We learned on Sunday that we are not quite there in terms of challenging the ‘big boys’ consistently.
Palace have done well against the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, and Chelsea this season but it seems that when the injuries hit, like they are at the moment, we do not possess enough quality in reserve to compensate.
On Sunday we were missing Connor Wickham and Yannick Bolasie through injury, and we desperately missed our influential midfielder Yohan Cabaye through suspension. Mile Jedinak, Frazier Campbell and Chung-Yong Lee came in and all did a decent job but we certainly miss that attacking verve.
There are a few things I want to get off my chest in this week’s edition of the ‘Red And Blue Report’. The first being the injury to Connor Wickham that has to become a cause for concern among Palace fans. Secondly, Chung-yong Lee really can fit into an Alan Pardew side but he needs game time.
At twenty two years of age it seems Wickham has been around forever. He burst onto the scene at Ipswich Town at the tender age of sixteen but since then he has struggled to fulfil his potential. A big money move to Sunderland never really paid off as he was, for the majority of the time, played out of position.
Then came the switch to our club last summer in deal of around £9 million. Fast forward to now and our supposedly first choice striker has barely played ten games. In fact he has only managed seven in the famous red and blue. Surely that worries you? It certainly worries me, but now worry has turned to frustration. How he can be getting injured so much is beyond me.
Do not get me wrong, when he has played he has performed well and there is no doubting that once fit, he will be an integral part of our team. His hold up play is better than the rest of our strikers and if we can get him fit and healthy he will start scoring goals. I maintain that he will not get us ten to fifteen goals a season, he is just not that type of striker. Charlie Austin and Loic Remy are.
This injury malarkey with centre forwards in the Premier League this season is becoming a real trend. If you are a Liverpool fan you must be tearing you hair out in regards to Daniel Sturridge, the lad has been on the treatment table for what seems like an eternity. Meanwhile, Manchester City have only just got Sergio Aguero back from a prolonged lay off.
Going back to Wickham, if he does continue to get injured, we just will not be able to rely on him so will need backup options hence the name dropping of a couple of names well linked to the club of late.
If those became available in January I would take them with a heartbeat. My pool of striker on FIFA16 consists of Wickham, Austin, Remy and Dwight Gayle. In real life, that would be amazing. Whether my dreams will be granted at some point is another matter.
Perhaps it is harsh on Wickham as when he is fit he is extremely useful to us as we have seen and could become a top player for us. With the rate his injuries are going, we might not see that Wickham potential for some time.
Next on the agenda is our South Korean schemer Chung-yong Lee. He managed some game time against Chelsea and while it was not the best display from a Palace side in recent weeks, the former Bolton man has done enough to force himself into Alan Pardew’s plans. He scored that stunner against Stoke and then missed the Bournemouth game because of the birth of his child. We are yet to see the best of him but it is clear that he has a lovely way about him when on the ball.
He can carry the ball well for a small and quite frankly midget of a man. When you have someone in front of the defensive midfielders that can carry the ball it takes a lot of pressure off. I can vouch for that, playing in the deep lying midfield position for many years.
Of course, Lee needs to hit the weights just like Jonny Williams does, if he is to get a run in the side but I am sure given time and vital minutes we will see Chungy entertain the Selhurst faithful long into the future.
We have a break from the league this weekend as we travel to Southampton for the third round of the FA Cup which is a repeat of the fourth round tie last season.
It is going to be a tough proposition given our injury concerns but we have to attack the FA Cup this year. It has been too long since Palace have seen real progression in the historic competition. If we are lucky, we might see a new striker don the shirt this weekend.
To those travelling to the South Coast, safe journey and help the boys bring back an important win.
Up the Palace!
