XI and start Ayew.
It was a brave call from Hodgson to pick a player who has come under that much criticism over the past year, but it was an inspired one, as Ayew’s goals have been the differences over the past two games for Palace – two games that they have won.
Indeed, he scored the opener at Old Trafford as well as the only goal versus Aston Villa.
His match-winning performances have been reflected in his statistics. So far he has the second-highest average shots per game with 1.8, the fifth highest key pass average with 0.7 and leads the top scoring charts with two (per WhoScored).
Indeed, while the 27-year-old for £2.5m may have seen a fairly innocuous signing at the time, it is proving to be a huge one for Palace so far this season.
How impressed have you been by Ayew’s form this season? Join the discussion by commenting below…
