Palace, Palace? Who the heck are Palace?

Ben Whitehouse
Aug 28, 2017 · 3 min read
(Image courtesy of Sky Sports)

If it’s not already quite obvious, Crystal Palace look like they are in a bit of trouble. After seeing all three of their games so far this season, it looks as if it is going to be hard to look beyond them as candidates for a relegation battle once again. Two home losses and one away is not the only concern; the way that they are playing is probably a more significant issue that needs resolving.

Seeing their performance on Saturday against Swansea certainly showed that going forwards they have improved a little, but at the back they looked very much out of sorts again. Swansea didn’t have the best of times against Manchester United in round two of the premier league fixtures, but it must be said they held their shape well for the majority of the first half and the goal just on the brink of half time was probably a hammer blow to keeping United frustrated and chances few and far between. At Selhurst Park on Saturday Palace started fairly well, but Swansea got themselves into the game slowly after a few early chances that the home side managed to muster. Looking at the team sheet though the noticeable concern for me would have been Macarthur on the left of an attacking trio and Puncheon centre left of the midfield five. I don’t watch training as the coaches do but I’ve seen Palace over the last few years and I’m almost certain that those two at least should have started the game in each others positions. If the team selection can’t place players in the right areas, I don’t hold much hope for them.

Frank de Boer has pedigree, an extremely successful player and Ajax manager to boot; one would think that he could be a dream appointment — and still could be. However there is a downside; he has never played in England, and bearing in mind his last stint at Inter Milan (he has never played in Italy either) one wouldn’t be too harsh in thinking that he just doesn’t know how to design a team to play in the Serie A, and more pertinently the Premier League. What is more obvious to most of us though is that he has adopted a Palace side that has spent the last few years playing deliberately direct football under Sam Allardyce and Alan Pardew — tactics which were particularly apt for the players that played under them. Both managers got the best out of what they had and complimented the squad with purchases that suited their style. De Boer has bowled in with a philosophy that is entrenched in the Ajax set up from under 9’s and upwards; success you would imagine is (and was possible) whilst he was there. Crystal Palace not only do not share that kind of philosophy, but don’t have the players with the technical ability to compliment it either. Andros Townsend is phenomenal on his day — but he’s a direct runner who likes to explode into action with direct running with the ball at his feet — not something you’d see happening at Ajax too often. Macarthur, Milivojevic and Ward are also not players that I think you would have seen making their way through the ranks of the famous Amsterdam club — let’s not take away from the abilities they do have; it’s just not a system that I seeing working with the players at de Boer’s disposal.

Saying that, the stats don’t lie, just edging possession in the game, Palace (17) had more than double the amount of shots at goal than Swansea (7), but managed only a measly 3 on target, a stat shared with Swansea; who scored 2 of those. They are creating chances but clear cut ones are few and far between, which shows that they could perhaps turn it around, given time. But one thing that you don’t get in the Premier League is time, and and certainly no sympathy from the other teams and managers. The clubs new board, De Boer and the Palace players both need to learn quickly; and if they don’t, well, the writing is already on the wall. Rumours of his replacement are already starting to filter into the press; this could be an important international break for Frank and his coaches to take stock, and maybe, just maybe, adjust their philosophy accordingly.

Anker

a blog about football with some other random opinion

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Ben Whitehouse

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I love football and I write about it. I will be writing some match reports over the season, as well as giving my opinion on other pertinent football news. ⚽️

Anker

Anker

a blog about football with some other random opinion

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