{"id":507520,"date":"2019-08-19T14:17:42","date_gmt":"2019-08-19T18:17:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/?p=507520"},"modified":"2019-08-19T14:17:42","modified_gmt":"2019-08-19T18:17:42","slug":"crystal-palace-leaders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2019\/08\/19\/crystal-palace-leaders\/","title":{"rendered":"Crystal Palace Were Once a Team Packed With Leaders – Now They Look Leaderless"},"content":{"rendered":"

Evolution and change is part of football. Clubs rise up the divisions, players come and go and managers are chopped and changed. However, one thing that should never change is a club’s identity. Crystal Palace<\/a> were once a team packed full of leaders. Now, however, they look leaderless.<\/p>\n

Crystal Palace Now Look a Team Without Leaders<\/h2>\n

Dwelling on the Past<\/h3>\n

Long before they were promoted to the Premier League, the Eagles were full of leaders. They were not a team full of excellent footballers, instead a team full of character and one that fought for one another.<\/p>\n

It is what has made some players heroes among the Crystal Palace fanbase. Players that gave 100% for the shirt, players that would dive into every tackle, players that would defend each other at every head-to-head. The likes of Paddy McCarthy<\/a>, Clint Hill<\/a> and Shaun Derry<\/a> are all heralded as heroes at Selhurst Park – partly due to their role in saving the club from liquidation in 2010 – as they gave everything for the shirt. It might be a case of modern football taking over, but it is very hard to see any standout leader in the Crystal Palace squad.<\/p>\n

Even in the transition from Championship to Premier League in the 2013\/14 season and years that followed, Crystal Palace possessed leaders. Team spirit was a major factor in their survival during the 2013\/14 Premier League campaign. Captain Mile Jedinak<\/a> and Damien Delaney<\/a> were big leaders of the dressing room; their influence and mark on the dressing room has evaporated since they both left the club.<\/p>\n

Crystal Palace are Missing Leaders so far This Season<\/h3>\n

Tough tackling midfielders might now be a thing of the past. Mile Jedinak was not blessed with an immaculate passing range, nor technical skill. However, he was loved by Palace fans due to his tough-tackling and love for the shirt. He earned his wage through grit and determination and was a true leader.<\/p>\n

A lot of the current squad could learn from the Australian. Team-spirit looked vacant in their defeat to Sheffield United<\/a> in their second<\/a> game of the season. There was no standing up for one another when it mattered. There was a severe showing of disinterest among the squad, which added to the sloppy performance from Roy Hodgson’s side. Captain Luka Milivojevic<\/a> failed to stand out in the centre of midfield, something that Jedinak often made sure of.<\/p>\n

Verdict<\/h3>\n

Perhaps the best leader and captain material is currently out injured for Crystal Palace. Mamadou Sakho<\/a> commands the back-line immaculately at times for Palace and is the true leader of this Crystal Palace side.<\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>