Crystal Palace: Will Glasner leaving clip the Eagles’ wings? | OneFootball

Following the most successful two years in Crystal Palace’s history, an air of “what next?” is hanging in the air.

Oliver Glasner’s departure after winning the FA Cup, the Community Shield and latterly the UEFA Conference League marked the finest two seasons in the club’s history. After a turbulent season, Glasner left on a high.

They kick off the season with a new manager in Pierre Sage and having lost two key defenders, Marc Guéhi in January to Manchester City and recently Maxence Lacroix to Chelsea. Both are huge misses.

A Europa League campaign feels both a blessing and a curse. The squad is light on numbers and not set up for a more punishing European challenge than last season, while their Premier League form cannot afford to dip further than last season’s 15th finish. The Eagles’ might never have seriously flirted with relegation but it was still too close for comfort.

So what does this season offer?

The new boss

Pierre Sage, although relatively unknown outside the Premier League, arrives in South London with an impressive reputation. The 47-year-old Frenchman led RC Lens to second place in Ligue 1  – they led PSG at the top for a while – and won the Coupe de France. Echoing Glasner at Palace, Sage led an unfashionable Lens to suddenly punching above their weight.

Sage’s preferred formation is the same as well, which could prove a huge plus point for the players. Like his predecessor, Sage uses a 3-4-2-1, with aggressive wing-backs, energetic midfielders and two attacking players operating behind the striker. Good news for the likes of Tyrick Mitchell and Daniel Munoz, the flying wing backs. It should also help get the best out Ismaïla Sarr, who plays behind Jean-Philipe Mateta but like to break beyond the striker.

That said, this is a step up in level for Sage as far as the Premier League is concerned, and he has never managed in the Europa League.

Getting the defensive sorted and some good early season form is crucial.

Mateta is key

In January, following captain Marc Guéhi’s high profile exit to Manchester City, Mateta pushed for a move to AC Milan, but failed a medical on a knee injury. Palace fans wondered whether the fallout from that would mean it was the last they’d seen of the Frenchman, but he returned to finish the season in style and all was forgiven.

Keeping hold and getting the best out of him is key to Palace’s chances of having a good season as there is little in reserve. Eddie Nketiah missed large part of last season through injury. Jørgen Strand Larsen has hardly set pulses racing since his January arrival from Wolves, presumably as a replacement for what was thought to be a departing Mateta.

In midfield, Adam Wharton remains one of Palace’s prized assets. Many consider him unlucky not to have gone to the World Cup but his ability to receive under pressure and play through the lines is key.

Daichi Kamada also proved important last season after an iffy first year at Selhurst Park, and had a decent World Cup in an otherwise disappointing Japan campaign.

Daniel Muñoz provides goals and assists from right wing back, while Sarr will likely remain Palace’s most creative threat.

Clever recruitment

Where Palace have done so well is lose their best players but replace cheaply with others who make a big impact. Out went Wilfried Zaha, Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze, Joachim Anderson, Guéhi; in came the likes of Sarr, Yeremy Pino and Lacroix. They keep finding players but selling your best players can only go on for so long before you come a cropper.  

The addition of Dwight McNeil, in a straight swap deal with Everton that sees the underwhelming Brennan Johnson go the other way, is a smart move that fits this bill. You sense the Eagles have got the better of the arrangement.

McNeil, who nearly signed for Palace in January, brings considerable Premier League experience, having made 128 appearances for Everton and contributed 15 goals and 19 assists.

Defence poses the biggest challenge

If losing your best defender is disappointing, then losing your second best a few months later poses real problems. Guéhi and Lacroix formed a formidable back three with USA international Chris Richards in the last two seasons; Richards is the only one left.

Jaydee Canvot stepped into the role admirably after Guéhi’s departure, while Palace have strengthened their defence by bringing in Óscar Mingueza from Celta Vigo and Japan international and former Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu. Both can play at centre half or full back, so will be well suited to a back three, but it still feels Palace are light in that area.

In fact, Palace still feel light across the pitch, fighting battles on two fronts.

Winning the Conference League was a superb achievement, but Palace’s reward is another season of midweek European matches, with all the travel, games, recovering and chaos that brings.

Having seen Aston Villa win it and Nottingham Forest progress to the semi final last season, Palace will have high hopes of going deep into the competition, but they will need to rotate, and the question is right now do they have the quality to do so and still be competitive in Europe and the Premier League?

So what do we expect?

Let’s face it, post-Glasner is going to feel different.

Over the last five seasons Palace have finished in 12th, 11th, 10th, 12th and 15th. Last season their league form suffered towards the end as Glasner clearly prioritized the Conference League. And with good reason.

They have some excellent players and despite losing their top, top talent every season, have managed to replace them with the minimum of turbulence.

Fighting on two fronts last season affected Palace’s league position and we expect the same this season. I don’t think they’re in any chance of going down, but a decent run in the Europa League and a 15th or 16th place finish is entirely plausible as the team goes through the new manager transition with a new defense to bed in as well. Steer clear of some of the injuries and off the pitch turmoil of last season and 12th is achievable.

That would provide Sage a strong platform for the following season, and with the new main stand already under development that will add an extra 13,500 seats when it’s finished next year, the Palace bandwagon rolls on.