Adam Sells’ talking points from Crystal Palace’s 0-0 draw at Bournemouth – signing attacking talent a priority in transfer window

Crystal Palace drew 0-0 at Bournemouth on Boxing Day. Here are Adam Sells’ talking points from the Premier League stalemate.

RESPECT THE POINT

There’s no such thing as a bad point away from home in the Premier League. Although this game won’t live long in the memory, it was a decent draw against a team that were fifth in the table prior to kick off, clear-cut chances were at a premium.

The shutout was important after shipping eight against Arsenal in three halves of football in the previous week. It was Dean Henderson’s fourth clean sheet of the season in the Premier League. One in three is a good target in terms of shutouts and from 18 games, the Eagles are a couple short in that respect.

HIGH ENDEAVOUR – LOW QUALITY

This game at the Vitality Stadium was a real snapshot of Palace’s season in 90 minutes.

The Arsenal games were somewhat of an anomaly defensively. Up until then, Oliver Glasner’s men had not conceded more than two goals in any game.

There are few worries in this respect.

It is offensively where Palace have really toiled – only Ipswich and Southampton have scored fewer. This was the eighth draw – the highest number in the league. It is no surprise.  Palace are hard to play against – but don’t have enough to win matches consistently at this level.

The squad depth meant here that when in search of a winner, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Eberechi Eze were withdrawn, with Glasner sending on Daichi Kamada and Justin Devenney in order to win the game. That tells its own story. Both are excellent technicians, but there were no game-changers on the bench.

SOUTHAMPTON IS BIG

This is a very good point if it is followed up with a win against Bournemouth’s south coast rivals Southampton on Sunday.

Victory this weekend would leave Palace on 20 points from 19 games – on target for the 40-point survival mark. A draw or defeat would mean the they are behind the curve.

It has been a difficult season so far, a huge anti-climax following the promise at the end of last season. With just three wins in 18 games, there is a three-point gap between Palace and the relegation zone. Defeat to Southampton on Sunday, who are rock bottom with just one win and three draws all season, would mean it would be the alarm bells, rather than the New Year ones, ringing loudest as we enter 2025.

SOUTHAMPTON IS BIG… JANUARY IS BIGGER…

Palace are in desperate need reinforcements.

The squad is very thin offensively and ball carriers with individual flair must surely at the top of the wishlist. During the previous 11 seasons, the Selhurst Park faithful have been used to the likes of Wilfried Zaha and Michael Olise turning matches. This group is well short in this respect.

Cover and competition in the wing-back areas is essential if Palace want to climb the table and they could probably do with an addition in central midfield to help with the numbers.

Out of 22 players that are over the age of 21, five of them have not started a Premier League match all season. Given the level of players unavailable at time, it is evidence that some may have pretty much come to the end of their time in SE25 and a clear indication of just how unbalanced the squad is.