Crystal Palace are off the mark after an opening draw against Brentford. The game offered few chances in a hard-fought match, but both teams will come away content in the knowledge they didn't hand a victory away. Here are our quick takeaways from the contest at Selhurst Park.
The Jigsaw is Missing a Few Pieces
Despite the result, there are reasons to be optimistic about Crystal Palace's team. Both Joachim Andersen and Marc Guéhi are already developing as the team's bedrock, whilst Conor Gallagher and James McArthur suit the box-to-box roles Patrick Vieira asks them to fulfil. However, the jigsaw pieces needed to mesh the areas of strength together still appear to be lacking. There is a philosophy Vieira wishes to deploy with his new team, but there may be a need for pragmatism in areas where players aren't as suitable as he would like.
Cheikhou Kouyaté is one of these puzzles for Patrick Vieira, as he is both an asset and a liability in different phases of the game as a holding midfielder. His passing with his slow wind-up is acceptable as a central defender where the opposition affords him more time but lacks urgency in midfield. Brentford dispossessed him in the first half in Palace's third on three occasions, which the away team should have punished. Jaïro Riedewald would theoretically be the type of pivot player that could be the deep-lying playmaker. Still, where he is often passive in the defensive phases of the game, Kouyaté continues to excel. Untroubled in the aerial battles and with several good challenges on the ground in the second half, Kouyaté was a crucial factor in keeping Brentford at bay. Patrick Vieria will balance the areas where he hasn't got the "perfect" fit will be intriguing.
Gallagher Inches from a Dream Debut
When we looked at Conor Gallagher ahead of his loan move to Crystal Palacelooked at Conor Gallagher ahead of his loan move to Crystal Palace, he seemed ideal for a Vieira box-to-box midfielder. The stamina, the physicality and the touch were on show in his debut appearance, as Palace fielded a more combative central midfield than the game against Chelsea. Gallagher's willingness to challenge, the clever bodychecks off the ball to disrupt Brentford's play and the relentless pressing gave Palace an extra dimension in midfield.
Gallagher had the only "big chance" in Saturday's match, only to be denied by the woodwork. He met Wilfried Zaha's excellent through-ball from the right-wing with a heavy touch forcing him to take the shot from a wide-angle. Raya had no chance to stop it, the Whitehorse end thought he had scored, but the ball ricocheted harmlessly clear of the goal.
Despite this, Gallagher was arguably Palace's man-of-the-match on his debut, his energy in combination with McArthur will be something Vieira can build around. Palace will need reinforcements to ensure the midfield has another box-to-box option, but the signs are positive.
The Search for a Goal Continues
Whilst Patrick Vieira avoided defeat on his home debut and has a point on the board, the wait for the first league goal continues. McArthur, Gallagher and Benteke were the closest to breaking the deadlock, but much like Palace have faced in the last two seasons, it's difficult to see where a regular goal-scorer will come from in the current squad.
Brentford, much in style seen before by the likes of Southampton and Bournemouth, tactically fouled Wilfried Zaha throughout the game to reduce his effect on the result. In this, they succeeded. Zaha was involved in two of Palace's better efforts on goal but reacted to the physical nature of their defending. The danger, which has often blighted Palace in recent years, is when Zaha cannot make the breakthrough, what is the alternative?
Jeffery Schlupp, rotating with Zaha on either the left or right-wing positions isn't the answer, much like Jordan Ayew. As versatile players, both will play various roles and positions across the season. Still, with the transfer deadline quickly approaching, Palace appears two players short in the attacking areas of the pitch.
The xG Battle
(Source: https://twitter.com/Caley_
Despite Brentford leading the stats with shots-on-target and overall chances, neither team did enough to win. The Bees had the bulk of the opportunities, but Palace remained calm under pressure with the mobility of both new centre backs able to remove some of the danger when needed.
Brentford is a well-drilled team, used to their setup, unlike where Palace currently find themselves. Despite their ability to create chaos from long throw-ins and set pieces, seen against Arsenal, Palace coped well.
Next Up: Watford
Palace has a quick turnaround and a change of pace as they face perennial opponents Watford, away in the League Cup on Tuesday evening.
The fixture won't come with the pressures of a league match but is still a chance the develop some cohesion against a Premier League outfit. Vieira may field a strong eleven to build some momentum with the first-team squad, partly due to the U23 fixture scheduled on Friday evening.
Jesurun Rak-Sakyi will be hoping for a more significant run out after his league debut against Chelsea. Likewise, yesterday's substitutes like James Tomkins and Jean-Philippe Mateta will be keen to show their worth given a chance.