Crystal Palace’s Christmas report card – Eagles still reliant on Zaha for match-defining moments as consistency still eludes Patrick Vieira’s side

Edmund Brack assesses Crystal Palace’s start, grades the boss, picks out the best performer and which player needs to deliver more as the Premier League season gets set to resume on Boxing Day.

GRADE THE START: B

In many ways, to be two points off the European places heading into the second half of this split Premier League season is a major success – this is by far the most competitive 20 teams the Eagles have been a part of in the top flight since promotion from the Championship in 2013.

But you can’t help but look over the first few months of the season and think: ‘What might have been?’

Palace have dropped 10 points from winning positions this season.

Despite eight of those points being lost to Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea, there has to be a hint of disappointment at the side’s failure to hold on to leads.

There have also been lifeless performances away to Everton and Nottingham Forest.

But this is a young side, with players such as Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise becoming consistent members of the starting 11. And while they have thrown away valuable points, they also have a knack for coming back from the jaws of defeat – collecting 12 points from losing positions.

The word manager Patrick Vieira seems to mention in every press conference when referring to his side is “consistency”, and Palace lack it in abundance.

They have to start maturing into a team that can string performances together in the second half of the season.

GRADE THE BOSS: C+

It’s important to remember that Vieira was not adequately backed in the summer window. The Eagles’ only signing of significance – a player who came straight into the starting line-up and improved the squad – was Cheick Doucoure.

The tools at his disposal are worse than last season, with the manager pleading for more experience and another versatile forward ahead of the season.

But the Frenchman is yet to show he is a tactically astute manager who can go toe-to-toe and outsmart a fellow Premier League counterpart.

In the 1-1 draw with Brentford, three substitutes from Thomas Frank saw Vieira panic and switch to a back five.

The change in defensive shape caused the Eagles to sit deep and concede an 88th-minute equaliser.

The players can produce impressive and dominant displays, but when the attacking flair is frustrated and nullified, Vieira has to find more answers.

BEST SIGNING: CHEICK DOUCOURE

The Mali midfielder, 22, has been by far the most influential signing made over the summer.

He has seamlessly adapted to life in England, with his short passing game and ability to carry the ball forward great assets to the side.

Doucoure does not look like a traditional defensive midfielder, though – he could be a better box-to-box option in Vieira’s side.

KEY PERFORMER: WILFRIED ZAHA

In terms of needing a player to produce something out of nothing, it’s still Wilfried Zaha who is the key player in this Crystal Palace side.

The Ivorian talisman has scored six goals in his first 13 appearances of the season.

He missed a penalty in the 1-0 loss away to Forest, but it was still Zaha who won the spot kick.

His role has changed over the years – he is no longer the dynamic winger who would brush past his opponents – but when cutting in from the left and taking aim, there is no Palace player better in front of goal.

He has 11 goals left to go before reaching a century for the club in all competitions. But with little more than six months to go on his contract, the question remains whether Zaha will reach the milestone.

NEEDS TO PRODUCE MORE: TYRICK MITCHELL

It was the consistency and maturity of Tyrick Mitchell’s performances which caught the eye when he first burst into the Crystal Palace side under Roy Hodgson.

And when Vieira took charge of the side in the summer of 2021, the left-back’s stature in the game only improved – rewarded with his England debut that season.

But following the FA Cup semi-final defeat to Chelsea in April, when a slip at Wembley from Mitchell allowed Ruben Loftus-Cheek to give the Blues the lead, he has not since looked the same confident player.

There have been one or two standout performances this season – frustrating Jarrod Bowen in the 2-1 win at West Ham and grabbing the assist in the 1-0 win over Southampton – but the consistency which coincided with his rise to Gareth Southgate’s side, has disappeared.

Mitchell has shown in smatterings this season that he is still the same player who dislodged Patrick van Aanholt and became Palace’s starting left-back.

INJURED PLAYERS

Nathan Ferguson and James McArthur [hip] have been missing for the entire season.

Goalkeeper Sam Johnstone has suffered a back injury and looks set to be out for the next two months. This could see Jack Butland stay at the club and not head out on loan. Chris Richards has returned from a hamstring injury and played 35 minutes in the 3-1 friendly defeat to Napoli.

IDEAL TRANSFER ACTIVITY:

Another midfielder who can either go box-to-box with Doucoure should be at the top of Palace’s January plans.

The Eagles lack experience – shown by the absence of 35-year-old James McArthur – and need another body in the middle to compete for Jeffrey Schlupp’s place in the squad.

Winger Malcolm Ebiowei looks set to go out on loan, so the South Londoners will need another attacker to replace him on the bench.

Another forward who can change the game for Odsonne Edouard is also required, with Jean-Philippe Mateta only scoring once this season.

NEXT FOUR LEAGUE FIXTURES:

December 26 Fulham H, December 31 Bournemouth A, January 4 Spurs H, January 15 Chelsea A

BY EDMUND BRACK