Edmund Brack’s verdict on Crystal Palace’s 2-2 friendly draw with Charlton – as Joachim Andersen’s arrival is set to help Patrick Vieira’s tactics
BY EDMUND BRACK
While Crystal Palace’s high-intensity press was effective against Charlton, there were signs on Tuesday night that their defensive structure needs fine-tuning – and the recent addition of Joachim Andersen looks poised to be the ready-made solution around whom to build the foundations.
The 2-2 draw in midweek was a first Selhurst Park outing for Patrick Vieira since he was appointed manager at the start of this month.
With Wilfried Zaha, Christian Benteke and Luka Milivojevic all absent, the Frenchman’s side was a blend of first-teamers, many of whom are likely to be rotated in and out of his starting line-up, and promising youngsters.
While it was only a friendly, and Vieira’s style of play will become more evident after the transfer window has closed and all the pieces of his puzzle are in place, the early indication is that his forward players will press relentlessly.
The attacking display at Selhurst Park on Tuesday night was largely encouraging. In the first half, the front three hounded the Charlton defence at any opportunity, with Jordan Ayew, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi and Scott Banks searching for misplaced passes.
Rak-Sakyi scored the opener by persistently chasing down Jason Pearce. The under-pressure centre-back played an awkward backpass to Craig MacGillivray – resulting in the goalkeeper launching a clearance that bounced off the winger and into the back of the net.
Vieira’s team lined up 4-3-3, but Jairo Riedewald pushed forward from left-back when they were in possession to effectively make it a 3-4-3 formation.
The back three of Marc Guehi, James Tomkins and Martin Kelly are still familiarising themselves, but there was an imbalance in the defensive unit on Tuesday. Kelly could not venture forward like Riedewald, leaving Palace lopsided and open to being exposed down either flank.
With Nathan Ferguson not due back from injury until 2022, re-signing Nathaniel Clyne, who has the natural athleticism and attacking prowess to contribute from right-back, makes sense.
Clyne would allow Vieira to deploy a 5-2-3 or a 4-3-3 with attacking full-backs, as Tyrick Mitchell looks set to start the season as first-choice left-back.
Guehi, making his first appearance at Selhurst Park since his £18million move from Chelsea, looked largely confident in possession and composed on the ball. Plus, he wasn’t afraid to demonstrate his leadership qualities by organising his more experienced defensive partners.
Both Tomkins and Guehi made mistakes when trying to pass between the Charlton press in the first half. Tomkins cleared an effort off the line from his error, and Guehi demonstrated a quick turn of pace – after giving away the ball – to shut down Jayden Stockley.
As for Tomkins and Kelly, the pair are still adjusting to Vieira’s demands to play out from the back.
Charlton’s first equaliser showed the lack of cohesion between the Palace defence and Jack Butland as Stockley was allowed to drift unmarked to guide home Albie Morgan’s inswinging corner from close range.
When the first-team contingent of Jean-Philippe Mateta, Jeffrey Schlupp and James McArthur made their way on to the pitch midway through the second half, Palace’s attacking intensity increased.
Schlupp was involved almost immediately. He set up Rak-Sakyi inside the area, but Charlie Barker’s expertly timed clearance off the line denied the youngster his second of the match.
Palace’s pressurised onslaught reaped the rewards again in the 75th minute. Rob Street latched on to a sliced clearance from MacGillivray and played an intelligent pass inside to Mateta.
The French forward drew two Charlton defenders towards him and spotted Scott Banks, who had darted into the penalty area. At the first attempt, the Scottish 19-year-old unleashed a shot that flew past the Addicks goalkeeper to restore Palace’s lead.
While the visitors equalised four minutes later through Josh Davison, it was a makeshift defence consisting of Jaroslaw Jach and Cheikhou Kouyate.
On Wednesday, Palace announced the £15million capture of Andersen. The 25-year-old is an established ball-playing defender who will undoubtedly make the transition to a possession-based side a smoother process.
Andersen shone in a side that slumped to a disappointing relegation. At the heart of Fulham’s defence, Andersen won 99 aerial battles, made 1,958 passes, completed 150 clearances, and had a tackle success rate of 58 per cent.
With Vieira’s desire to play out from the back, the Danish centre-back, who boasts an extensive passing range, could become the catalyst for igniting Palace’s attacking spark.
Should Andersen partner Guehi, the duo could become the perfect counterbalance to each other.
While both are accomplished with the ball at their feet, Guehi can cover Andersen in terms of pace and recovery speed. Whereas Andersen, who became Scott Parker’s captain despite being on loan, stands at a towering 6ft 4 and is more dominant in the air than his new England U21 counterpart.
Of course, it’s pre-season, and it’s vital to remember this was a Palace side without Zaha, Benteke and injured duo Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze. So the abundance of talent waiting to be fully integrated into the new system creates genuine excitement.
The attacking approach has been encouraging and the Eagles will undoubtedly be playing with the shackles loosened this season.
But with the start of the Premier League a little more than a fortnight away, Vieira, who now has two defenders tailor-made for his ideology, must quickly forge an understanding between Guehi and Andersen as he assembles his new look Crystal Palace.
PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD