Crystal Palace enter the international break ninth in the Premier League standings after a 3-2 win over Wolves on Sunday. EDMUND BRACK analyzes their start to the 2023-24 season.
What did you think of Palace’s debut?
Crystal Palace’s 2023-24 season is off to a promising start.
The 1-0 victory over Sheffield United on the first day was a convincing performance, but Roy Hodgson’s side could and should have won more convincingly.
The solitary defeat thus far, a 1-0 loss at home to Arsenal, revealed some more serious issues in the squad.
Due to hamstring and back injuries, Palace have been missing Michael Olise, their key creative spark from previous season, and new summer recruit Matheus Franca.
It left Hodgson only able to call upon Naouirou Ahamada and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi from the bench – two players with barely a handful of Premier League minutes to their names – as they chased an equaliser against the Gunners.
The yearly draw with Brentford and the EFL Cup comeback win against Championship side Plymouth were positive performances and the 3-2 win against Wolves on Sunday showed that Palace should have more than enough to stay in the division.
The main frustration is that it could end up being a season of ‘what could have been’ for the South Londoners.
More points could have been taken from the Brentford and Arsenal games and with the target set out very clearly this season on securing a top-half finish, it remains to be seen whether there is enough experience in the wide areas to truly take this side to the next level.
Who has been the standout performer?
There have been several members of the starting 11 – which has been the same in all four Premier League outings – who have impressed.
Eberechi Eze looks more cultured and incisive in his decision making since earning his maiden England senior international call-up.
Joachim Andersen and Marc Guehi are extremely consistent while Cheik Doucoure and Jefferson Lerma have flourished alongside each other since the Colombian midfielder arrived in the summer.
But it is Odsonne Edouard who has shown real promise in the opening stages of the season.
He has three goals in his first four games and four goals in all competitions and is already close to the seven he managed last season.
His first goal at Sheffield United – darting between the defence and planting Jordan Ayew’s low cross past Wes Foderingham – was his first goal for the Eagles outside of London since joining from Celtic for £14million in August 2021.
The French forward showed a similar deadly instinct against Wolves, reacting quickly to Tyrick Mitchell’s cross to stick a leg out and divert the ball beyond Jose Sa.
With Wilfried Zaha gone and Franca needing a period of bedding in before he can truly show why the Eagles have splashed big money to land him, Edouard looks set to carry the goalscoring burden on his shoulders.
What has been the best performance?
The 3-2 win against Wolves – the scoreline flattered Gary O’Neil’s side.
Palace were fairly dominant in the first half, with the fear at half-time that once again they were going to be left to rue missed chances.
But the combination play between Eze, Mateta and Edouard proved too much for the Wolves defence in the second period.
What has been the worst performance?
The first 55 minutes against Plymouth in the EFL Cup.
A rotated side, which was saved by the triple substitution of Eze, Jordan Ayew and Jeffrey Schlupp, found themselves 2-0 down in the 46th minute. All three grabbed assists to help the Eagles run out 4-2 winners, with Jean-Philippe Mateta grabbing a hat-trick.
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