26th Aug 2024 • Written by Haris Armstrong

Busy week needed as West Ham defeat casts light on deficiencies

The optimism that greeted the start of Crystal Palace’s Premier League season just over a week ago has now well and truly dissipated. 

After a narrow defeat at Brentford on the opening weekend, Oliver Glasner’s men looked disjointed as they welcomed a new-look West Ham to Selhurst Park. 

In a game that ebbed and flowed in the first-half, both sides had chances to open the scoring and begin the process of rectifying opening day defeats. 

Palace went close on a number of occasions with both Eberechi Eze and Odsonne Edouard spurning good one on one chances with the keeper. 

The Eagles were inches away from a half-time lead as Eze’s long-range strike rattled the crossbar following a well worked corner routine. 

Akin to their display at Brentford, Palace looked threatening without ever producing the sharp attacking football seen at the end of last season. 

Costly missed chances are part and parcel of life in the Premier League. They are not Palace’s main issue. The second-half performance however, will be of significant concern to Glasner and his coaching staff. 

The Eagles emerged from the break looking lethargic, slow and uncreative. Patterns of play were disjointed and West Ham were able to gradually seize control of proceedings.

Question marks have to be raised over some of Glasner’s in-game changes. The decision to replace Jefferson Lerma with Daichi Kamada seemed strange considering the physical and combative nature of West Ham’s midfield.

Lerma, who had competed valiantly in the middle of the pitch, was working well to counterbalance Adam Wharton’s lack of physical presence. 

Edouard, who once again flattered to deceive in a wider role, remained on the pitch until after Julen Lopetegui’s side had taken the lead. At this stage Palace were in desperate need of an injection of pace and energy - something that new-signing Ismaila Sarr may have been able to provide earlier on. 

Two quickfire goals from Tomáš Souček and Jarrod Bowen left Glasner’s men with a mountain to climb. Their visitors looked fitter and hungrier in what was a very tight encounter. 

Whilst managers can never be immune from criticism, what Glasner has done since arriving at Palace has been incredible. He has undoubtedly proven his ability to develop and grow the club’s on pitch fortunes if provided with a competitive squad. 

A crucial week ahead

The difference boils down to squad depth and having options to impact the game. Glasner’s squad is short in a number of areas and Palace have once again started a Premier League campaign still in desperate need of reinforcement. This has to change if progress is to be seen on the pitch. 

With the summer transfer window slamming shut on Friday, Steve Parish and Dougie Freedman will be well aware of the work that needs to be done.

Oliver Glasner is perhaps the club’s greatest asset, and testing his patience with inactivity would not be wise. 

With centre back and left wing-back cover reportedly top of the agenda, The Eagles deficiencies further up the pitch must not be forgotten.

Failure to substantially fill the creativity gap left by Michael Olise’s departure would be damaging. Eze can not carry the burden alone. 

Thumbnail Credit: Richard Pelham/Getty Images

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