By Sam McGuire
It’s been a exceptional 12 months for the Eagles.
This time final yr, they have been winless and backside of the English top-flight. In truth, it wasn’t till matchday 9 that Oliver Glasner’s facet recorded their first win of the marketing campaign. It took them till matchday 14 to hit 12 factors, the entire they’re now on following their win over the Premier League champions.
Glasner was requested about being the one unbeaten crew within the Premier League after masterminding a 2-1 win over Arne Slot’s facet. His response was as candid as you’d anticipate from the highly-sought after supervisor.
“We’re nonetheless in September, so there’s nothing extra to say. Final yr, we have been the one crew who had by no means gained at this stage of the Premier League. They ended with a factors file and profitable the FA Cup. That’s why we’re at all times humble.”
However whereas Glasner is downplaying his facet’s achievements, they do must be highlighted.
Palace misplaced Eberechi Eze on August twenty third with the 2025/26 marketing campaign already underway. Membership captain Marc Guéhi nearly left on deadline day however finally a transfer to Liverpool was shelved late on. All of this uncertainty occurred simply 12 months after the membership misplaced Michael Olise, promoting the France worldwide to Bayern Munich for £51million. There have additionally been rumours that Glasner is being chased by a number of golf equipment too.
But Palace haven’t misplaced focus. As of proper now, they’re 18 video games unbeaten throughout all competitions. The lack of Eze didn’t derail their marketing campaign. Regardless of his contract state of affairs, Guehi hasn’t taken his eye off the ball, scoring within the win over Aston Villa and aiding the winner in opposition to Liverpool.
The FA Cup winners bolstered their squad this summer season, investing well. They didn’t waste the Eze cash on large names in a bid to look sturdy. They shopped about properly, as they’ve performed over time to assemble this squad, signing the highly-rated Yeremy Pino from Villarreal in addition to Jaydee Canvot, Borna Sosa, Walter Benitez and Christantus Uche for a mixed £48million payment. They strengthened perceived weak areas and nonetheless banked £20million from the sale of their No. 10.
What number of instances previously have we seen a star participant offered after which a crew goes excessive with signings and, within the course of, make themselves worse.
Palace, as a substitute, signed a direct substitute in Pino after which improved the depth of the squad. Glasner stored the core group collectively and it fed into the constant performances we’ve seen.
Pino is but to attain or help, however he’s been a handful since his arrival with an Anticipated Targets per 90 common of 0.44. The 22-year-old has at all times accomplished nearly 60% of his dribbles within the English top-flight. The targets will come. For now, although, it’s not an enormous difficulty with Ismaïla Sarr, the Olise substitute, and Jean-Philippe Mateta proving to be actual threats for Palace within the Premier League.
The duo seem within the high 10 for xG per 90 this season and whereas Glasner’s facet have solely scored eight targets within the high tier, their Anticipated Targets whole is joint-second, tied with Manchester Metropolis on 11.4.
As a crew, the Eagles are a menace going ahead. They’ve created probably the most large possibilities (21), although that whole was boosted by the seven they carved out in opposition to Liverpool on Saturday afternoon. They’re additionally defensively strong too. They’ve the joint greatest defensive file with Arsenal having conceded simply three targets. They’ve stored three clear sheets, a determine that solely Newcastle can higher, and their underlying numbers are simply as spectacular. They rank fourth for xG Conceded with 6.8.
Palace have had some tough fixtures this season already, holding Chelsea to a draw at Stamford Bridge and beating Aston Villa at Villa Park. The fended off a second half onslaught from the champions, with Liverpool creating 5 large possibilities after the break at Selhurst Park, to see out a 2-1 win . Reds boss Arne Slot even acknowledged it was a deserved three factors for the hosts, saying: “Within the second half I feel it was a a lot better efficiency from us. If one crew deserved to win right now, I feel it was Palace.”
In matches in opposition to three of the highest six from final season, the Eagles have taken seven factors. Of their final 20 Premier League matches, spanning throughout two campaigns, Palace have claimed 38 factors at a price of 1.9 per outing. Extrapolate that over a 38-game marketing campaign and also you’re getting 72 factors. Final time period, Metropolis completed third with 71 factors. Glasner’s facet have proven they’ve the potential, over a sustained interval to time, to say a European spot. This isn’t a reactionary take based mostly on the six video games this season both.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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