Joachim Andersen: Palace’s Defensive Future
Introduction
In a window filled with twists, turns, interminable uncertainty and plentiful cause for excitement, the arrival of Joachim Andersen stands out – figuratively and literally – as a deal head and shoulders above the rest at Crystal Palace.
What was the context of his arrival?
Amid a summer of turbulence and upheaval in SE25, fans will be all-too familiar with the never-ending chorus of pundits and punters making light of the vast number of senior players that were out of contract over the summer.
Notable names, from Mamadou Sakho and Patrick van Aanholt to one-time England international Andros Townsend and Euro 2016 semi-finalist Wayne Hennessey, all found themselves forming the core of a mass exodus from the club.
Add other central defenders in Gary Cahill and Scott Dann into that exodus, and a perfect Palace-shaped storm had been brewing for some time in relation to a potential depth crisis at centre-back.
Scott Dann (pictured), Gary Cahill and Mamadou Sakho left the club this summer
Clearly, recruitment and rejuvenation were necessities. With the arrival of Patrick Vieira and his emphasis on a contrasting style of play to his predecessor, the heart of defense was sure to be no exception from the recruitment focuses of the club.
Yet if the out-of-contract leaders presented a potential poison that could slowly strike through the club’s depth and coffers alike, then Palace have found the perfect antidote in Andersen.
How did Andersen emerge?
The Danish international developed as a youngster in a number of academies in his native country, first breaking into football with Greve Fodbold before joining FC Copenhagen's youth academy in 2009.
Andersen at Euro 2020
The heavyweights of Danish football offered Andersen a platform to shine, before moving to FC Midtjylland four years later. It was there that Andersen became the latest torchbearer in a proud tradition of Midtjylland-produced established academy graduates.
Simon Kjaer, Pione Sisto, former Celtic hero Erik Sviatchenko and ex-West Ham defender Winston Reid are just some of the notable graduates to join Andersen in breaking onto the biggest stages of European football from the club’s Ikast academy.
However, Andersen erupted into prominence whilst developing at Sampdoria, following an impressive spell away from his home country for the first time in his career with Dutch side FC Twente.
Andersen impressed on loan at FC Twente
The Genoese side has proudly flaunted household names in Mauro Icardi, Milan Škriniar and Lucas Torreira as alumni of the footballing education on offer from the Blucherchiati, and Andersen once again found himself taking up the mantle of muscling in with such esteemed company.
As a result of his performances, the likes of Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund and Tottenham were all jostling for his services – before Lyon eventually formalised their interest and secured his services in July 2019. [Football Whispers]
He would go on to make his Champions League debut with the club, but only made 21 appearances for a competitive Lyon side boasting the likes of Jason Denayer and veteran Marcelo.
What can he bring to Vieira’s new-look Palace side?
Patrick Vieira, Andersen’s new manager
The Danish man-mountain – who stands at 6ft4 – joins Patrick Vieira’s new-look defence with a formidable reputation garnered across the top divisions of France, Italy, the Netherlands and of course, the Premier League.
Indeed, his time at Fulham is the most comparable to Palace’s own promising yet uncertain situation, one that ultimately ended in Fulham’s second relegation in as many seasons back in the top flight in recent years.
Do not be misled by Fulham’s untimely Premier League demise; the best of Andersen was arguably exhibited in shades of black and white in England’s upper footballing echelon.
Having been loaned in as part of a summer of intense transfer business from the west London club, Andersen would swiftly go on to captain the Cottagers in a fine testament to the leadership he offered on and off the pitch.
More importantly, Andersen is a seamless fit for the dynamic ball-playing and possession-orientated style demanded by new manager Patrick Vieira.
In 1990 minutes in Sampdoria’s 2018/19 season, he boasted a passing accuracy rate of 88%, averaged over 22 forward passes per 90 and averaged around 1.3 interceptions and tackles per game. [Football Whispers]
At Fulham, the story was teetering on a mirror-image of his indomitable Serie A displays.
Andersen playing for Fulham in February 2021
He operated in a similar ball-playing capacity in Scott Parker’s 4-2-3-1 or 3-4-2-1 system, frequently tasked with dictating the tempo from a defensive position, pressuring opposition lines and – most electrifyingly – playing successful long balls over defenders to ignite scintillating fast breaks.
His aggression was a vital boon at the back for Fulham, and his typical right-sided role saw him frequently linking up with his corresponding wing-back with supreme mastery – though he was partial to a line-splitting diagonal ball at the best of times. [SB Nation]
Last season, Palace’s squad had the highest average age in the Premier League (28.8) and although a minor point, he is approaching his prime years at just 25 years of age. [Transfermarkt]
His potential resale value, let alone his ability and the enticing prospect of longevity in red and blue, is not to be ignored.
How did Palace pull off the signing of such a coveted defender?
An outcast at Lyon, Andersen’s departure was readily sanctioned by the Ligue 1 outfit. Indeed, one journalistic claim has declared that Palace secured the defensive bulwark some £10 million less than we were first quoted, for an initial fee of around £15 million. [This Is Futbol]
Superficially, offloading Andersen so readily and accepting the demands of Palace’s sporting director and scoring hero Dougie Freedman is eyebrow-raising.
Yet when his inability to regularly start for Lyon and the ongoing financial crisis in French football is considered – alongside Palace’s competition-beating financial deal – Palace had a number of factors boding well for them in their pursuit of the player. [TEAMTalk]
What next for Andersen?
Andersen is expected to make his full debut for the Eagles on Saturday against Brentford, where he will play alongside his fellow summer signing Marc Guéhi. Palace fans will hope that the two of them can form a defensive partnership that compliments Vieira’s tactics, and guides the team to safety.
Marc Guéhi, Andersen’s predicted partner in defense.
On and off the pitch, expect Andersen to play a vital role. His robustness and progressive nature is uniquely attuned to the compromise needed between the resources of Crystal Palace and Vieira’s high-intensity philosophy.
The best is yet to come from the maturing Dane – a fact that should get pulses racing around south London.
❤️ 💙
Alex Jones
PODCAST HOST
A fourth-generation Palace fan with a background in sports journalism and marketing, Alex has a keen eye for all things Palace. Formerly (and better known) as @allthingspalace on Instagram, he's taking his love for the club to the next level as he keeps his writer's flame burning. He also has a dog that looks like Marc Cucurella, and a twin/doppelgänger that loves Palace in equal measure.
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