Wilfried Zaha – One Statue Or Two?

Several important topics are in our minds as Palace prepare for the season ahead, but first ….. just like every other summer transfer window, Palace fans inevitably think about the big Zaha question – will he stay or will he go?

IF HE GOES…

Wilf has one year left on his contract and he’s playing better than ever.  Look at his numbers for last season compared with the best in the Premier League:

*Per TransferMarkt.  All statistics for 2021/22 season in Premier League matches

Wilf is clearly a top-class Premier League proven talent, so – if he leaves – Palace would be right to demand a big fee for him.

IF HE STAYS…

Palace should give Wilf a 3-year extension and a pay rise …. PLUS unique recognition as our greatest ever player (so far).  When the new Main Stand is erected, the club should dig deep and place in front of the glittering glass façade a suitable lasting tribute. A shining silver statue of Wilf on the ball.

Sounds great.  But is it enough?

Wouldn’t it be better to add a second statue, a player standing stock still, being nutmegged by Wilf?  More dramatic, more realistic!

Persuading a player to model might be awkward, but hang on.  What about United’s Harry Maguire?

If it was Harry, I think Palace fans might be persuaded to club together and pay for that one themselves.

A VERY DIFFERENT SEASON AHEAD?

Pre-season training has begun, pre-season friendlies too.  Weeks to opening day can be counted on fingers of one hand.  It’s time to weigh up Palace prospects of an even higher finish in the table.

VALUE OF THIS PRE-SEASON IS WAY UP ON 12 MONTHS AGO

Last summer, the club lacked 7 important players who didn’t get a full pre-season with the squad – Olise, Guehi and Andersen all joined during July, Eze and Ferguson were both seriously injured, and Edouard and Hughes didn’t join until the season was already under way. This month, these 7 are all fully involved – plus new arrivals Plange, Ebiowei and Johnstone. Clearly, although Kelly and Kouyate have gone, the group this pre-season (with 10 new squad members) is far stronger than it was this time last year.

Why does this matter? Because pre-season is the foundation for the next 10 months.  It’s not just about building fitness, bonding and team spirit, it’s also time to develop the element of surprise that comes from testing different formations (gives the manager extra in-game flexibility) plus set-piece practice (both defence and attack).

PATRICK IS NOW THE MAN

And the players and supporters all know him and trust him.  Last year, Vieira was the new face, largely unknown as a manager in England, still recruiting his back room team and only starting to learn to love the Palace.  This year, the players all know the difference Patrick made last season, they buy into what he says, does and wants.  This mutual familiarity and binding togetherness can only be expected to improve results.  No misunderstandings, no disagreements, we’re all on board!

RECRUITMENT IS PROCEEDING SMOOTHLY

Last year, as July began, there were no new signings and no Manager.  This year, the recruitment process is operating like a well-oiled machine as Patrick, his back room team, The Doog and the Board combine their knowledge and skills for the club’s benefit.  Three signings are in the bag – an England goalkeeper in Sam Johnstone, plus two very young prospects already proven at Championship level – Plange (signed in January but loaned back to Derby) and Ebiowei.  It appears that we still have space in the transfer budget, and Patrick is surely keen to strengthen midfield before he boards the plane for Singapore and Australia.  This progress is all positive towards producing the results this season that Patrick desires and expects.

PRE-SEASON IS A KEY PERIOD OF ASSESSMENT WITH ACTION PLANS EVOLVING

Plans are now being formulated to give youngsters valuable experience by sending them out on long-term loan to suitable clubs at suitable levels.  It will be interesting to see the next steps Patrick plans for highly coveted Palace prospects like Adaramola, Rak-Sakyi, Banks, Plange and Ebiowei.

Incoming, Palace can borrow up to 2 players on loan.  If there was a trophy for the best Premier League loan last season, Palace and Conor Gallagher would have been easy winners.  Gallagher set a standard, and Patrick will undoubtedly expect a high performance level from any players we borrow this season.

KEEPING INJURIES TO A MINIMUM

Last season, Palace finished top of the League for least impact for injuries.  While luck played a part, it would be wrong to ignore that luck can be tilted in a club’s favour by a diligent, hard-working and skilful medical team combining forces with a caring and empathetic leader.  Patrick displayed his careful approach as he brought Eze gently back towards full fitness, and we began seeing Eb’s silky ball skills returning in the last few weeks of the season.  It’s exciting to dream about Eze in top form working with the high-class players we now have.

PREPARING FOR THE HARDEST START IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE

The fixture list published last month was far from kind to Palace.  By a big margin, the season’s first quarter (9 matches) is harder for Palace than it is for any other team.  In the table below, points are scored according to the opponent’s finishing position last season – playing Man City gives 1 point as they finished first, and so on.  Lowest points total is the hardest fixture list.

1. Crystal Palace                   64
2. Fulham                             77
3. Man U                             82
4. Bournemouth                   85
5. Tottenham                       87
6. West Ham                       88
7. Leicester                         89
8. Southampton                  92
9. Wolves                           94
10. Everton                           96
11. Newcastle                       98
12. Chelsea                          99
13. Brighton                        100
14. Aston Villa                     101
15. Nottm Forest                 101
16. Man City                       103
17. Liverpool                      104
18. Arsenal                         106
19. Leeds                           106
20. Brentford                      116

So, after 9 games a small total in Palace’s Premier League points column will be disappointing though not disastrous, but a good start will be absolutely brilliant!  Patrick is certain to be positive in his approach, seeking to grab opportunities aggressively when he spots them while guarding carefully against the obvious pitfalls which litter the route to early October.

The good news is that such a tough start means games get easier on paper as we head to the season’s halfway point, scheduled to arrive on 2 January.  During this spell, of course, the World Cup will give many Palace players their first-ever 6-week mid-season break.  Only Ayew and Andersen are definite departures for the World Cup and, while their exertions for Ghana and Denmark in Qatar might leave them tired by Christmas, there is the possible advantage that both will start the season on fire to ensure selection for their respective national squads.

The need to put in a flying start will also be front-of-brain for World Cup squad “possibles” like Guehi, Schlupp, Mitchell, Benteke and Johnstone.

LAST SEASON, PALACE ONLY MISSED OUT ON EUROPE BY FINE MARGINS

Premier League life is lived on a knife edge, and Patrick knows well:

1. Last season’s final outcome from 60 hours of live action stretching from Chelsea in August to Manchester Umited in May actually all turned on less than 45 minutes of match action where Palace errors cost the club 12 points, and
2. Those 12 points would have elevated Palace to 60 points, 6^th place and qualification for the Europa League.

For the record, the 12 points lost came down to Arsenal’s last-kick equaliser (cost: 2 points).  Brighton’s last-kick equaliser (cost: 2 points).  The late winner against Newcastle ruled out for a pointless Palace foul (cost: 2 points).  Injury-time handball conceding a match-winning penalty that denied Palace a deserved draw at Leeds (cost: 1 point).  The late own goal at Brighton (cost: 2 points).  And, finally, Everton away, where we had the game won and missed the chance to go 3 up before we allowed the hosts to climb back in and win it (cost: 3 points).

Fine margins cost us dear, yet it must be true that an even stronger mentality and eradication of errors will enable Patrick this season to take this strengthened squad to heights we haven’t seen for over 30 years.

CONCLUSION

Clearly, this is not just any pre-season for Palace.  It’s a vitally important preparation for an exciting year ahead, where we all hope to enjoy Palace surprising some well-known faces with the ability and results that our players produce.