Palace – It’s all about the process

Patrick Vieira’s first season at Palace has seen the foundations laid down for a long-term project which will see us have our best seasons in the history of the club.

As an established Premier League team, it was about time that we began to take the necessary steps to really kick on from mid-table mediocrity. After playing 26 games we find ourselves in 11th place, and whilst this time a year ago we were just two places lower in 13th, the improvements have been clear to see.

There have been many different combining factors that have led to us playing a more attacking, possession based and exciting style of play when compared to that of last season – and there is much to look forward to in the coming seasons…

What I believe is the most important thing is to remind ourselves of where we currently sit and why we need to look at the positives as opposed to dwelling on the few disappointments we have felt so far this season. With the additions that we made to the squad in the summer bringing youth and excitement to what was an ageing side, patience is needed in order to enjoy the ride that we have only just climbed aboard. 

A major factor in our current league position has been the number of late goals we have conceded. If it wasn’t for the 8 points dropped after the 90th minute (including 89th Chelsea winner), we would be sitting comfortably in 9th place, and I can guarantee that the morale of the fanbase would be so much higher. We should only be looking up the table after Watford and hopefully the days of looking over our shoulders will be put behind us. 

These late heartbreaks could be down to the maturity of our squad and with so many young players in our team there is still a lot for them to learn in order to shift this habit. Avoiding these missed opportunities for points is really important, as is finding a way to beat those teams below us consistently.

The back-to-back draws away at Brentford and Norwich are not bad results at all, but had we won both of those games, we would be really kicking on for a top 10 finish.

The reality is that we need to understand that at this stage of the rebuild those results are not going to be consistent, but after dismantling Hodgson’s Watford 4-1 there is clear evidence that we have the ability in the squad to pick up 3 points comfortably in the so-called ‘easy games’.

The main aim at the beginning of the season was to survive and kick on for next year after having one full season of integrating the new style, and that part is as good as done.

Our new signings have all proved to be settling in well and contributing to the team’s performances. However, the two that have had a significant impact are Andersen and Guehi. We were crying out for defensive depth last season and it’s remarkable to think about who would be starting in central defence if it wasn’t for these two.

The pair have taken their time to gel fully and become compatible as a duo but it is fair to say they now complement each other’s game almost perfectly. There were question marks about the aerial ability, especially of Marc, but he has developed during his first year of top flight football and is becoming a well rounded, solid centre half.

Andersen is one of the best passers of the ball I have seen play in the red and blue. His ability to ping a 40 yard switch so consistently is offering us another way of developing attacks, even registering one assist as of yet, and we’re all just waiting for him to hit it from 30+ yards and see it fly into the top corner.

In fact, the two have a combined 10.6 average long balls per game as well as averaging 68 (Guehi) and 63 (Andersen) passes per 90. We’ve kept 5 clean sheets so far this season, just three less than we did in the entirety of last season. The improvement is clear to see.

Speaking of improvement, Tyrick Mitchell has been progressing consistently and is looking like a second coming of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, maybe even better. He currently boasts the second most tackles in the Premier League so far this season, with 81 (3 per/90) just 6 behind Brentford’s Norgaard. His progression has been steady and consistent, becoming more comfortable in his new role as an attacking left back in Vieira’s system with 2 assists in the league so far. His concentration levels and decision making have been questioned as he seems to switch off at points in games, most recently against Chelsea, missing his header at the back post to leave Ziyech with an easy finish to win the game. However, it is important we don’t let these mistakes cloud our judgement of who is a very exciting and ever-developing young footballer.

I believe we have a future superstar in Michael Olise. There are few players that I have seen play with such confidence and natural ability in the league, let alone in a Palace shirt. At only £8 million from Reading, the possibility of making a huge profit at some point in the future is a guarantee. Olise has played just 742 minutes of football this season registering 4 goals and 4 assists. That’s averaging a goal contribution once every 92 minutes, and not to be over the top, that’s reminiscent of the numbers that the world’s top players have put up across their careers! Lionel Messi averages just over 1.1 g/a per game with Ronaldo offering 0.9 g/a per 90. Of course I am not comparing Olise to the best players in the world, but I genuinely see no reason why he can’t be right up there at some point in his career. His elegance and flair on the ball have offered us a completely different outlet when going forward and I’m hopeful we get at least another season out of him. The thought of a fully fit Eze, Olise, Zaha and one of our many striking options linking up as a front 4 is genuinely mouth-watering.

I’d like to give a nod to those with more experience in our squad. Will Hughes and James McArthur in particular have had superb seasons so far in the centre of midfield, as well as Cheikhou Kouyate who we missed so desperately through AFCON. It’s almost as if Vieira has tried to replicate himself in Cheikhou and I’m all for it. Rumours that this season might be his last with us were really disappointing to hear so all I can say is sign him up. The depth we now have in the middle of the pitch is excellent, with enough options that Pat is able to make certain team selections based on the individual qualities that each player brings to the side.

The variety of striking options is another brilliant tool in Vieira’s armoury as we have seen this season. Both Benteke and Mateta offer us a different style of striker, with Edouard able to occupy the wide areas as well as centrally. The permanent signing of JP is yet another piece of business that Dougie and Parish should be very pleased with.

Conor Gallagher is of course a big talking point across the fanbase, rightly too. However, I think it is near impossible that we sign him on a permanent deal as a player of his quality should no doubt be applying his trade at a competetive European club.

We should be very grateful to have had his services but I’d like to think that he’s as grateful for the opportunity and platform we have given him to show what he’s all about. As a matter of fact, I don’t think that the loss of CG in the summer is going to be a problem at all. Eze is still a phenomenon and I think a large majority of Palace fans have forgotten just how good he was before his injury last season. I have no doubts that he will be able to slot into that position that Gallagher has occupied and perform as well if not better.

Supporting Crystal Palace is feeling like less of a chore this season and hopefully this is a sign of things to come. Week in week out we’re experiencing the same highs and lows as we do every season, but the standard of the football we’re playing has improved ten-fold. The ceiling is so very high for this group of talented young players, and the elements of experience we have sewed into the squad balance and have created what is a very exciting future for our football club. COYP!