There are no headline takeaways worth writing about following Crystal Palace's Sunday fixture, only frustration. An encouraging attacking performance spearheaded by Jean-Philippe Mateta but denied by the brilliance of Alisson was overshadowed by two VAR decisions that left a bitter taste in the mouth.

This season's standard of refereeing in the Premier League has been a bone of contention for fans of most clubs. Still, the video reviews meant to lead us to correct outcomes are unfortunately run by the same inept individuals who often appear on the pitch.

The guilty parties in this match were Kevin Friend on the field with Craig Pawson as the VAR. If a team plays poorly and loses, I think most fans will leave the stadium accepting the outcome, but having a match tarnished by a poor refereeing process tarnishes the sport.

Crystal Palace deserved to be behind in the match. The defending wasn't at the standard needed - but player performances, either successes or failures, are easier to accept than those taken out of the players' hands as it had by full-time.

The PGMOL fails to deliver a consistent interpretation of the rules on a game to game basis and doesn't see the standard of refereeing as an issue. The feeling that a "Big 6" bias exists is nothing new. Still, having a secondary video system that only adds to the confusion, rather than clarifying it, will only fuel the assertion that the game is rigged or corrupt.

Exhibit 1 - Roberto Firmino

So Firmino is occupying our LB from an offside position which leaves Oxlade-Chamberlain free at the back post. VAR not interested? pic.twitter.com/cb1JIvlxRg

— Tom Dutton (@TomDutty) January 23, 2022

The rules surrounding being "inactive" regarding offside decisions are football vaguery at its best. Many years into this rule change, we are conditioned into seeing a player beyond the last defender, but not inferring as "inactive".

But when an attacking player attempts to play the ball, it's challenging to understand how they aren't interfering.

 Take Firmino, standing offside as the Andrew Robertson cross enters the box, shadowed by Tyrick Mitchell, jumps to try and win the header. 

With a split-second to make a decision, Mitchell marks his nearest player. Similarly, Vicente Guaita will have to pay attention to a striker attempting to head at goal and isn't robotically dismissing him as an "inactive" player simply because he failed to make contact. 

The excuse that Firmino didn't disrupt the goalkeeper or that Mitchell ought to have known to move across to Chamberlain on the back post is a flawed argument. Had Firmino connected with a header, would the flag have gone up?

Palace's defending throughout this particular defensive phase was poor. Robertson had no pressure placed on him before crossing the ball. Chamberlain was left wide-open. But should the goal have stood?

And while we're at it...they didn't even properly look at this one. Just a quick "check complete".

They should've at least said to the ref "Firmino was offside, did you think he was interfering with play/active?"

Unless the ref had already said to them that he thought not ?‍♂️ https://t.co/gY2hWIqtKf

— Chris Grierson (@chrisgrierson) January 23, 2022

From a process point of view, this seems inherently flawed. Football isn't a high-scoring sport, yet it seems like a common-sense decision to look at a player in an offside position.

Exhibit 2 - Diogo Jota

Never a penalty. Ridiculous decision. Jota lost control of the ball and ran into Guaita. Jota was never going to reach the ball. Harsh on #cpfc and ruined any chance of a comeback. Quality of officiating such an issue in @premierleague. But Riley doesn’t recognise it. #CRYLIV

— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) January 23, 2022

VAR hasn't attempted to resolve diving or simulation in football. If anything, the idea that all contact in the area is penalty-worthy has been entrenched into the game.

Not only has that standard been set, the VAR process of slow-motion replays, in this case, of incidental contact, only exaggerates situations that play out and should be judged in real-time.

Diogo Jota wasn't fouled. He chose to make contact with Guaita in goal. That is even the initial interpretation of Kevin Friend on the pitch. The message he then receives from the VAR is that Jota would have got to the ball.

 A maddening aspect of this decision is the inconsistency from game to game. Ryan Fraser, who happened to be playing against a "Big 6" side for the conspiracy theorists out there, was denied a penalty after being taken out by Ederson.

? "Even Cancelo looks round in surprise." ?

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher believes Newcastle should have received a penalty after Ederson's collision with Ryan Fraser... pic.twitter.com/Jxgb7o9dJQ

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) December 20, 2021

As spectators, all we can ask for consistent decision-making and clarity over what VAR is meant to achieve. If it is there only to help correct "clear and obvious" errors, why is the process taking minutes to accomplish this?

What Changes?

At least in our eyes, the debate isn't about whether or not video review systems ought to exist in the 21st century, but over why football continues to shroud the refereeing decision-making process in mystery. As fans in the stadium or as viewers at home, we get next to no insight into the VAR process. Instead, we are left to accept the wisdom of the referee whilst they escape any accountability at the full-time whistle.

Take international cricket, a game without anywhere near the money on a Premier League game line. The DRS (decision review system) process has become part of the entertainment in the stadium. With the audio feed of the video umpire being played out on TV and live in the stadiums, a successful review from the batting or fielding side has managed to add a level of tension in matches - with the satisfaction of seeing a greater number of "correct" decisions made.

The cynical view, of course, is that expecting genuine changes isn't a realistic outcome for a game that is driven by drama. Football as a spectacle benefits from dodgy decisions to keep people talking about it. The pinnacle moment in English football history ultimately revolves around whether Geoff Hurst's shot ever did cross the line, after all.

VAR is here to stay, and unless there is a turnaround in the authorities suddenly wishing to make the process transparent - possibly the best we can all hope for is that it doesn't impact the enjoyment of too many games.

Intro

“Why do Palace and Brighton hate each other?”, “How is Palace v Brighton a rivalry?”, are just two of the most common questions asked in the build-up to any fixture between the two clubs.

Every season, the Palace-Brighton rivalry is one that continues to puzzle outsiders. Given that most rivalries are founded on local territories, it may be unusual that the two teams absolutely despise each other given that they lie a mere 46 miles apart. But, the hatred is very real and this article will take you through the foundations, history and key flashpoints in this rivalry.

History

The rivalry rose to prominence during the 1970s when both teams were fighting for promotion in the Third Division. During this era, the two clubs played each other numerous times throughout the league and cup competitions. 

The games between the two sides would always attract season-high crowds in excess of 25,000 people. Alongside this, there have always been violent clashes between both sets of supporters given how easily connected the train lines are from Croydon to Brighton. The battles in the terraces created the intensity that would be triggered by the events on the pitch. An encounter between the two sides in 1976 was marred by serious crowd trouble with fans launching smoke bombs and missiles onto the pitch. Such turbulence almost led to the fixture being abandoned.

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Alan Mullery and The infamous FA Cup tie

Tensions between the two clubs rose even further in the 1976/77 season. Palace and Brighton faced each other a historic five times that year, twice in the league and three times in the FA Cup, due to playing two replays. After drawing twice at either ground, the infamous third FA Cup tie occurred at Stamford Bridge. 

Palace would eventually win the contest 1-0 but under extremely controversial circumstances. In the 78th minute, Brighton were awarded a penalty. The penalty, which was converted by Brian Horton, was disallowed because the referee adjudged that players had encroached upon the penalty area. When Horton retook the penalty, it was saved by the Palace keeper and the Eagles ran out 1-0 winners.

After the final whistle, Brighton manager Alan Mullery was so furious with the referee that he had to be escorted off the pitch. Given his anger, he threw up 'v-signs' and repeatedly swore at the Palace supporters in the stands. Rumour has it he then entered the Palace dressing room and threw five pounds on the floor, telling Palace manager and ex-teammate, Terry Venables, "Your team's not worth that." 

Hysterically enough, much to Palace fan’s objection to the appointment, Alan Mullery would go on to manage Palace for a short spell in 1982 until 1984. His arrival was so unpopular that Palace fans refused to attend games under his tenure, leading to some of Palace’s worst-ever attendances at Selhurst Park. He also did not make things better for himself by losing both games against Brighton while he was Palace manager. To this day, Alan Mullery is still widely reviled amongst the Palace fanbase and is seen as one of the people who intensified the fierce rivalry between the two clubs.

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The New Era

From 1990 until 2011, the two sides would only play each other a total of four times in the league which put the rivalry on hold. Due to Brighton’s off-field financial problems they were often lingering around the bottom of the third and fourth tier of English Football. The financial situation was so damaging for Brighton that they almost fell out of the Football League altogether in 1998. When Palace and Brighton eventually met in the Championship in 2002, it was the first time the two sides had faced each other in 13 years.

The Play-offs

The 2012/13 Championship season is an iconic landmark in the rivalry. With Palace and Brighton both vying for Premier League promotion, they would face each other four times. The first contest came in December 2012 where an in-form Crystal Palace side comfortably beat Brighton 3-0 thanks to two goals from former Brighton striker Glenn Murray.

Brighton returned a similar knockout punch in March 2013 when two goals from Argentinian striker Leonardo Ulloa helped them beat their rivals 3-0. This victory also marked Brighton’s first home league win over Palace in 25 years.

By the time the end of the season came, Brighton finished 4th and Palace finished 5th meaning that the two sides would continue their rivalry into the Championship play-off semi-finals, the winner over the two legs would advance to the final at Wembley for a chance to win promotion to the Premier League. 

In what would arguably be the two most significant games in the rivalry’s history. Palace and Brighton fought out a cagey 0-0 draw at Selhurst Park in the first leg. Going into the decisive second leg, the tie would eventually be decided at the AMEX by a player that Brighton fans despise more than anyone, Wilfried Zaha. 

The Ivorian scored the only two goals in front of the travelling Palace fans as the Eagles secured an impressive 2-0 away victory. Palace advanced to the play-off final at Wembley where Wilfried Zaha would continue his brilliance by winning the crucial penalty, dispatched by Kevin Phillips, that sent Palace to the Premier League.

Poster boys: Wilfried Zaha & Lewis Dunk

Wilfried Zaha, more often than not, has been Brighton’s arch-nemesis on several occasions. Most notably, it was Zaha who spearheaded Palace to that famous comeback in 2011 as they became the first side to win a league game at Brighton’s new AMEX Stadium. When Brighton eventually got promoted to the Premier League in 2017, it was Zaha who famously called them out saying that Palace had been waiting for them to finally reach their level. And finally, it was again Zaha who broke Brighton hearts in the 2013 Championship play-offs. 

Zaha has registered 8 goals and 2 assists in 14 games against the Seagulls, losing just 3 times. Being a local south London boy and rising through the ranks at Selhurst Park, Zaha fully understands how much the rivalry means to the Palace faithful. As a player who wears his heart on his sleeve and relishes being a menace to the opposition, Zaha is always fired up for games against Brighton.

On the other hand, Brighton captain, Lewis Dunk, is similarly hated by Crystal Palace fans. Lewis Dunk, who has been sent off twice against Palace in his career, is the Brighton poster boy. He’s been with the club since the age of 13, supports them, and is from the area. Therefore, just like Zaha, he understands, exactly how much the Crystal Palace rivalry means and has never hidden his contempt for Palace. 

Lewis Dunk is always given abuse by Palace fans every time the clubs meet. Dunk strongly detests Palace fans given that they never fail to remind him of the time he was on trial for sexual assault on a teenage woman in 2013. Although Dunk was cleared of all charges and found not guilty, Palace fans continue to direct chants towards the Brighton captain about the events. 

This rivalry may not be as big or as glamorous as the Old Firm or the North London derby but one thing to note is that the contest is rising in stature and there is an evident hatred between the two clubs. Even in the post-hooliganism era, violence has marred this fixture off the pitch and there is always a heavy police presence at the games. 

At the last meeting between both clubs at Selhurst Park, Lewis Dunk and other Brighton players had to be escorted off safely as Palace fans, understandably furious after Neal Maupay’s last gasp-equaliser, hurled abuse and tried to approach the players while being riled up by Brighton players’ consistent goading after the final whistle. One could argue that since Palace and Brighton are now establishing their rivalry in the top-flight, the rivalry is as hostile as it’s ever been since the 1970s. Even though Palace contest the fierce South London derby with neighbours Millwall and Charlton, it’s the rivalry with Brighton that matters the most.

In the first article of our “Crystal Palace Transfers By Numbers” series we looked at potential strikers that could add depth to our squad. Our search focused on young, exciting prospects from the Big 5 Leagues, some of which will likely command high transfer fees in the summer.

Since Crystal Palace are a club operating on a tight budget, and the Sporting Director Dougie Freedman is known as a tough negotiator always looking for the next bargain, we thought of looking for cheap, young prospects a bit closer to home, in Leagues One (L1) and Two (L2).
Compared to our first search, we would not be limited by position, but rather looking overall throughout the two leagues to spot hidden gems.

Because fbref.com does not have detailed statistical information on players from L1 and L2, we used Smarterscout to generate a list of players of interest. Our primary filters were modified to accommodate a narrower age range (19-22), to account for regular playing time throughout the season (400 minutes played), as well as the indication that a player is a high performer compared to our benchmark league (i.e., the Premier League).

Our search yielded three results, which are shown in the table below.

Daniel Neil - Defensive Midfielder - Sunderland - League 1

The first entry in our list is Daniel Neil, Sunderland’s commanding defensive midfielder. Despite being only 20 years of age, Neil has already made himself a favourite at the Stadium of Light, amassing a total of 2 goals and 7 assists in 24 appearances this season, helping The Black Cats to second place. His season heatmap (left) shows that he occupies an area much like James McArthur (right), which would make him suitable for playing the “#8” role at Palace.

According to SofaScore and WhoScored, the left-footed DM is an accurate passer (82% accuracy on ~41 passes per90) who is adept at providing key passes and through balls for his teammates. Neil is comfortable with the ball at his feet, taking an average 53 touches per 90. Despite his relatively small stature (5’10”, 62kg), Dan Neil is strong on his feet and wins ~ half of the duels he is involved in (both aerial and ground). He is also a nuisance for dribblers, who find it hard to go past him (~0.6 successful dribbling attempts against him per 90).

So far this season Neil has been very tidy in defence, conceding only 3 yellow cards and not giving away any opportunity for the opposition to score from his mistakes (0 errors that led to a shot or a goal, and no penalties committed). However, his possession game needs improvement, as he gives away the ball ~11.6 times per 90. His excellent performances have brought him to the attention of Andy Edwards, the England U-20 coach, who gave him his first cap in November 2021 (2-0 loss vs. Portugal).

What we think about him: At only 20 years of age, Neil looks like a truly exciting prospect. His maturity in play is evident and he is without a doubt a player to keep an eye on.

Joe Grayson - Left-Back/Centre-Back - Barrow - League 2

The 22-year old versatile defender has been one of the standout performers at Barrow this season, even if the team is struggling in the lower half of the League Two table. Capable of playing both as a left-back and as centre-back, Grayson made 20 out of a possible 23 appearances this season, all of them in the starting 11 as a left centre-back in a 3-5-2 system.

So far this season, Grayson has contributed one goal and one assist to Barrow’s tally. Interestingly, he is the designated corner taker at Barrow and WhoScored notes his “direct free-kicks” and “taking set-pieces” as two of his major strengths.

In terms of positioning, his season heatmap (left) shows his hybrid position between a centre- and a left-back (on the right, heatmap of Marc Guehi).

His passing accuracy is average (75%, on a volume of 48.5 passes/game, 85% accuracy in his own half), and it would be a major area of improvement if he were to join Palace. Regardless, his defensive capabilities are more than evident: he gives away only 0.7 fouls/game, has committed no errors leading to a shot/goal/penalty, and wins 56% of his duels, out of which 61% are aerial. The last metric is perhaps the most interesting, as his stature is identical to Dan Neil (5’10”), meaning that his aerial prowess comes from positioning and timing his jumps rather than outright towering over the opposition.

What we think about him: A versatile defender with league football experience, Grayson would certainly be a player to keep our eye on. His set-piece proficiency would be an excellent addition to our squad, as well as depth at the left-back/centre-back positions. Whereas his passing play can certainly improve, his aerial ability would be much needed in our defense.

Kane Wilson - RM/RWB - Forest Green Rovers - League 2

The 21-year old marauding wing-back has impressed so far this season at Forest Green Rovers (1st in League Two), making a total of 21 appearances, scoring 2 goals and providing 9 assists. Used primarily on the right side of a 3-5-2 wing-back system, Wilson is no stranger to putting in a shift (see his heatmap below), showcasing excellent stamina and endurance.

Although he is only 21 (due to turn 22 in March), Wilson has already made 109 league football appearances, scoring 4 goals and assisting 12 times in the process, having debuted at Exeter City when he was just 17. Despite his extensive experience in Leagues One and Two, Wilson showcases two areas in which he needs to improve on if he were to join Palace.

First, his passing accuracy is average (70%, on a volume of 32 passes per 90). Second, he loses possession much too often (~22 times per 90), but his touch volume is quite high (65 per 90). This however translates from his style of play - according to WhoScored, Wilson is a player who lives and breathes to take on his opponent and go past him (2.8 successful dribbles per 90, on a volume of 5.7 dribbles per 90).

His strengths include holding onto the ball (think Jordan Ayew-lite), creating major chances (10 created so far this season) and providing his teammates with key passes (including through balls).

What we think about him: While average on the ball, he makes up for it with his impressive runs and physical attributes. His extended league football experience is most definitely a plus, at least compared to Ferguson of the Palace U23 players. In addition, he could prove to be a more attacking-minded backup to Joel Ward, in the event that Nathaniel Clyne’s contract is not renewed in the summer.

After scoring the winner in a fiesty south London derby against Millwall, Palace fans are once again caught in two minds about whether French striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, who looked dead certain to be heading out the door during the January transfer window, should leave. However, despite his much-improved performances, increased game time and some important goals, there is still a strong possibility that the striker will leave Selhurst Park this month. So how will his legacy at Palace go down? Brian Matovu has a look...

From Sevran to Selhurst

Mateta was born just a few kilometers outside of Paris in the small commune of Sevran. Working his way up through the lower divisions of French Football, Mateta signed for Lyon in 2016 from third division outfit Châteauroux at just 18 years old. To obtain game time, he joined Ligue 2 side Le Havre on loan for the 2017-18 season where his impressive 19 goals in 37 league games led the oldest club in French football to a 4th place finish. 

Despite his impressive season at Le Havre, Lyon accepted a bid from Mainz 05 for the stirker and the Frenchman would take his talents to Germany in what was a record signing for the club. Throughout his time at Mainz, he established himself as a regular in the German top-flight netting 27 goals in 71 appearances. By the time Palace were interested in signing him, Mainz 05 had already conceded that his departure was inevitable and allowed him to leave if a suitable offer was placed. Despite an apparent interest from Leeds, it was Palace who would sign Mateta in January 2021 on an initial 18-month loan deal with an option to buy for around €15m.

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First team struggles

Just a year on from joining the Eagles, Mateta has struggled to consolidate a spot in the starting 11 under Palace managers Roy Hodgson and Patrick Vieira. Due to the impressive form of Christian Benteke and Odsonne Édouard, Mateta has found it difficult to get a consistent run of games with most appearances coming in cup competitions or off the substitute bench. Furthermore, even when Palace have needed a goal he is not the first person that Patrick Vieira relies upon to make an impact. In the 32 games that Mateta has been available for, he has been an unused substitute in 18 of them. 

Mateta has the physical capabilities to cope in the Premier League but there are still major technical deficiencies in his game that need nourishing if he is to take his game to the next level. If Mateta had the technical ability of Edouard combined with the aerial dominance of Benteke, then the Frenchman would be the perfect striker for the South London side.

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Big Game Player

However, even though Mateta has played little football at Selhurst Park he is not far from obtaining cult hero status as two of his three goals for Palace have come against two biggest rivals Brighton and Millwall where his input has led to the Eagles securing important victories. His clever improvised backheeled finish set Hodgson's side on their way to a snatch and grab win at the Amex Stadium in February 2021 and just last weekend it was Mateta who scored the all-important winning goal at the Den as Palace edged out 2-1 victors in the South London derby.

His trademark celebration of kicking the corner flag has also been widely embraced by the Palace fans too. JPM’s efforts have not gone unnoticed and he has been appreciated for his professionalism despite not playing and has done a steady job at times. An example being that when Palace were depleted of players due to a Covid outbreak, Mateta played well and scored as the Eagles demolished Norwich 3-0 in the Premier League.

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Conclusion

However, I believe it’s best for both parties to move on. It is fairly obvious that Vieira doesn’t see him as a first-choice starter in attacking positions. Mainz boss Christian Heidel has even expressed his concerns over Mateta’s playing time and stated that if the situation did not improve then they will have to discuss other options. The summer acquisitions of Edouard and Olise alongside other attacking options such as Zaha, Benteke and Ayew has provided heavy competition for places and Mateta seems to be at the bottom of that list. 

Moreover, there have been strong rumours that Palace are in the market for another striker which would all but end Mateta’s tenure at Selhurst Park. Mateta has featured in Palace’s last four games, but this is largely due to Zaha and Ayew being away at the African Cup Of Nations and Covid issues. When Palace are at full strength, Mateta has and will continue to find it very difficult to secure a starting spot in Premier League fixtures. But whatever happens, Mateta still has a bright future ahead of him as he is still only 24 years of age and he will always be remembered fondly at Selhurst Park as the man who conquered both Millwall and Brighton in their own backyards.