Oliver Glasner’s future at Crystal Palace remains in doubt ahead of today’s clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers. The club’s board reportedly held a second meeting in two months to discuss the possibility of removing the Austrian manager.
A decision was made to continue with Glasner in charge, and he will be in the dugout for Palace’s encounter with Wolves. He could be in for a frosty reception, given his recent comments in response to fans calling for him to be sacked.
Steve Parish has stood by the 51-year-old during a disastrous season, which reached a new low mid-week. A 1-1 draw away to Bosnian minnows Zrinjski Mostar means the team have won just one game in 15 across competitions.
Parish plotting Premier League duo
Glasner is leaving Palace when his contract expires in June. He is bidding farewell to Selhurst Park in the worst way possible amid a rift with fans.
If he is unable to turn the tide in the coming weeks, he is reportedly expected to be sacked. That’s according to English journalist Alan Nixon, who claims Parish is giving him 3-4 games to achieve positive results.
The club’s main problem is that no immediate replacement is available. That suggests Thomas Frank isn’t in the running despite being dismissed by Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month.
Parish has set his sights on appointing one of two highly-rated Premier League coaches as Glasner’s successor. The Eagles chairman is keen on Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola and Fulham’s Marco Silva.
Moving for Iraola or Silva will have to wait until the summer, when, like Glasner, their contracts expire in June. There are concerns that the pair might have higher ambitions than to take the Palace job.
Ambitious appointments
Iraola has impressed during his time in charge of Bournemouth, transforming the Cherries into one of the toughest teams in the top-flight. The Spaniard has handled constant high-profile departures well, including Dean Huijsen’s move to Real Madrid and Antoine Semenyo’s move to Manchester City.
Glasner has moaned about Palace’s decisions to sell their top stars after watching Eberechi Eze head to Arsenal and Marc Guehi join City. He’s failed to deal with the situation, unlike Iraola at Vitality.
Following the South Coast outfit’s 0-0 draw with West Ham United on Saturday, they sit eighth in the Premier League table. They are pushing for European qualification and doing so in an entertaining fashion.
| Glasner replacements: | Andoni Iraola | Marco Silva |
|---|---|---|
| Premier League games managed: | 27 | 26 |
| Wins: | 9 | 10 |
| Draws: | 11 | 4 |
| Defeats: | 7 | 12 |
| Points per match: | 1.41 | 1.31 |
Silva is more experienced in English football, having had spells in charge of Hull City, Watford, Everton, and now Fulham. The Portuguese tactician has similarly fared well at Craven Cottage despite losing key men over the years.
The Cottagers are 13th, two points above Palace, but have spent far less than the South Londoners. Their manager can be erratic and has a quick temper, similar to Glasner.
Appointing either Iraola or Silva would certainly show Parish’s aspirations for the club. They are most likely waiting for an opportunity at a ‘big six’ club, so there are doubts either will be keen on the Selhurst Park vacancy.
