Adam Sells’ Crystal Palace column: Holding out for a hero – Eagles missing magic of Olise as next transfer window can’t come soon enough

At the end of last season Palace were blowing away all-comers – that was not in the script. Seven games into the latest Premier League campaign and they have just three draws to show for their efforts.

After Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at the hands of table-topping Liverpool, Oliver Glasner’s Eagles are third bottom in the table and the second-lowest scorers in the top-flight.

The form has gone from Champions League to Championship.

The most concerning statistic is, that under the Austrian, Palace have not won a single match without Michael Olise in 12 attempts, since his first game in charge on February 24 against 10-man Burnley.

It is a stat that is fast becoming ominous with every week that passes, as the Eagles continue to labour in attack without the mercurial attacker, now a French international.

It was never going to be easy, but the side that ended the previous season playing ‘champagne’ football, albeit against many opponents who had perhaps removed their personalised ‘Hypervenoms’ for ‘Havaianas’ (those of you over 40 please ask a young person) have spectacularly fallen away.

It seemed that when players were fit and firing, the 3-4-2-1 shape adopted during those final seven games was a perfectly-balanced combination of functionally and flair.

Palace were a strong, fit, well-organised outfit, that was very difficult to play against, illuminated with the skill and unpredictability of two outstanding talents, contributing 31 goals and assists between them in 3,334 Premier League minutes. A way ahead had been found, having lost Wilfried Zaha the previous summer, that really emphasised how much the squad was evolving.

It meant that we saw the best version of everybody. Jean-Philippe Mateta became a goal-getter. Adam Wharton’s forward passing was a huge feature, Daniel ‘Mad Dog’ Munoz rampaged down the right-hand side, with incredible energy and tenacity. It seemed that Palace could score at will. Five were put past visiting West Ham United and Aston Villa. Manchester United were lucky to leave Selhurst having only conceded four.

Newcastle United were also put to the sword, while Liverpool and Wolves were beaten on the road and a point was gained at Fulham.

The game at Craven Cottage was the only one in which Glasner’s troops didn’t take maximum points, which was quite significant. Palace were without Eze on this occasion. The last time I shared my thoughts at the end of the season in this fine publication, it was very much with a tone of ‘what might have been’ had both Eze and Olise been available for selection more often.

The form with the pair together over 38 games would have meant that Olise would not have had to leave SE25 to experience the sweet sound of the Champions League theme in midweek. On the other hand, without their prodigious talent the average points per game total would have been just 32 – which would mean the kit man would have been pressing the EFL logo on to sleeves in most seasons instead.

Given the stark contrast, the recruitment team’s main focus surely would have been on strengthening the two ‘number 10’ positions, given the drop-off in performances without either, while hoping that both could be retained.

With the young Matheus Franca adapting to his new surroundings and the emergence of Jesurun Rak-Sakyi – though both having suffered injury-ravaged campaigns – two further ball carriers would have given the squad the requisite depth and options required.

This did not necessarily mean that huge sums would have to be spent, particularly with one eye on the development of the aforementioned duo.

Given the contrast and the need to strengthen, what followed in terms of squad building and approach has been very difficult to fathom.

With the buy-out clauses inserted in both the contracts of Eze and Olise, the club was at the mercy of the European giants, but this was the ‘model’ and there was a plan.

If anybody should depart for big money, the cash could be re-invested to make the squad stronger. The key to the ‘model’ was knowing the next move – the idea being that the ‘new version’ should be posing with the Palace shirt the week that the fans are getting over the blow of losing any important cog in the machine.

It is fair to say that as much as one doesn’t like the thought of losing top talent, the hope is that with a structured recruitment plan the club can continue to flourish. Certainly, given sporting director Dougie Freedman’s track record, which in general has been pretty good, that confidence would have seemed well-placed.

However, after Olise departed for Bavaria all the talk was of a generational talent being lost. A player deemed irreplaceable. Despite his talent being critical in winning matches – and a hefty transfer kitty – no player with remotely similar characteristics or profile has arrived.

Jordan Ayew was allowed to move on, which again could be understood as great business, and replaced by an equally versatile Ismaila Sarr, who is similarly able to operate as a number nine, 10 or wide player.

Eddie Nketiah was brought in for £25m and is a fine player. Quick, clever, sharp and an excellent finisher but, prior to Saturday, he had been deployed in a deeper role which doesn’t particularly suit a striker who likes to play on the shoulder – a real ‘fox-in-the-box’ type.

As the former Arsenal man arrived on an extremely hectic last day of the transfer window, Odsonne Edouard departed on loan to further deplete numbers.

Perhaps most surprisingly, Rak-Sakyi was allowed to leave on loan to Sheffield United, despite the lack of players with the ability to go past anybody with the ball and an impressive start to pre-season.

Malcolm Ebowei joined Oxford United on loan with Luke Plange already in Finland.

Then there is Daichi Kamada. The Japanese international was one of Glasner’s picks, having previously worked with him at Eintracht Frankfurt. Kamada is a technician, but where he is best served is yet to be seen. The concern is that during this spell in the best league in the world, there have been several acquisitions of a similar type that have not succeeded.

Not because they weren’t talented footballers, but where do they fit into a system? Names such as Barry Bannan, Chung yong-Lee, Max Meyer and Victor Camarasa spring to mind.

The lack of special players within the group is the prime reason that Palace are unable to currently win matches at the level. It has become too functional without the ‘magic dust’ in the final third.

In previous seasons, Palace have been able to call on three Champions League-level players in this respect.

Zaha, Olise and Eze made Palace a very difficult team to play against. Compare that to now and it not hard to see why despite being competitive in every game, the Eagles have not been able to tip the scales in their favour in seven attempts.

They are not being overrun, the platform is there, but without enough special players at the sharp end, it is very difficult in the Premier League.

The more talented individual ball carriers in the group, the more chance of winning matches. If three of them are on the pitch and the same on a nine-man bench, you have a chance.

Palace have three in total – Eze, Franca and Sarr – half what is needed. It is hard to see another squad in the division with less in terms of a threat. The fact that only newly-promoted Southampton have a lower number than Palace in the ‘goals for’ column so far further accentuates the concern.

If a 25-man squad is to be equipped for the rigours of a season, two players for every position are needed, plus an additional goalkeeper and two forward players, with a few young players on the fringes.

Eight forward players in number. Palace have just five – Mateta, Nketiah, Sarr, Eze and Franca. The latter has not been available this season and is now likely to out until after Christmas.

Beyond that, it would be Kamada or Jeffrey Schlupp who cannot be described as out and out attackers in the same way. Three on the pitch and three on the bench is not possible when everybody is fit and available (which has not been the case in any week) which is unfathomable for a club going into its 12th consecutive season at the level.

Glasner explained that he wanted to work with a smaller group, with 20 outfield players and three goalkeepers, which may prove to be a very risky strategy in the coming months.

Around this time last year, goalless draws against Fulham and Nottingham Forest at Selhurst were celebrated. And rightly so. Palace were without 10 or 11 players, with little or no attacking ammunition. This time the choices are even more sparse, should a few more players enter the treatment room.

In reality, almost every week you are unable to call on five players, through injury or suspension.

Just last weekend, Palace were without, Chadi Riad, Chris Richards, Cheick Doucoure, Franca and Rob Holding, who has been banished to training with the U21s.

With Munoz forced off during the last encounter, things could yet get worse. With 18 outfield players required every match day, there is a real possibility, that Glasner may have only 14 with Premier League experience to select from when his team take on Nottingham Forest on October 21, despite the number of absentees being at what could be described as a typical level.

Munoz leaving the field last time out only served to highlight the shortage in options in the wing-back positions further.

During a recent press conference, Glasner said he had faith in some of the young academy players and was keen there was a pathway for them.

Last weekend, both Munoz and Tyrick Mitchell were withdrawn. Caleb Kporha and Franco Umeh were substitutes and would have been like-for-like changes, but the boss opted to utilise Nathaniel Clyne on both the right and left-hand sides, with Sarr as part of the reshuffle.

In comparison to the situation in attack and wing-back positions, Palace have six options in central midfield, which meant they could afford to release Jairo Riedewald and send David Ozoh and Naouirou Ahamada on loan, with the latter able to make the move permanent next summer.

In respect of the back three, Palace are even better-served with nine options, including three new additions. Maxence Lacroix, who worked with Glasner at Wolfsburg, has started to show signs of adjusting to the pace of the Premier League. Trevoh Chalobah should prove a useful loan addition.

Joachim Andersen was sold to Fulham for £32m with a similar amount spent. The deal for the Dane certainly made financial sense, given his request for a long-term deal with a huge pay hike. Again, though understandable, the defender’s range of passing and leadership has been a loss, as the new recruits have taken time to settle or struggled with injury.

Of the summer signings, Riad looks like the only real addition that fits the long-term model, given his age and profile. Kamada and Lacroix were at the manager’s request. Nketiah and Sarr have been on Freedman’s notepad for a number of seasons.

The squad is not without talent or quality. The concern is around the number and the options within the wing-back and number 10 roles, which are the most vital within the set-up.

The number of players joining on the final day of the window aslso did little to convince that the model was being implemented. Matt Turner came in as the replacement for Sam Johnstone, and Chalobah was always going to be part of the Chelsea ‘bring and buy’ sale.

Nketiah and Lacroix were announced at the death, but three games had been played at this point. Those last-minute deals may be good from a financial perspective, but at what cost in terms of points? The season begins in August and with no wins in September, how much difference does it make if the club finishes a few places lower or worse, should the unthinkable happen.

Those that have had long summers look understandably tired and the smaller squad makes it even more difficult to freshen things up.

No doubt should the games continue to pass without victories, the pressure will intensify, though it is hard to see what anybody else could do, given the attacking limitations.

In terms of selection and tactical approach, the only real question has centred around the pairing of Kamada and Wharton in midfield. Having collapsed at home to West Ham from a decent position, the two were paired against Manchester United in the first half. Despite being overrun and turning the tide with the half-time changes, Glasner opted to start the same two again at Everton a week later, deploying Jefferson Lerma in a back three.

The Austrian has demonstrated that he is an excellent coach. He is positive and bullish about the current position. But the Premier League is an unforgiving place. Those thinking that things might need time to gel maybe doing so in hope rather than expectation. Palace simply don’t look like they have the numbers or the right attacking ingredients right now.

The lack of number tens or wide players doesn’t make a change of system look straightforward. Can Glasner find a way of making Kamada effective? Could the talented Asher Agbinone step out of the shadows and provide what is sorely missing?

There are still 12 games before the transfer window reopens in January and Palace must ensure that they are still in touch with safety at the turn of the year. There was a decent profit generated from the window this summer, though this was offset against the winter business last January, when Wharton and Munoz arrived.

Attacking players are needed immediately and quick business is going to be crucial.

Palace have their second lowest points total after seven games in a Premier League season. Defeat at Forest and it will be the same as the season when Roy Hodgson defied the odds to keep them up comfortably. There is not a Zaha or an Olise to rescue the season this time.

Chairman Steve Parish has done remarkable things for Palace over the past 14 years but this may perhaps represent the biggest challenge yet, in terms of remaining at the top table.

As a man who is going to be 55 in January I really shouldn’t be wishing the days away, but right now those new year bells cannot come quickly enough.