Crystal Palace were the in-form side at the end of last season, picking up six wins from an unbeaten final seven games. Manager Oliver Glasner has impressed with his management style and galvanised Palace when they most needed it. It had started to become toxic in the stands under Roy Hodgson before he was dismissed, with morale low.
Advertisement There is real hope and excitement about this season, though. A relatively quiet transfer window so far has barely dampened the mood. Here’s The Athletic’s Palace season preview.
The summer and pre-season have been...
Interesting...
Everything began well with the signings of Chadi Riad at around £15million ($19.1m) from Real Betis and Daichi Kamada on a free transfer after his contract with Lazio expired. But that in turn may have raised expectations of something more, which hasn’t really arrived.
Michael Olise departing for Bayern Munich made things a bit more challenging, but an unbeaten pre-season campaign showed some signs of promise, even if very little can be read into those results. Then Ismaila Sarr was signed for a fee of €15million (£12.6m; $16.
3m) on a five-year contract from Marseille towards the end of pre-season. But there is anxiety and uncertainty about the interest in so many of Palace’s players, even if Olise is the only notable departure to date. Are they in a better place than they were when last season finished? Not really.
The loss of Michael Olise to Bayern Munich, while slightly cushioned by the £50million received, will weigh heavily on them. Despite the additions of Riad, Kamada and Sarr, Palace have not replaced Olise. He is, in all likelihood, irreplaceable.
But they are still in a reasonably strong position, with one more attacking option than they had last season. The signing of Riad provides them with another option at centre-back. While the perception is that Palace are selling all their star players, as yet, only Olise has departed.
It is hard to argue that they have gone backwards, but it would be a stretch to suggest they are stronger. Which player are you most looking forward to watching? Olise..
. OK, fine, he’s gone, I’m over it now. There is no doubt that Eberechi Eze is an exciting, fantastic talent and he will be a joy to watch, Adam Wharton is likely to be instrumental in midfield, and Joachim Andersen ’s long diagonal passes will continue to be a thing of beauty, but I am intrigued to see whether Jean-Philippe Mateta can continue his outstanding form.
Advertisement He was named Palace’s player of the year last time out and no player has scored more goals since Glasner became manager than the 27-year-old. He also won a silver medal with France’s men’s team at the 2024 Paris Olympics this summer , contributing five goals, and has scored 18 goals in his last 18 games across all competitions for club and country. Those instinctive finishes and the corner flag kicking will hopefully be a staple of Palace’s season.
The player with a point to prove is...
Probably Dean Henderson . He arrived at Palace on transfer deadline day last August for a fee that could rise to £20million, only to sustain a thigh injury on his debut. He found consistency hard to come by in seven games as first choice between December and February after Sam Johnstone ’s own injury, then was replaced as Palace No 1 when his rival returned to fitness.
He ended last season well when Johnstone injured his elbow but needs to prove he can stay fit for an entire season and perform strongly consistently. If Johnstone leaves, then Palace will likely have a replacement who would potentially put pressure on Henderson. That fee is not likely to bother him, but it was a hefty outlay for a goalkeeper when there was already an accomplished No 1.
Which player could have a breakout season? It’s almost wrong to say this because he was so composed in his performances last season, but Adam Wharton could really make his mark. The 20-year-old made Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad, although did not make it onto the pitch for England , but that alone was a huge achievement given he had only played Premier League football for four months. Continuing his form into the new campaign might even see him make a senior debut at international level.
More importantly, it would help Palace keep the momentum going after such a strong end to the season. The only downside is that his performances might attract further transfer interest. Palace will be calm about that given he has five years remaining on his contract.
The deal they still need to do before the end of the window Another forward player would leave them in a better position. Which Euros or Copa America player would be an ideal signing? Glasner has spoken of his desire for another left wing-back. David Hancko , who can play as a centre-back or left-back and who impressed at Euro 2024 in that full-back role for Slovakia , might fit the bill.
The 26-year-old is good at carrying the ball out from the back, capable on the overlap and strong going forward. That would suit Palace, even if it would probably be an unachievable deal. There is no suggestion they are interested in him and bigger clubs have been linked with the Feyenoord defender this summer.
The game I’m most looking forward to is...
Looking forward to it might be a stretch, but Brighton away on December 14 would be a good one for Palace to win. Not just for the bragging rights, but to avenge that humiliating 4-1 defeat at the AMEX Stadium last season, which is best forgotten (yes, I realise I have just brought it up again). The stat to watch out for this season Whether Mateta wins the Golden Boot.
How likely is the manager to survive the season? The only concern here is that Oliver Glasner does such a good job that another club tries to prise him away from Selhurst Park. That was something Bayern Munich tried to do at the end of last season after just a few months in charge of Palace, but their approach was successfully fended off. What is their best XI as things stand? The key to this is ‘as things stand’.
Cheick Doucoure would ordinarily be straight back into the team in centre midfield when fully up and running, but he is still tentatively making his way back from an Achilles injury sustained in the 2-1 defeat by Luton Town in November. With Johnstone having asked to leave, Henderson will likely start the season as first-choice goalkeeper. Advertisement Wharton’s partner in midfield is the main conundrum.
Will Hughes was excellent during last season’s run-in and Jefferson Lerma was a contender for player of the year for strong performances over the entire season, but Doucoure has been such a crucial player for Palace. When he is fully up to scratch, it will be a welcome situation for Glasner, who should be pleased with his side’s midfield depth. (5-2-2-1): Henderson; Munoz, Richards, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell; Wharton, Lerma; Kamada, Eze; Mateta.
A good season means...
Many Palace fans seem to have ambitions of qualifying for Europe. That would be an outstanding season. A good season would be continuing where they left off under Glasner and a top-half finish.
Predicted league finish I would say 12th because that is where they always have been and always will be, but they bucked that trend thanks to the seven-game unbeaten run at the end of the season under Glasner. So I’ll go for another 10th-place finish this time around. That seems achievable.
(Top photos: Getty Images).
