29th Nov 2023 • Written by Henry Swain

Malcolm Ebiowei: Crystal Palace's 1%

Only 3% of top-level academy footballers in the UK ever make an appearance in the Premier League - Malcolm Ebiowei already has three. Expectations were high for the former Manchester United target after he became Palace's first signing of the 2022 window, but he hasn't played for the club in over a year.

Some fans may wonder where the 20-year-old has been this season, and if he’ll be a regular member of the first team in the coming years. In this feature, we’ll address that question and more, as well as diving deep into his performance and ability to figure out if he can be in Crystal Palace’s 1%.

Ebiowei’s career so far…

He began his career in the Arsenal youth setup before heading to Scotland for a brief spell in Glasgow with Rangers. Derby County, who were struggling at the foot of the Championship, signed the winger to play in their under-18s team. Here he impressed, scoring 10 goals in just 9 games including hat tricks against both Leeds and Chelsea. This form was enough for Wayne Rooney to give the youngster a place in his first-team squad and despite being relegated, Ebiowei starred and caught the eye of Dougie Freedman.

Upon the expiry of his contract in July of 2022, the South Londoner would travel back from the midlands to sign a 5-year contract at SE25. Freedman was a key figure in the youngster's decision to join Palace over other suitors. Via PalaceTV, he explained how he “had seen a lot of players step up from the Championship to the Premier League and get their chance playing.” 

In his first season at Palace, he had an exciting pre-season with the First Team in Asia, most notably against Manchester United. However, he went on to play a minimal role in the first team and was sent on loan to Hull City in the January transfer window. This would prove to be a disappointing experience, however, making just 12 appearances and not registering a single goal contribution. This season he has featured solely for the under-21s. Ebiowei has also featured for both England and the Netherlands at international youth level. 

The story of this season…

So far this term, Ebiowei has not played a part in the first-team squad, an unused substitute on 4 occasions. He has instead been involved with Rob Quinn’s U21 side, making seven appearances so far this season, registering just one goal and one assist. These stats seem low to someone who has watched almost every minute he’s played this season, suggesting his performances are possibly deserving of more contributions. 

Throughout these games, he’s shown that he has talent in abundance. But just how good is Ebiowei and what are his chances of claiming a starting role in the Premier League?

Analysing Ebiowei’s performance…

Malcolm Ebiowei is an extremely talented footballer and that needs to be made clear from the beginning of this analysis. His technique on the ball is very advanced and his ability to beat his opponent in one-on-one situations is excellent. Those who watched the EFL Trophy game against Stevenage will have seen that time and time again. Against first-team opposition he stood out as one of the better players on the pitch, making dangerous slaloms through the defence and using his physicality to shield the ball. His footwork is astonishing at times and his ability to change direction at high speed results in him beating his man consistently.

This is a part of his game which puts him above the rest in Palace’s U21 side. At 6 feet tall, he uses his body very intelligently to win fouls in a manner comparable to Jordan Ayew. He frustrates defenders by getting a toe to the ball just before contact and also contributes to relieving pressure by winning fouls in the defensive half. When playing in PL2 he is physically imposing, winning the majority of his duels. His technique is also a strong part of his game and this was seen with his goal at Stevenage. A loose clearance from the goalkeeper found Ebiowei just inside the opposition's half and he curled a beautiful effort into the back of the net. The way he guided the strike in, off the inside of his boot, the ball not bouncing before it hit the back of the net, demonstrated the talent he has. 

However, as with every academy player, there are areas of his game that he needs to improve if he is to feature for the first team. Similarly, there are also lessons he has to learn from his disappointing time at Hull if he is to find himself going back out on loan in January.  Another loan move could be the perfect opportunity for him to fine-tune his technical ability and also work on some of the following areas needing improvement. 

The clearest flaw in Ebiowei’s game that we have identified is his decision-making. Whether in the final third, around the halfway line or in his own defensive third, he makes the wrong decisions far too often. Firstly, in the attacking phases, the frustration with Ebiowei is that when he has moments of brilliance they are often followed by poor decisions. This has been a common theme in his performances all season and anyone who has listened to the commentary on PalaceTV will have heard Mark Bright moaning when this happens. He shoots when he should pass, and then attempts to set up a teammate when the chance is there for himself to score. Similarly to a young Wilfried Zaha, he sometimes shows a desire to go one step too far when dribbling with the ball. He could beat three players comfortably but then turn back to beat a fourth and this is where the ball is lost. Eradicating these moments from his performances will be vital if he is to make it to the top level. 

When the ball is at his feet his technique is brilliant as explained above, however, Ebiowei does tend to make mistakes with the execution of passes and crosses. Far too often a counter-attacking opportunity gets spoilt by a poor ball, or by him holding onto the ball for too long. He has also shown a tendency to try risky skills in dangerous positions on the pitch, for example when he attempted a flick just outside the box which almost saw Stevenage score. This could potentially show a naievity in his play which could be eased out as he gets older.

This could lean towards the suggestion that he has somewhat of an attitude issue. It has been suggested that during his time at Hull City, Ebiowei didn’t apply himself and seemed to show a lack of care and bother from the fan’s point of view. At times this season, it has appeared as though he doesn’t trust the ability of his teammates and this may be why he is trying to do things himself. Having this confidence in his own ability is something that needs to be treated delicately as we know how players like Zaha can perform when they have this much self-belief. 

Can he make it at Palace?

If he is able to address the few flaws in his game and begin to accept that those playing with him are capable and can even enhance his performance, there is no doubt that Malcolm Ebiowei can make it as a Crystal Palace player. His technique and ability cast the shape of a Premier League footballer and one that could be extremely effective at the top level. The reality is that the things he needs to improve are extremely easy to do. Adjusting his attitude can be done very simply and with more game time at senior level and experience, his passing and interlinking play will improve. 

It is crucial that he keeps the confidence he has and continues to bombard defences with his attacking flair, and, when he gets his next big chance he needs to grab it with both hands and not let it slip. 

A loan would be a brilliant option for him in January, with a high-end Championship move suiting him the most because he would have the freedom to express himself and not be punished for doing so. He is certainly a player to keep a close eye on for the remainder of the season. 

0 comments