Adam Sells’ half-term verdict on Crystal Palace’s start to the 2022-23 Premier League season – Zaha future, January transfer window and Patrick Vieira’s performance

Adam Sells is the managing director of Sells Goalkeeper Products. He has followed the fortunes of Crystal Palace since 1976, working within the club’s academy for more than 15 years until 2013. He is a licensed intermediary, representing a number of goalkeepers. Here he assesses the Eagles start to the Premier League season.

Fourteen games in and it is fair to say that it is hard to quantify whether Patrick Vieira’s team are underachieving, overachieving or are about where they should be.
They are 11th in the Premier League and on 19 points, just a couple away from the European places and six points above the drop. It appears that inability to evaluate properly may well be justified. Five wins, four draws and five losses, suggests that there may not be a clear direction of travel at all.

The defeat at bottom of the table Nottingham Forest certainly left a feeling of frustration. Having won at West Ham United the previous weekend, had Palace been victorious at the City Ground they would have entered this unique ‘international break’ in seventh spot and set to push on for a European place when the season resumes.

Had Wilfried Zaha’s penalty not hit the outside of Dean Henderson’s right-hand post, then who knows? But Palace toiled thereafter and despite having 68 per cent possession there was no request for replacement gloves from the Forest keeper due to excessive wear – one bit of good news for a certain South London brand owner. Every cloud and all that…

But perhaps that afternoon best encapsulated the feeling so far – a huge chance to kick on missed.

It certainly seems whenever Palace have been on the cusp of something this term, the opportunity passes.

THE PLUSSES

There have been plenty of positives during the first raft of matches.

The high-energy Cheick Doucoure has settled quickly. Palace’s scouting in France is handled by their former striker James Scowcroft and his identification for sporting director Dougie Freedman in regard of the Mali midfielder looks an astute piece of business.

Perhaps the form of Odsonne Edouard has been the biggest bonus so far. The French forward showed in moments last season that he is very capable. But this time out he has started all but one of the games he has been fit for selection.

Encouragingly, in addition to his ‘clever feet’, Edouard is scoring what you would call real strikers’ goals. The nature of the finishes against the likes of Chelsea best evidence the point and the Palace striker hit three in the previous six games prior to his recent hamstring injury.

Significantly this has been a big change of direction from Vieira. Edouard likes to drop deep and link play, whereas Jean-Philippe Mateta, who was selected regularly in second half of last season is a forward that likes to run in behind.

From a team perspective, two big positives have been the team’s ability to come from a goal behind to win on four occasions, together with the capability to eke out wins in very tight matches by the odd goal. Victories by a one-goal margin were something that took 35 games to accomplish during the last campaign.

THE MINUSES

Just as they have had the ability to turn around losing situations, Palace have surrendered 10 points from winning situations which has probably accentuated the “if only” feeling.

The form away from Selhurst Park is certainly a big cause for concern. The victory at the London Stadium earlier this month was the Eagles’ only win in seven attempts.

Goalscoring has been an issue, netting in just one of the past five away matches – and if you include the EFL Cup tie at Newcastle, it’s one in six against Premier League opposition.

Given the likes of Zaha, Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise have been available, Palace shouldn’t have struggled so often to fashion chances and should be a huge threat to any defence, even in the best league in the world.

In terms of personnel, there are a few players whose form has dipped or, at best, flatlined since last season.

Mateta seems to have fallen out of favour and is yet to start a single top-flight game this season. He has not hit the heights of the post-Christmas period and the slight dip in form may have cost the generally consistent Marc Guehi and Tyrick Mitchell an England place in Qatar.

THE MANAGER

Patrick Vieira is 52 Premier League games into his tenure – technically fifty as he missed a couple with Covid – and the start to his second season in charge at Palace has been much the same as his first .

One of the most decorated players in the game, he is certainly a huge pull when the sporting director is negotiating with would-be signings and their representatives. A very decent man with a real presence and aura about him.

In terms of management experience at Premier League level, he still has some way to go. From his management team, only goalkeeping coach Dean Kiely has coached in the top-flight for a long period and it would be fair to say that this element has reflected when it comes to in-game management.

Palace have dropped points and turned games around in equal measure, but there have been some glaring situations in this respect.

The visit to Anfield saw his team come away with a point, which really on any day, you would be pleased with. But with a 1-0 lead against 10 men, there seemed a real sense of whether to stick or twist.

At Manchester City, with a two-goal lead after a first-half classic away performance, the decision to replace Mitchell directly with Chris Richards at left-back, rather than utilising a defender with a lower centre of gravity like Clyne or Jeffrey Schlupp to deal with Bernado Silva was questionable. Richards’ physicality would surely have been better to match up with the rampaging Erling Haaland.

Thomas Frank’s clever tactical switch had Palace hanging on for a point at home to Brentford and the decision to withdraw a shocked Doucoure and not switch Zaha on to the right side sooner against Chelsea may also have played a part in dropping points.

The bold changes made at Everton left Palace with a flimsy midfield and the contest was quickly over with a third of the game left.

The Forest game and the flurry of changes had a negative effect. Mateta for instance, had only four contacts with the ball after entering the fray on 59 minutes.

It is only correct to balance with the aforementioned games when Vieira’s men have turned games around.

This has generally been after an upping of the tempo and when his team have gained parity reasonably quickly. Olise’s winner at West Ham is the only goal scored past the 80-minute mark, perhaps tellingly, in a game that the Eagles boss made only one change.

Therein might be real crux of the matter. Does the manager have the options at his disposal to be able to tip the scales? It is clear the squad is short in some areas and often players introduced are not of the quality of those being withdrawn. Vieira can also point to long-term injuries to the likes of James McArthur and Nathan Ferguson as further depletion of his resources.

The Palace boss has voiced his need for reinforcements after the Forest defeat and more experience, which would hugely help in this respect.

These days managers and coaches are all about philosophy and identity. Principles or pragmatism?  Vieira must get the balance between defensive stability, attacking flair and tactical flexibility. As Brentford showed at The Etihad recently, leapfrogging Palace in the table, there’s more than one way to win football matches.

THE TRANSFER WINDOW

With the opportunity to add to the squad little more than a month away, Palace’s drive in securing the required additions is going to be key if further progress is to be made.

Vieira is short in some areas particularly midfield and attack. Should the Eagles loan summer signing Malcolm Ebiowei, as reports suggest, their need will become even greater.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been heavily linked with a return to the club on loan from Manchester United and would certainly increase cover and competition for the right-back slot.

With Nathan Ferguson’s injury woes – along with the fact Clyne and Joel Ward are in the final year of their contracts – it may be a sensible route to explore.
The need to add more energy and goals in midfield is perhaps the most pressing requirement.

If Palace can add at least one player here, the return of James McArthur from hip surgery would mean there were two more options in the engine room.

The loss of Conor Gallagher was always going to be felt but as effective as he was, it should not be impossible to find a player of a similar ilk.

Palace are also short in attack. The decision to allow Christian Benteke to leave on the eve of the new season and not replace him was, at best, unwise.

Whereas the big Belgian was not a favourite of many in SE25, his aerial ability is unquestionable and a real super-strength.

Last season his goalscoring record in the Premier League was just over one in three (based on minutes on the field) though it seems Vieira saw his inability to press as a major flaw. Benteke did not start a game after the defeat to Villa a year ago, having scored four in his previous four starts.

The lack of genuine dynamic wide choices outside of Zaha and Olise also needs to be addressed, as changes made in games wide have generally reduced the attacking threat.

The likes of Ebiowei and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi are exciting prospects but will need around 18 months of regular game time away from Selhurst to seriously impact the squad.

Whether Freedman will be handed a winter war chest for reinforcements remains to be seen. Whatever the combination of loans and permanent transfers, three or four new faces are required if Palace are to push on.

ZAHA D-DAY

The big question is will he stay, or will he go?

The club will be doing everything possible to hang on to their talisman and the greatest player in the club’s long history.

Zaha’s importance cannot be understated. Though he’s just turned 30, he is very much still the main man.

Both parties have much to ponder. Palace must consider the potential cost of replacement and downside of life without Wilf.

On the other hand, Zaha is living in his hometown, is idolised by the Palace faithful and plays every week.

Given the experience at Manchester United, would he enjoy life away from SE25? A different location, training ground and whole new fanbase to impress.

Being close to 31 when his contract expires, would he cope well with fewer minutes on the field somewhere or less emphasis being placed on his mercurial talent?

Some players just thrive in a certain environment and being the main man. Come on Wilf…you know it makes sense to re-sign.

NOW IS THE TIME…

There are so many questions and situations to resolve but really the biggest is where do Crystal Palace want to go? What do the club want to be?

Sitting just a couple of points away from European football, it would be fair to say that Fulham, Brentford and Brighton, in front of them, are not necessarily better equipped.

So, are Palace going to push on or is survival the only target?

Make no mistake, this is the toughest Premier League ever and the fixtures from January to March are almost exclusively against teams that are above the Eagles, with Aston Villa away the only exception. Strengthening is imperative.

Chairman Steve Parish has consistently shown a drive and determination to move the club forward, but he needs the support of his co-owners across the big pond. John Textor’s investment last year suggests that he too wants success.

The real question surrounds the billionaire shareholders Josh Harris and David Blitzer, who reportedly failed in their bid to land Chelsea. Do they want to build the same in South London?

The cost versus potential Premier League prize money means further investment for the club to kick on.

From the boardroom to the training ground, now is the time.