‘The right decision’ – Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner makes squad depth admission
BY ALEX PEWTER
Squad depth, or lack thereof, has been an underlying theme for most of Crystal Palace’s season following the summer transfer window. Yet manager Oliver Glasner still does not regret the choice to carry a smaller senior squad.
When asked if he stood by his decision to have a 20-player squad after enduring the worst of the injury crisis, Glasner was emphatic that it wasn’t a mistake.
He said: “No, absolutely not. I haven’t now got to call up one player for the squad [from the U21s], and even Adam Wharton will be back.”
The Austrian manager has been on record throughout the season that they saw the smaller squad size as an opportunity for players from the academy set-up. If anything, Glasner sees midfielder Justin Devenny’s ascent to the first-team squad as validation of that process.
“It was the right decision because maybe Justin Devenny wouldn’t have gotten the chance, and he’s been excellent,” said Glasner.
“So, he’s now much closer to the first 11 than he was at the beginning of the season. This is why we run this academy over the street, to give them a chance.”
That would certainly appear to be the case after four consecutive Premier League appearances for Devenny, even after other injury returns.
If Devenny’s move to the first team was unforeseen, as were several injuries that have tested the limits of Glasner’s squad.
Brazilian Matheus Franca, who has not featured since February after repeated injuries, is one prime example.
“We thought that he would be back at the latest in September, and then he had a re-injury,” he said.
“Now he’s out, and it’s one attacking player we are missing, and with his profile, he’s a dribbler one-on-one who can create situations and score goals.”
With Adam Wharton and defender Chadi Riad now back in training, even if it is a phased re-introduction to the first team, Glasner will be one player away from a full selection of players for the first time this season.
PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD