Crystal Palace are left with an all-too-frequent conundrum ahead of their crucial clash with rivals Brighton.
The issue of form is again present in the squad. Palace enjoyed a successful opening to their Premier League campaign; an emphatic 3-1 win over Manchester United was preceded by a confident but tense 1-0 victory over Southampton.
The Eagles were then unfortunate to lose 2-1 to league leaders Everton, before collapsing in the second half against Chelsea in the following game, conceding 4 goals in a crushing defeat.
Evidently, the results are emblematic of an emotional rollercoaster for Palace fans. Whilst by no means a dire start, there are outstanding tactical issues to be addressed. A clean sheet and a scintillating victory over a traditional giant of English football are not to be casually snubbed – yet the symptoms of wider tactical malaise risk announcing themselves if change is prohibited.
Few would contest that Roy Hodgson prefers disciplined defensive rigidity over intense pressing and creative freedom. Palace are famed for proving to be hard to break down, creating migraines for offensive forces as they look to frequently strike in hard-hitting counterattacks. Yet there is an elephant on the metaphorical pitch – how can Palace better unleash their creative talents?
Although the Eagles soar off moments of defensive prowess, their lack of goal threat was woeful over the course of the 2019/20 season. Hodgson’s side managed only 31 goals in 38 games – relegated Norwich were the only side to score fewer.
In spite of Palace’s renewed attacking record this season (scoring five in their opening four games), even the most ardent red-and-blue optimist must surely confess that possession of just 29% against Southampton, 24% against Manchester United, 42% against Everton and 29% against Chelsea is ugly reading.
Crystal Palace boast the talents of Wilfried Zaha and Jordan Ayew, whilst they have added Michy Batshuayi and Eberechi Eze to their ranks. Amongst such proven quality, who will step up to produce the goals?
One tweak may be the solution.
A position change is rarely a one-size-fits-all panacea for every team, but why Eze has been deployed as a wide midfielder is puzzling. Although Eze is adept on the wing, the vast majority of his 14 goals and 8 assists in the Championship last season were in his preferred attacking midfield role. Granted, Eze will need to learn the defensive arts that Hodgson carefully drills his team in, but Eze can still thrive with even some defensive responsibility – he exhibited that against Southampton and Man. United off the bench.
In adopting an approach with Eze as a creative axis in a 4-2-3-1 formation, Hodgson would have the opportunity to centre offenses around one of the most in-form and prolific talents to step up from Championship – without abandoning defensive rigidity.
Palace’s clash with Brighton is the start of a run that includes fixtures against Burnley, West Brom, Fulham, Leeds and many other teams of a similar calibre. This change may be the key to ensuring a greater points return as Palace look to score goals and climb up the table.
