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This may well prove a little premature with the window still open in England until the 16th and some very talented players in the EFL.
Here’s my thoughts on comparing this Palace squad with the one after the window closed last year.
Spoiler Alert: I think we’re stronger now!
Here’s my thoughts on comparing this Palace squad with the one after the window closed last year.
Spoiler Alert: I think we’re stronger now!
Goalkeeper: Same.
3 keepers. Guaita is the clear number 1 and showed last season that he’s one of the best in the league. We’re weak behind him. Hennessey had few opportunities last year, Liverpool away showed to me the need to find his replacement in a future window.
3 keepers. Guaita is the clear number 1 and showed last season that he’s one of the best in the league. We’re weak behind him. Hennessey had few opportunities last year, Liverpool away showed to me the need to find his replacement in a future window.
Full Backs: Stronger.
Ward, Ferguson, PVA, Mitchell.
Potentially Clyne to add cover as well.
A significant improvement at full back both in the medium term but also in depth now. It seems along time ago that we had 4 full backs. Last year Ward & PVA were left unchallenged.
Ward, Ferguson, PVA, Mitchell.
Potentially Clyne to add cover as well.
A significant improvement at full back both in the medium term but also in depth now. It seems along time ago that we had 4 full backs. Last year Ward & PVA were left unchallenged.
Centre Backs: Same.
Ageing, injury prone but incredible experience & strength in depth. Kouyate was always an option at CB, it now looks his strongest position & the question is, who plays along side him. Would have been nice to have brought in a young CB with 1 departing.
Ageing, injury prone but incredible experience & strength in depth. Kouyate was always an option at CB, it now looks his strongest position & the question is, who plays along side him. Would have been nice to have brought in a young CB with 1 departing.
Central Midfield: Same....just
Let’s start with the upsides, Jairo has shown how good a player he is & is truly part of the squad. James McCarthy is fit & offers us bite we’ve missed since Cabaye.
Downsides - Jimmy Mac is 1 year older & Luka is a shadow of the player he once was.
Let’s start with the upsides, Jairo has shown how good a player he is & is truly part of the squad. James McCarthy is fit & offers us bite we’ve missed since Cabaye.
Downsides - Jimmy Mac is 1 year older & Luka is a shadow of the player he once was.
Width: Stronger.
Eze looks a wonderful signing, I’ve had the chance to speak with him a few times, he’s not only a great player but also a great person. Schlupp, Zaha & Townsend offer options although I really wish we’d secured a right sided winger.
Eze looks a wonderful signing, I’ve had the chance to speak with him a few times, he’s not only a great player but also a great person. Schlupp, Zaha & Townsend offer options although I really wish we’d secured a right sided winger.
Up Front: Stronger.
If somebody had said to me you’ll be signing a player who once cost £36m, is an international for the no.1 ranked country in the world & is now at his peak I wouldn’t have believed them. Don’t downplay Batshuayi! Also Ayew, Big Ben & Wilf.
If somebody had said to me you’ll be signing a player who once cost £36m, is an international for the no.1 ranked country in the world & is now at his peak I wouldn’t have believed them. Don’t downplay Batshuayi! Also Ayew, Big Ben & Wilf.
It’s easy to get distracted by other clubs signings & see where we could still strengthen but once again we’ve kept out squad together & added players in. To have lost Guaita or Zaha would have been a disaster, they’re both still here & happy. Don’t believe the press!
A club our size should never take their Premier League place for granted, I believe we have the players to be competitive & entertain. 4 games in, 3 of them we have been both of those, Chelsea away we were competitive for 45 mins & dull for 90 mins.
Stating the bleeding obvious, I hope we see far more of the first 3 games than the last 1. Critical to that will be the need to adapt our shape & be less predictable so teams cannot strangle the supply lines to Zaha & Eze. A big onus on Roy.
1 more CM or a winger would help!
1 more CM or a winger would help!
