Former Eagles defender Danny Gabbidon is concerned that the team spirit at Selhurst Park has been lost, with a number of players in the current squad “perhaps” not understanding what it means to the fans.
The 37-year-old who is still playing football, for his local club in Wales, Pateng alongside his brother David, as well as carrying out various media commitments was released by Palace in 2014 when it was deemed that the defender was surplus to requirements.
Speaking to Standard Sport ahead of Crystal Palace’s clash against Stoke City on Saturday, Gabbidon spoke about the loss of team spirit since Palace’s promotion to the Premier League:
“I was in that side that won promotion and we played the next season in the Premier League together. I do question whether that team spirit is still the same.
“When you have a bit of success – they’ve been in the Premier League for a few seasons now and brought in Alan Pardew in to go to the next level – you have to be careful.
“Some of the old guard that got the team to where they are now have been shipped out and sometimes it’s about what they were bringing off the pitch as well as on it – like what it means to put on the Palace shirt.
“Too many of those players were let go. And the players who have come in haven’t done the job and perhaps don’t know what it means to the fans.
“Palace in recent years has always been about the team spirit in the dressing room and they always fought together as a team. I think they’ve gone away from that in the last couple of seasons.
“They’ve had success staying in the Premier League and sometimes you have to be careful because you’ve seen the recruitment and they tried to take the team to another level and play a different style of football. In doing that, you bring a different kind of character to the club and maybe the dressing room has been affected by that a little bit.
“Maybe they aren’t working hard enough as a team. Some of the goals they have conceded have been uncharacteristic. You must pride yourself in keeping clean sheets. It’s been a surprise.”
