{"id":1509501,"date":"2026-10-26T18:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-26T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?post_type=features&p=1509501"},"modified":"2026-10-26T18:03:17","modified_gmt":"2026-10-26T18:03:17","slug":"tactical-analysis-crystal-palace-pierre-sage","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/tactical-analysis-crystal-palace-pierre-sage\/","title":{"rendered":"What is going wrong at Crystal Palace? Pierre Sage’s mistake-prone defence crumbles without possession"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The boos rang out around Selhurst Park on Sunday as Crystal Palace<\/a> fell to yet another damaging defeat, this time 2-0 at the hands of Newcastle United<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Eagles have lost both their Premier League<\/a> matches since what should have been a morale-boosting 3-1 victory against Nottingham Forest<\/a> early in October. The 5-0 thrashing by rivals Brighton was particularly painful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Add<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

To make matters worse, Palace have floundered in the Europa<\/a> League, going down 3-2 in Lyon before spurning a 2-1 lead to draw 2-2 against Besiktas — unable to regain the advantage even after Umit Akdag was sent off for the 21-time Turkish champions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All told, Palace have won just one of their last six across all competitions and sit 17th in the Premier League with two wins and seven points from eight matches. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

New manager Pierre Sage<\/a> has shouldered the blame for this post-Oliver Glasner<\/a> slump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I am responsible for what happened and what didn’t happen on the pitch, and that\u2019s why I have to show the example of fighting spirit,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what exactly is going wrong in South London?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Lacklustre and disjointed attack<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although they don’t create a high volume of opportunities — sitting 17th in the Premier League for chances created (65) and overall shots (88) — Palace tend to carve out meaningful openings. The Eagles are eighth in the English top flight for big chances created (15) and 12th for expected goals (11.0).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The problem for Palace is they simply haven’t had anyone on hand to take those opportunities. Their total of 18 big chances missed is the third-highest in the Premier League, while their 25% big chance conversion rate is the sixth-lowest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jean-Philippe Mateta<\/a>‘s absence with a hamstring injury from the opening day until the Brighton defeat hasn’t helped.. The Frenchman has been Palace’s best marksman in recent years by a distance. But even since returning, he’s looked rusty and missed two big chances against Newcastle, failing to follow up on his Europa League goal at Besiktas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The expensive Jorgen Strand Larsen was forced off with a knock against Besiktas, but has failed to fill Mateta’s shoes anyway, scoring just one Premier League goal this season and four in 21 appearances since signing from Wolves in January. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The only Palace player with more than a single Premier League goal this season is left-back Tyrick Mitchell<\/a>, and both of his strikes came in a 3-2 win at Fulham<\/a> at the start of September. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, Daichi Kamada<\/a> is the only Eagle with more than a single assist, and two of his three came in a 3-2 defeat against Ipswich, just a week after he provided another assist in the aforementioned win over Fulham. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Profligacy aside, Palace have also lacked dynamism. Sage’s men are bottom when it comes to take-ons attempted (88) and 19th for take-ons completed (41). They’re also 18th for crosses attempted (114) and 15th for penalty area entries (214).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As their passing network below illustrates, the Eagles have been guilty of recycling the ball around the centre-backs, with very little penetration into the forwards or through the lines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As Mateta returns to full fitness, the hope is surely that he will provide the focal point Palace need, both in front of goal and with his back to it during build-up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Right now, however, they are predictable and easy to defend against.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mistake-prone defence crumbling without the ball<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

That wouldn’t be so bad if Palace were airtight at the back. After all, Leeds United<\/a> are level with Sage’s side on nine goals scored. The difference is that Daniel Farke<\/a>‘s men have conceded only six goals and have kept three clean sheets, while Palace have only one shutout and have conceded a league-high 19 goals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“My way, my idea, is that the best way to defend is to have the ball,” Sage said following the Newcastle defeat. The problem is that Palace actually don’t ‘have’ the ball. In fact, only the promoted trio have a lower average share of possession than their 44.5%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Palace have only dominated possession on two occasions this season: vs Newcastle and Everton<\/a>. What’s more, they’re responsible for two of the 22 lowest possession shares in a single match this season, having 28.01% of the ball against Manchester City<\/a> and 35.61% against Fulham. They may have beaten the latter, but the Eagles conceded six goals in those two matches and allowed 43 shots on their own goal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sage also mentioned how it feels like every mistake Palace make at the moment is punished with a goal. Indeed, the Conference League holders have made four errors leading to goals in the top flight this season, behind only Sunderland<\/a> and Hull (both 5). But it’s also a question of quantity, with the Eagles fifth for errors leading to shots (11).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can’t even point to one or two individuals for these failings. Adam Wharton<\/a> (2) is the only player at the club with more than a single error leading to a shot. It’s a team-wide structural issue, rather than a couple of players losing confidence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sage’s Lens<\/a> were built to press, making 426 high turnovers during the 2025\/26 Ligue 1<\/a> season. But whether it’s Mateta or Strand Larsen leading the line, Palace don’t feel equipped to defend from the front, which is a problem when you surrender so much possession and then crumble under the pressure you invite.<\/p>\n\n\n