Adam Sells’ Crystal Palace verdict: Vieira’s verve has Selhurst Park starry-eyed

Crystal Palace fans appear to be enjoying what they have seen in Patrick Vieira’s first seven games in charge – creating a feel-good factor in SE25. Whether that sentiment remains long term or it’s just the ‘honeymoon period’, coupled with a huge influx of signings, time will tell. But the early signs are positive. Here ADAM SELLS focuses on some of the major talking points.

THE TRANSFER WINDOW AND SQUAD DEPTH

It must have felt like Christmas for the new Crystal Palace manager, given the resources that his predecessor Roy Hodgson had to work with during the previous four seasons. Given Roy’s time in charge ended with a net spend of minus £12million, it was right place, right time for Patrick Vieira, who within seven days of his arrival was gifted the prodigious talent of Michael Olise. It was certainly more a case of revolution than evolution.

That of course cuts both ways and the huge turnover of playing staff, though much-needed, was a risky strategy on the club’s part. It seems, on the face of it, to have been extremely well navigated by both sporting director Dougie Freedman and chairman Steve Parish.

It has been easy to be critical of Palace’s lack of transfer activity in recent years, with Hodgson seemingly having to get more from less in the past couple of seasons. The ‘hits’ have been Vicente Guaita and Eberechi Eze, though there have been more ‘misses’ with the likes of Max Meyer and Alexander Sorloth arriving with great hope, but ultimately failing to make the giant step that it is to be become a Premier League success. Others have felt more like ‘sticking plasters’ than part of a long-term strategy.

For balance, one must caveat that criticism, by showing an understanding of how difficult it is to find the right fit – in terms of pedigree, potential, transfer fee and wages. This is particularly prevalent at the top end of the pitch, where 20-goal plus Premier League strikers are not affordable and so any player the club are able to bring in will represent a real punt.

The names of Odsonne Edouard and Jean-Philippe Mateta certainly reflect that. Players that have shown that they can perform in the Scottish Premiership and Bundesliga respectively and the latest to try and bridge the gap. If they do, they represent incredible value, but it’s a tough task for the recruitment team, who can only work on the basis that they have shown their worth and ready for a shot in the best league in the world.

It’s early days, but the squad certainly looks to have been replenished with young, hungry talent and John Textor’s welcome investment seems to have been spent wisely.

Olise has shown in recent cameos from the bench what an exciting talent the Eagles have on their hands. His availability after suffering a fractured vertebra, which was uncovered during his medical, is a huge plus. He looks the real deal. The former Reading man’s feel for the ball along with weight and range of pass have really caught the eye. Silky in possession and possessing a talent to whip in wicked crosses, his link up with Wilfried Zaha and Eze will have the Selhurst Park faithful licking their lips.

Edouard hit the ground running in the home game against Tottenham but the challenge is scoring regularly in the Premier League which, of course, is the hardest thing to do in the game.
The forward areas still require a little more surgery. Mateta hasn’t shown that he is ready to fill the role regularly and it seemed the club may have been trying to add another goalscorer at the end of August. Likewise in the wide areas, another talented choice would add real competition and ensure that there were real top-level options from the bench.

Palace will probably lose Zaha, Jeffrey Schlupp and Jordan Ayew for a month when the Africa Cup of Nations starts in January. That may mean there is a real requirement for an early mid-season purchase but is also dependent on the rise of Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, who continues to excel.

The 19-year-old looks a tremendous prospect and if his progress continues, he may well be capable of forcing his way into the picture sooner rather than later.

In midfield the loan signing of Conor Gallagher has added real energy. His drive, determination and an eye for goal have made him an instant favourite.

Will Hughes has yet to feature and may be viewed as a long-term successor to the evergreen James McArthur, 34. It’s an area where Palace have real depth. Luka Milivojevic has been superb since returning to the side, competing with Cheikhou Kouyate and Jairo Riedewald for the number six role, while Schlupp, plus the returning Eze, mean there is stiff competition for two advanced midfield roles.

Defensively, the central partnership of Marc Guehi and Joachim Andersen has the potential to be the best in the club’s history. Both appear to have been extremely shrewd signings.

The duo may have made a couple of errors in recent games, but you can excuse them given the level of performance overall. Andersen’s passing range and comfort in possession have brought a new dimension and he looks an absolute steal at a reported £15m. Guehi turned down a new deal at Chelsea in search of regular Premier League football and his assured displays, following on from a terrific loan spell at Swansea City, mean he has quickly given the club a boost – both on the field and the balance sheet. With James Tomkins, Martin Kelly and the versatile Kouyate sitting it out currently, Palace look well stocked in central defence.

It is perhaps the full-back areas that have been most aligned with the improvement of the team overall. Tyrick Mitchell has excelled since the second half at West Ham United. His tremendous defensive statistics – he has made the most tackles of any Premier League player – have been supplemented with a real willingness to get forward and link up effectively with Zaha.

A word also for Joel Ward, now in his tenth season at the club. He has been an incredible signing for £400,000. Wardy has been in great form. With Nathaniel Clyne on the sidelines and the exciting Nathan Ferguson set to return soon, competition is fierce.

Joel has been a model of consistency, so it’s easy to see why he has been selected by every Palace manager in the past decade.

PLAYING STYLE

Vieira has pretty much favoured a 4-3-3 formation apart from on the opening day against Chelsea when the squad was woefully unprepared – there were four players on the bench at Stamford Bridge who had never made a senior appearance in English football – and only one new signing able to start. Palace were not at the races.

Vieira, still trying to get to grips with his squad following his late appointment, switched between three formations. With the home side rampant, Palace struggled to play their way out of their own half which, worryingly, had shades of a certain Dutch guy about it.

That initial fear proved to be unfounded, as since then there has been consistent improvement.

New additions and double training sessions has led to a greater level of comfort and confidence in possession and the awkward opening spells witnessed in the first three or four games have dissipated.

A high-energy pressing game has generated a high-octane atmosphere at Selhurst and the games have been entertaining as Palace have been on the front foot. Vieira’s men have been competitive in every fixture.

The real focus for improvement right now must be in creating more chances. The increase in crowd noise, coupled with the players looking to regain the ball higher up the pitch, can perhaps make you feel that the team was very dominant. But this domination has not been reflected in the number of goalscoring opportunities and a frustration that single points could and should have been three.

As enjoyable as it has been, if your glass is half-empty then Palace have one win in eight games (if you include the EFL Cup) against Premier League opposition and have failed to net in four. The one victory in an extremely tough set of opening fixtures came against 10 men and with the help of a penalty to break the deadlock.

But the encouraging signs are there. With the growing influence of Olise and the return of the irrepressible Eze, many of those draws may well become wins.

COMPARISONS WITH ROY

I guess it is inevitable, but the positive way in which Vieira has gone about his business has led to unfair criticism of Palace’s previous managerial incumbent.

“Why didn’t we play like that with Roy?” and “Roy wouldn’t have made those changes” are comments that have circulated online.

You can only work with what you have at your disposal. Making any form of comparison like this is way off the mark. Given the previously mentioned minus net spend, the new coach has had the benefit of the club splashing £75m in the first couple of months of his tenure.

This squad has a much-needed youthful look and the benefit in terms of injuries has been borne out, at least so far.

The most telling factor in this respect, is that only two of the nine players who left the club during the summer – Andros Townsend and Wayne Hennessey – are employed by Premier League clubs.

Perhaps this best underlines just what a job Hodgson did in never being remotely close to the drop.

Palace are moving forward again with a real sense of promise, but the fact it is doing so in the top flight of English football has much to do with such a wiley and clever coaching team.

THE FUTURE’S BRIGHT

The investment made in overhauling the squad, together with the tremendous academy facility, provides real grounds for optimism.

Vieira and his coaches have got to work quickly and positively in trying to put his stamp on his team. A calm, considered, likeable man, the former Arsenal midfield powerhouse and French international may not have been top of everybody’s list of candidates prior to the season, but he seems to have made a very positive impression.

Palace are a team that can give anybody in the Premier League a tough game right now which, given the resources of some clubs, is a huge compliment.