Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace facet are nonetheless winless within the Premier League this marketing campaign, having performed seven instances, drawing three and dropping 4.
Palace actually struggled towards Liverpool, regardless of solely dropping 1-0. They might barely lay a glove on the Reds, having 32% possession, taking 9 photographs with solely 0.64 xG generated.
The Eagles sit 18th within the league desk on three factors, having conceded ten instances and solely scored 5 instances, the second-worst report within the league.
Maybe that may very well be attributed partly to their midfield struggles.
Wharton’s poor type and Kamada’s deep position frustrations
One man who has suffered at first of this season is 20-year-old midfielder Adam Wharton.
Since becoming a member of in January for a price of round £18m with the potential to rise to £22m, Wharton impressed, enjoying 16 instances within the Premier League for the Eagles, offering three assists, and incomes himself an England call-up for Euro 2024.
Nonetheless, he has discovered life troublesome within the opening seven video games of the brand new season, enjoying with 4 completely different midfield companions already, and never with the ability to discover his rhythm within the facet, finishing 82% of his passes and successful simply 42% of his duels.
For context, that duel success charge has plummeted by 10% from his shows throughout the opening six months of his time at Selhurst Park.
Chalkboard
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One in every of his midfield companions this time period has been new signing Daichi Kamada, who’s extra generally often called an attacking midfielder.
Nonetheless, Glasner has endured in attempting him in a deeper position alongside Wharton at instances, which clearly leaves them mild within the center for duel winners, and has left many Palace followers pissed off.
Crystal Palace’s Wharton & Kamada resolution
Hailed as “unbelievable” by Scott Parker again in 2021, Jefferson Lerma brings a extra defensive profile into the midfield, one that may cowl floor effectively, win his duels, and defend the backline in transition higher than Wharton and Kamada.
Lerma has solely began within the pivot twice this season within the Premier League, each instances alongside Wharton, and as soon as within the EFL Cup – a 2-1 victory towards QPR – alongside Kamada.
Regardless of dropping each league video games he began, the Eagles look extra defensively resolute with Lerma on the pitch, and as they hunt their first victory, they need to not revert to a Wharton & Kamada duo once more.
|
Lerma vs Wharton & Kamada |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Stats (per 90 minutes) |
Lerma |
Wharton |
Kamada |
|
Targets |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.17 |
|
Assists |
0.00 |
0.16 |
0.34 |
|
Progressive Carries |
0.59 |
1.02 |
2.44 |
|
Progressive Passes |
5.88 |
8.81 |
5.85 |
|
Passes Tried |
53.5 |
56.4 |
47.3 |
|
Cross Completion % |
79.1% |
80.2% |
76.8% |
|
Passes into Closing Third |
5.00 |
6.10 |
3.41 |
|
Tackles |
0.88 |
2.37 |
2.93 |
|
Interceptions |
1.52 |
1.13 |
0.52 |
|
Aerials Gained |
1.76 |
0.68 |
0.00 |
|
Stats taken from FBref |
|||
The metrics inform you every thing concerning the profiles of every midfielder, Lerma makes essentially the most interceptions and wins essentially the most aerial duels whereas Wharton makes essentially the most progressive passes, and passes into the ultimate third. As for Kamada, he supplies essentially the most attacking output being extra well-known for his exploits within the closing third.
A go is taken into account progressive if the space between the start line and the following contact is a minimum of 10 meters nearer to the opponent’s purpose or any accomplished go into the penalty space.
To steadiness the midfield, you could possibly simply go to a again 4 and play Lerma and Wharton deep alongside one another – a minimum of till Chiekh Doucoure totally returns – with Kamada and Eberechi Eze enjoying because the quantity tens.
Glasner would wish to alter to his 4-2-2-2 system for that to work, nevertheless it may present the Eagles with higher midfield balancing, while additionally getting their most artistic gamers – Eze and Kamada – into extra “free” roles, to have an effect on the sport in all phases.
