It’s election fever across the country right now with political campaigns in various colours all pledging promises, all more conducive than the last. Crystal Palace dare to back both major parties in the two-party system, donning both red and blue in their home kit.
The Eagles may get what they want this Christmas with a potential 15 points between now and New Year’s Day. Five scintillating games await them, each against lower-ranked opposition. Roy Hodgson may well walk the streets of North Croydon handing out presents, as Santa, given he’d be beloved as Father Christmas if he delivers here.
Crystal Palace Looking to Climb Table Over Christmas Period
Ayew Leading the Line
Palace enter the run in slick form. Hodgson tinkered with his best 11 during the opening games, feeling the best way to deploy a squad he couldn’t drastically improve, only having acquired five new players yet losing 15 – only for one of those did the owners part cash for; Jordan Ayew, a complete steal at £2.5 million.
The former England manager decided that 4-5-1 allowed the team a higher chance to win and has played that formation since the fifth matchday. On paper, Ayew looks isolated but really has a huge support network. On the wings, there’s either Wilfried Zaha or Andros Townsend cutting in, or even Jeffrey Schlupp who’s become an impact sub in the previous two wins.
Palace don’t waste their time on the ball either. Knowing there are a lot of bigger teams with superstars, players and management alike, they understand they must seize every moment. Short passes are not worth the time it takes to complete them. Five to 25-yards is considered a medium-length pass, something that the backline has perfected. Gary Cahill, James Tomkins and Joel Ward consistently complete said passes with completion rates above 86%. This allows quick progress for the Eagles to get up the pitch, delivering balls to a forward player.
Luka Milivojevic is keen to help deliver, having completed 61 passes into the final third. For scope, Kevin De Bruyne, the league’s leading assister, has 71 in the same metric. The Serbian international has a lot more weight on his shoulders, with a shallower pool of quality at Selhurst Park than other more illustrious grounds. The numbers still how his creativity is more effective than David Silva, Mason Mount, and Christian Eriksen in providing advanced balls.
A Good Run In
Palace enter the five-game run in a similar position compared to their seasonal adversaries, Brighton & Hove Albion, Newcastle United, West Ham United, Southampton and Norwich City on New Year’s Day. Such opposition does not present the cardinal thought that Palace will be walked over. Inspecting the last five games’ form, the Eagles have the best defence of the lot having conceded four goals, or 0.8 per game. Each of their festive foes has shipped more, especially West Ham, who’ve seen their own net bulged 11 times across the last premier league games (2.2 per game).
It may seem nonsensical to draw comparisons to Crystal Palace and Barcelona, other than the shirt colour palette, yet when losing the ball, the London side emulate similar characteristics. The next seconds after losing the ball, the game enters a frantic phase where neither team had planned on. Palace made it their mentality to boss those frenetic periods, allowing them chances to recapture the ball and get the ball moving back in their favour.
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