It is testament to the development of Patrick Vieira’s exciting Eagles that our imperious 3-0 victory over Arsenal was met with an air of acceptance, with many pundits and fans alike predicting a Palace victory given the South Londoners impressive record against the supposed top six throughout the season. Tottenham were likewise disposed of 3-0 whilst Palace also held champions Manchester City under the Selhurst Park lights.

Add to this a narrow defeat against European Champions Chelsea and a spirited and perhaps unfortunate 3-1 defeat to Liverpool, a result in large part down to incompetent refereeing (coincidentally Kevin Friend has not officiated a Palace game since his mystifying antics). A further point away to Arsenal and another three at the Etihad suggests that Palace have become accustomed to competing against the big boys.

What a contrast this was to the reception that greeted our famous other 3-0 victory at home on a Monday Night to the Gunners under Sam Allardyce where goals from Andros Townsend, Yohan Cabaye and Luka Milivojevic all but ensured Palace’s Premier League status for a fourth straight year. Yet now, following several more years of safety securing victories, Palace have evolved beyond basement battlers and are now asserting themselves as a consistent, confident top flight outfit which attacks challenges with intent and purpose. This renewed ambition is the product of Vieira’s tactical insight and a hungry batch of adventurous players whose efforts have now been rewarded with a heralded trip to the home of football.

Inevitably, several links have been made between this year’s FA Cup run and that of 2016, where Alan Pardew was the manager that guided Palace to Wembley. That year’s march to the final saw unexpected away wins to both Tottenham and Southampton whilst Premier League Stoke and Watford were similarly eliminated with a tricky Quarter Final at Reading also negotiated before that fateful final against Louis Van Gaal’s Manchester United where the Reds were so elated with their success, they sacked their manager the following day.

This provides something of a contrast to the opponents that Palace have faced this season with only one all premier league tie so far against a particularly poor Everton side devoid of imagination. Two home ties against Hartlepool and Stoke were successful despite the latter game’s severe lack of quality whilst the toughest test came in the Third Round against South London rivals Millwall, where a Michael Olise inspired Eagles came from behind to win in a bitter battle at the Den.

Yet the recent string of cup matches for the Eagles have been complimented by excellent league form, a fact which cannot be mirrored by the team which achieved this feat six years previous. From January to May in 2016 Palace won just two league matches and plummeted from an incredible 5th place on New Year’s Day to 15th following the final match of the campaign away to Southampton, a 4-1 defeat which rounded off a miserable start to the calendar year in the League.

It seemed as if Palace were able to harness the magic of the cup that season, defying all the odds to pass several tests on the way to the show piece final. But it isn’t just cup magic which surrounds Vieira’s current squad, as form in the league has surpassed many supporters’ expectations as the Eagles currently sit in the top half. In terms of top flight longevity the past ten years have been amongst the very best in the history of the Football Club and it was nearly marked with the club’s first ever piece of silverware in 2016. Despite an extremely difficult challenge to come against Chelsea and then either Liverpool or Manchester City in a possible final, Palace fans have reason to believe that this current crop could succeed in winning that elusive first trophy, and cement this period as the greatest experienced in SE25.

Still, the bookmakers would rightly make you believe that the odds of Palace going all the way are implausible and this realism must be considered before heading to north London. Palace are the underdogs and that’s the way we ought to like it. The Eagles have lost all of their last nine fixtures against the Blues, with the last coming in the 2017/18 season where Wilfried Zaha secured the points in a 2-1 victory.

This season hasn’t been much better, with a 3-0 defeat on the opening day, but as an indication as to the improvements in the team, Chelsea needed an 88th minute winner from Hakim Ziyech to see off the Eagles at Selhurst Park 1-0 in what was a close February encounter. If that highlighted potential weaknesses in Thomas Tuchel’s outfit, they were fully exposed recently on the 2nd of April as Brentford tore them part 4-1 at Stamford Bridge through a display of immense counter attacking quality.

Perhaps this will be the way Palace look to exploit Chelsea, via utilising the pace on the wings with Palace’s rear guard soaking up pressure before releasing wonderful wingers Wilfried Zaha and Michael Olise. Maybe they will employ a different approach by utilising the ball and maintaining substantial possession? Maybe Palace will seek to make the most out of Jean Philippe Mateta’s aerial presence?

Whatever formation or strategy that Vieira utilises he is sure to have the full backing of the loyal Palace followers that have become endeared to his style which has allowed the Palace fans to dream. And for good reason.

The late defeat to Chelsea showed the two sides of Palace, a spirited display, and a late lapse of conventration. Freddie Jennings pinpoints what could be done.

Following a spirited and hopeful Palace performance it was telling that an air of caution swept across Selhurst Park, and as we entered the 89^th minute, those fears were predictably realised as Hakim Ziyech found the back of the net through Jack Butland’s legs. For all of Palace’s progressive and vibrant style of football this season, it is noteworthy that the Eagles have won just 20% of their league games so far in the 2021/22 season yet the statistics imply that this figure should be drastically higher, so why haven’t Palace been able to translate their impressive displays into victories?

Roy Hodgson garnered several critics during the latter part of his Palace career and all of said criticisms have largely been amended by new manager Patrick Vieira. Palace are now utilising more youthful, hungry players with the arrival of Michael Olise and loan signing Conor Gallagher complemented by a new centre back partnership of Joachim Anderson and Marc Guehi, in place of older outgoings with the likes of Gary Cahill, Scott Dann, James McCarthy and Andros Townsend all departing in the summer. But has this exuberant squad lost its nous and game management abilities? Palace have conceded 9 times in the final 15 minutes of matches this season but the scars run deeper seeing as this accounted for a loss of 10 points which if Palace had achieved them, would see the club in 9^th place, just a point off a European position.

This issue stems from a lack of experience amongst the playing and management staff which the team will develop over a longer period of time, which all Palace fans are clearly acceptant of. Despite Hodgson’s at times painful pragmatism, Palace only dropped 6 points in the final 15 minutes of matches in the entirety of last season. This suggests that his team were drilled on how to see out results and confirm victories, whilst on the flip side having to reject a fluid style of football. Hodgson couldn’t quite find the balance amongst his ageing squad as results were largely positive (Palace had 6 more points at this time last season than they currently have) yet the team rarely caught the eye with a dull defensive outlook to matches. Palace’s new French manager has altered this style into an attacking brand of football with a vibrant and exciting crop of young players that at the same time cannot seem to convert their control of matches into results which, Hodgson was able to ultimately accomplish with an overall weaker squad.

The job that Vieira has executed should not be underestimated however. Anticipation levels have not been this long for quite some time at SE25 as fans can see that this group has the potential to become one of Palace’s most successful sides, with dreams of Wembley at the forefront of the supporters’ minds. But the progression of this entertaining side has been tainted by an apparent inability to see out games and shut out the opposition at key times. It should be emphasised that the new manager himself is still in his first campaign as a Premier League manager and there remains copious amounts to learn with other areas of improvement including timing and utilisation of substitutions, for example, why did James Tomkins come on with only 4 minutes left of normal time against Arsenal at the Emirates in a move which just invited pressure and why did our main threat on the night Michael Olise come off for Jordon Ayew at Carrow Road? 

These are issues no doubt, but the time to make mistakes is now for this juvenile squad and manager that must now learn from the failings of the past in order to inform a better foreseeable future. By developing a more robust approach to the closing stages of matches, Palace fans can finally stop uttering the 2021/22 seasons endearing sentence, “I thought we played well today, we should have got something from that one”. The mere mention of this type of sentence akin to this sort of terminology brings memories of Neal Maupay’s 95^th minute equaliser flooding back or Alexandre Lacazette’s late leveller stripping us of three points at the Emirates. Converting these negative memories into positive ones is essential to changing the team’s fortunes around and further endearing Vieira to an already appreciative fanbase that has recognised his efforts, but it has become glaringly obvious that this is the final piece of the puzzle.

Our recent match against Chelsea was another example of the last 15 minute curse which has been plaguing our season so far with the West Londoners undeservedly taking home all three points. Although most supporters are sick to death of hearing this laborious phrase, it must be highlighted that it couldn’t be more truthful of the team’s fortunes. Despite the damning statistics the optimistic outlook of Palace fans is fully justified as the team are much better to watch with a much more appealing set of lively players that have a prosperous future ahead of them.

The Palace fanbase can afford to look forward to what is to come with a FA Cup 5^th round match at home to Stoke to anticipate in early March, with the Wembley dream still firmly alive. Let’s just hope we’re comfortably winning before the final 15 minutes.

The 2021/22 season has seen the emergence of several fresh faces as potential candidates for the Player of the Season award. Marc Guehi, Michael Olise, Conor Gallagher, Joachim Andersen have all excellent and although one of them may rightly receive it, one Crystal Palace stalwart continues to thrive in Patrick Vieira’s revolution.

Having been the main source of attack during the reigns of Alan Pardew, Sam Allardyce and Roy Hodgson, Wilfried Zaha remains the catalyst for all things positive about this new-look Palace side. It is important to note that Zaha has excelled in several seasons during his glittering career at Selhurst Park and despite a handful ineffective matches this campaign, his skill and ingenuity continues to unlock defences as he passes 400 career appearances for Palace.

Just ask his perennial antagonisees Watford, who were stunned into submission by two goals which highlighted the endearing ability of the Ivorian winger in that big recent 4-1 win at Vicarage Road; particularly his second strike which saw him wriggle through oncoming Hornet’s defenders before nestling the ball beyond Ben Foster. This strike was extremely reminiscent of his finish at Carrow Road earlier in the month which epitomised the poise of Zaha as he likewise provided an ample amount of curl on the ball to beat Tim Krul and sent the travelling Eagles fans into raptures.

Of course in the very same match he also quite literally slipped up from the spot in an almost comical sequence of events which undermined his previous brilliance in the same match. And yet, he had the courage to take the next one, firing beyond Jose Sa in Palace's most recent match against Wolves at Molineux; a victory that all but secure's Premier league survival for another season.

This reaction mirrors the steely determination that has defined Zaha over the last few years of his career, having battled against the criticisms of several pundits that seem intent on picking him apart for his lack ambition for not joining a side that is constantly in European positions.

This may appear as a lack of ambition outside of Palace, yet Eagles supporters get the opportunity to acknowledge his drive and purpose every week as he persistently peppers opposition defences with his direct and tricky runs. At least in my mind, Zaha typifies everything that it takes to be a catalyst and a focal point in this blossoming Vieira team, as he now appears tasked with the responsibility of aiding the younger players and using his experience as a way to impose his style on the game.

The emergence of Gallagher and Olise as genuine threats has managed to share the burden and now the Ivorian winger has similarly agile and incisive talents to bounce off. Yet it is important to note that Zaha remains the highest goal scorer with an impressive nine goals, having recently overtaken Gallagher’s haul with that crucial penalty at Wolves.

This tally just adds to Zaha’s longevity as a player, having comfortably amassed the most Premier League goals of anyone at the club with 56, which is 21 more than second placed Christian Benteke. He also boasts the most Premier League appearances at the club with 254 and has enjoyed 82 wins in the competition, more than any other Eagle. In wider terms, Zaha now has 417 overall appearances in all competitions whilst his tally of 76 goals means that he is just eight goals off breaking into the top 10 all-time goal scorers with Andy Johnson the next player in his sights.

These statistics contribute to the fact that it isn’t just this season or the last where Zaha has been the standout star, they tell us that he has been the team's most pivotal asset since his debut campaign in the 2009-10 season, where he replaced Stern John with 10 minutes remaining in a league match against Cardiff on the 27th March 2010, with Palace of course embroiled in administration and a Championship relegation battle.

Zaha’s influence during that period is unrivalled and it is due in large part to his performances that we are now more than financially secure having racked up nine consecutive seasons of Premier League football with another potential trip to Wembley on the horizon. Many say that despite regular hiccups this is the greatest period in the history of Crystal Palace Football Club and it is no surprise that this coincides with the presence of Zaha.

His moments of magic continue to grace Selhurst Park like no other, as that undeniable swell of anticipation still builds when he receives the ball to this day. Memories remain fresh of his brace at the Amex to send Palace to that 2013 Wembley final, we still remember his thunderbolt away to Hull in 2014, or his late equaliser against West Ham in the early Hodgson era, perhaps his dazzling run and superb finish at Huddersfield in 2018.

Although we may remember him for different goals and different moments, Zaha will always be adored at Selhurst park, and it will be a very long time until South London sees a finer player. Amongst endless rumours of his potential departure, our star man has remained loyal to his childhood club, with it now being likely that he will see out his career in SE25. With Jim Cannon’s imperious record of 660 appearances still potentially in sight, we can look forward to several more years of Wilf consolidating his position as the greatest player in the history of Crystal Palace.

A left-field transfer deal on the final day of the transfer window, Crystal Palace have signed 19-year-old Luke Plange from Derby County for an estimated £1 million.

Plange, born in Kingston-upon-Thames, came through at the Arsenal academy, joining the club aged eight, before making a free-transfer move to Pride Park in March 2021.

His rise amongst the difficulties of Derby's administration and subsequent points deduction has been a recent bright spot for the club. Championship financial losses being what they are, the Plange sale will only cover a fraction of what the team will need to survive, but a welcome bonus nonetheless.

Quick Riser

Plange's move to Derby has been the making of him as a player. Playing in the same U23 division as his former club, Plange's five goals in seven starts this season drove his call-up to the first team.

Crystal Palace had first-hand experience of him this season, as he scored in a 2-3 loss to Paddy McCarthy's side back in October.

That U23 output, coupled with the dire situation Derby that are in, turned Wayne Rooney's eyes to younger players. Having made his senior debut against Bristol City at the start of December, Plange followed up with a winning goal against Blackpool six days later.

Ending his time as a Derby player with three goals in his six starts, his 16th-minute goal in a 2-1 win away at Stoke at the turn of the year was his finest yet.

Timing his run to perfection, Plange slipped in behind the Stoke defenders, latching onto a perfectly weighted ball provided by Kamil Jóźwiak. Face-to-face with Adam Davies, Plange kept his composure to fire a low, right-footed effort past the Stoke goalkeeper, giving Derby a well-deserved lead. A classic poacher goal.

The Numbers

There are some encouraging signs from Plange's performances in his limited exposure to senior football. Again, using SmarterScout's tool to look at his output helps paint an early picture of him as a player.

Plange has shown a fantastic work rate, discipline, and commitment to team play in his eight appearances so far. When required, he helps out in defence either by pro-actively defending from the front or dropping back to Derby's half. 

Although his stature is not imposing, he is strong on his feet and can stand his ground against the massive Championship defenders. In addition, he can take on defenders, link up with his teammates, drift out wide, or, as exemplified above with his goal against Stoke, make intelligent runs in behind the defence.

His performance so far can be summed up in his own words: “I like to do it all.”

Team Outlook

As a striker (and a young one at that), garnering high praise from Wayne Rooney is no mean feat. From a club perspective, Luke Plange offers a low-risk investment with a high upside. His loan move back to the Championship, where it is assumed he will continue to feature heavily, gives Palace a young loan player in the second tier, a very rare occurrence (the last being Sullay Kaikai).

The hope will be that Plange could eventually join the first-team striker ranks in years to come, saving the club an outlay on another attacking player. 

In the meantime, as a fun prospect playing in the Championship, he will be someone we will be monitoring for the rest of the season.