A new formation was visible today when Crystal Palace took to the field against Liverpool in the Asia Premier League Trophy in Hong Kong on Wednesday, with many fans on social networking sites wondering how it would work.
In its first game of action, the Eagles suffered a 2-0 defeat with the defence being opened up on numerous occasions with Mohamed Salah making countless runs through the back-line with Scott Dann being the main man able to deal with the new signing.
However with three weeks to go, Frank de Boer still has time to make sure that this formation works for the club and helps them in the Premier League this season.
Speaking to Sky Sports following the game against Liverpool, defender Scott Dann spoke about the new formation and training under the new manager.
“We’ve worked on it [3-4-3 system] since the first day that he came in.
“It’s obviously a lot of change with the personnel and the shape but it’s been enjoyable in training – now it’s about replicating that on the pitch. Hopefully, in the coming weeks, we can improve on how we were today.
“It is a lot different than it was last year but hopefully we can learn from him. He’s passionate about that way of playing and it’s up to us to take it and do it out on the pitch and work on it each day to keep improving.
“We’ve worked really hard in the first couple of weeks, but when you get into the games, it’s a bit more difficult to put it into practice but hopefully, we can do it and keep improving.
“I think he can come across as quietly spoken but he’s obviously passionate and he’s been a top player in his career. When he’s on the training ground, he’s not quite as calm. He expects things to be done the way he wants and everyone has to buy into that. Hopefully, we can keep getting better and improve and make that system a good one for us.”
de Boer saw a number of positives in the game at the Hong Kong Stadium and was pleased with how the team adapted to the new formation. Speaking after the game he said:
“I think this side has a lot of quality but it has only been three weeks and it is a new system.
“Most of them have never played this system, maybe Ruben Loftus-Cheek at Chelsea, but the rest haven’t so they have to adapt. I think they did very well for the first time against a very good opponent.”
