CRYSTAL PALACE are the most surprising member of the four clubs yet to win a Premier League game this season.
The Eagles won six of their last seven matches to finish 10th last season after beating the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United, Newcastle and Aston Villa.
But they have fallen flat on their face this term, leaving Austrian boss Oliver Glasner having to front up to question marks over his future.
He has a reputation for falling out with chiefs at previous clubs but staff and players haven’t noticed a shift in his mood yet. And despite the terrible start Glasner has credit in the bank.
SunSport’s JACK ROSSER looks at a few reasons why things are not as they should be at Selhurst Park…
DEFENSIVE ISSUES
CRYSTAL PALACE were not only devastating going forwards once they hit their stride at the end of last season, they had a solid foundation — using three centre-backs — to build from too.
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But there appear to be one too many cracks at the back so far this season — few of the Eagles’ own making.
Joachim Andersen was sold to Fulham in a £30million deal, breaking up the successful pairing of the Dane and Marc Guehi.
Although, due to Guehi’s knee injury last season, the duo only played in the same Glasner team once and the England man was used in central midfield in that game on the last day of the campaign.
Guehi, 24, himself had a hectic summer, first starring at Euro 2024 with the Three Lions before a drawn-out pursuit by Newcastle ended up with him staying put.
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Whether it is fatigue or distraction, Guehi has not looked his usual self this term.
Spanish-born Morocco centre-back Chadi Riad, 21, was signed from Barcelona to add depth but picked up a knee problem in the Carabao Cup second-round, while USA ace Chris Richards, 24, has also had fitness issues.
STRIKER STRUGGLES
JEAN PHILIPPE-MATETA’S transformation into a lethal striker was key to Oliver Glasner’s early success with Crystal Palace.
The 27-year-old French striker scored 13 goals in as many games under the Eagles boss to end last season.
But a summer spent playing at the Olympics and frustration over contract negotiations have marred this season.
Mateta has just two Prem goals this term — both against Leicester — with relations between him and the club threatening to turn sour after he was offered a deal with wages well below where he feels they should be.
Palace signed Eddie Nketiah, 25, for £25million from Arsenal, though the former England Under-21 international is yet to net for his new club in the Premier League.
WHARTON HAMPERED
ADAM WHARTON’S rise from the Championship to the England squad was one of the stories of the second half of last season.
The midfielder, signed from Blackburn in January for an initial £18million, was an instant hit in South London and was at the heart of Crystal Palace’s superb finish to 2023-24.
However, after not getting a single minute in Germany with the Three Lions, Wharton, 20, sustained a groin injury during his short pre-season which has continued to niggle and impacted his form.
He has still been playing games but has required injections and painkillers to do so while it is expected he will need surgery.
There has been some frustration that after withdrawing from the England U21s squad this month and then not being involved against Nottingham Forest that the operation was not done during the last international break.
A fit Wharton at the top of his game would make a world of difference.
OLISE’S ABSENCE
CRYSTAL PALACE accepted early last season that it would almost certainly be their last with Michael Olise on the books.
His electric form earned a £50million move to German giants Bayern Munich and the Frenchman has been sorely missed as talisman.
Oliver Glasner points out that Olise, 22, was not even fit for half of his games as Palace manager last season, which is true, but he was involved in five of the seven wins that they picked up.
The lack of a like-minded presence appears to have hit Eberechi Eze’s form too.
While he has gone close on many occasions and had a perfectly-good stunner ruled out against Brentford, the mercurial midfielder has not been at his best.
The man brought in to effectively replace Olise, Daichi Kamada, has struggled to adapt.
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Japan international Kamada was one of Glasner’s stars at former club Eintracht Frankfurt but has looked out of place in the Premier League so far.
The 28-year-old, one of the top earners following his arrival on a free transfer after a year at Lazio, has struggled to compete deeper in midfield and has not been able to create enough when played further forwards.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
