Edmund Brack’s player ratings for the first half of Crystal Palace’s Premier League season

Crystal Palace head into the January break 14th in the Premier League after a start to the campaign that has been riddled with injuries and highlighted the inadequacy of the squad Roy Hodgson has at his disposal.

The Eagles were on a dismal run of just one win in 12 top-flight outings before their 3-1 victory on Brentford in their last fixture of 2023, with Hodgson’s position under increased scrutiny before the game.

Here are EDMUND BRACK’S mid-season player ratings from the start of the 2023-24 campaign.

SAM JOHNSTONE – 7
The stopper’s early season form saw him regain a starting spot in Gareth Southgate’s England side. It looked as though Dean Henderson’s summer arrival had pushed the ex-West Brom keeper’s form to another level, with his shot stopping and kicking both in fine form. His slight dip in performance coincided with Palace’s poor run of results. He suffered a calf injury in the 2-1 defeat to Liverpool on December 9 and has been missing since.

DEAN HENDERSON – 8
The summer signing has been a revelation and made himself the clear number one since his first league start in the 2-2 draw at Manchester City, playing through a slight injury when his team needed him the most after Johnstone was sidelined through injury. Despite his first start – a 3-0 EFL Cup defeat at Manchester United – ending prematurely due to injury, the initial £15million Palace landed the 26-year-old for looks like a snip in today’s market.

JOEL WARD – 5
The 34-year-old is a more than reliable option but there have been moments where it has been clear the Eagles need a more mobile and athletic right-back option. He was sensational against Liverpool – his last 90 minutes before suffering a hamstring injury against Manchester City – but performances against Burnley and Bournemouth, who had explosive wingers in Luca Koleosho and Luis Sinisterra, have shown Palace will need to search for a reinforcement next summer.

NATHANIEL CLYNE – 6
Impressive since coming into the side following Ward’s injury. He is athletic enough to join in with the attack – forming a nice partnership with Michael Olise in the final stages of 2023 – and marked Kaoru Mitoma out of the game in the 1-1 draw with Brighton. Should be offered a new one-year deal at the end of the season.

JOACHIM ANDERSON – 6
Ever consistent at the back, but without Wilfried Zaha – or Michael Olise for the large part of this season – his passing range has been nullified without the outlets on the wings to latch on to the launches forward. Struggled against Newcastle, Bournemouth and Everton in the league, but the team’s performances left a lot to be desired on those days. Scored an absolute belter in the 1-0 win at Manchester United.

MARC GUEHI – 6
Similar to Andersen, he has had difficult games throughout the season but largely delivered a consistent performance. Think the back two have had to adapt without Cheick Doucoure after his injury, with the Mali international’s ability to knit everything together in front of them sorely missed.

TYRICK MITCHELL – 7
Very good level of dependability. Has played the majority of the season with a slight injury. Lacks a real forward option ahead of him so he can join in on the attack. Back to his very best under Hodgson.

CHEICK DOUCOURE – 7
The key defensive midfield lynchpin before suffering an Achilles tendon injury in the 2-1 defeat at Luton Town in November. His absence coincided with a poor run of performances and results. He had forming an excellent partnership with Jefferson Lerma.

CHRIS RICHARDS – 7
Adapted well to an unfamiliar role – playing Doucoure’s role since he suffered the long-term injury. Seems to be getting more comfortable game by game and drops into the back four to allow Guehi to drive forward when he has the ball. Found game time hard to come by at centre-back.

WILL HUGHES – 5
Started a lot of games at the beginning of the season but was at fault for goals conceded against West Ham and Everton in the league. Has found minutes hard to come by with Richards and Lerma the midfield two behind Eberechi Eze.

JEFFREY SCHLUPP – 6
Good performance and goal in the 2-0 win at Burnley, also produced an intelligent assist for Jean-Philippe Mateta’s goal at Manchester City. Has played in Wilfried Zaha’s old position, which is harsh on the 30-year-old and more of a damning indictment on the summer recruitment. A good utility player to have in the squad.

JEFFERSON LERMA – 8
The signing of the summer. The Eagles need to make more of these types of additions, with the free transfer arrival bringing Premier League quality and experience straight into the team. Excellent consistency and brings energy to the midfield. Still waiting for his first goal, but has hit the woodwork multiple times.

JORDAN AYEW – 7
Seven goal contributions already this season, scoring the opening goals in the draw against Brighton. His assists have won Palace multiple points this season, driving to the byline against Burnley and Sheffield United to set up goals for important wins.

MICHAEL OLISE – 8
The player of the season and he has only featured nine times due to injuries. He has taken on the talisman role previously filled by Zaha, scoring sensational goals against Luton, Chelsea and Brentford. It’s gutting that Palace fans have had their third season of watching the 22-year-old hindered by hamstring problems.

NAOURIOU AHAMADA – 5
Despite limited minutes the French attacker has failed to truly have an impact in games. Yet to make his first start. Often brought on when the Eagles are losing, so makes it hard to judge a real impact he could have from the start.

EBERECHI EZE – 7
The Greenwich-born attacker has had to carry the burden of the creative duties and he has missed patches of the campaign due to injuries. But performances of late, rushing back from ankle ligament damage against Luton, has seen Eze produce below-par performances against Chelsea and Brighton. Would have much more joy in the team with Olise and another creative forward on the left, but a poor transfer market decisions and injuries have stopped that. Olise and Eze have only played together six times.

JEAN-PHILIPPE MATETA – 7
Would be ranked higher if the ratings were just the last five games before the break. The French forward has come into the team since Odsonne Edouard’s injury against Liverpool and been a real focal point. Mateta’s burst of pace, touch and link-up play has been invaluable.

ODSONNE EDOUARD – 7
Six goals in 15 Premier League games before he suffered injury. His goals have helped secure six valuable Premier League points, scoring an impressive brace in the 3-2 win over Wolves in September. Will find it hard to break past Mateta when the former Mainz forward is in this form. It could be time for Hodgson to try the two together up top?

MATHEUS FRANCA – 6
Hard to give the Brazilian a fair rating on the limited game time he’s had in the Premier League so far. He had bright cameos against Newcastle and Manchester City but a difficult appearance against Spurs in the 2-1 defeat. Looked positive when on the ball in his first start against Everton in the FA Cup third round. Still raw, it’s clear to see why he’s not yet starting games where three points are on the line.

PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD AND PA

Main Pic: Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise and West Ham United’s Emerson Palmieri