11th Apr 2024 • Written by Haris Armstrong

Tyrick Mitchell: Will he be able to meet the demands of Oliver Glasner’s system?

Image: Harry Bristow

Oliver Glasner’s first five games in charge at Crystal Palace have, in many ways, played out fully as expected. A comfortable win against a poor Burnley side in the Austrian’s first match was followed by defeat at Tottenham, something Palace fans have now come to accept as an annual tradition. Palace then succumbed to a late equaliser at home to Luton Town in a game that, on the balance of play, they ought to have won. 

Return to action following an extended international break, has brought with it a frustrating draw in Nottingham, an all too familiar late defeat, this time away at Bournemouth, and a spirited showing that eventually ended in defeat against Manchester City. 

These matches encapsulate Palace’s season well. The quality is there in fits and spurts but a lack of squad depth and fitness is leading to inconsistency and the concession of too many late goals. These issues were present under Glasner’s veteran predecessor and will be difficult to completely rectify before the summer transfer window. 

What has changed considerably, however, is the system that Palace are implementing and how they are setting up on the pitch. Glasner’s preferred system is based on a dynamic 3-4-3 formation. He encourages his wing-backs to play in advanced roles high up the pitch, making use of the space vacated by a very narrow front three.

Technical proficiency is required from his three centre-backs and two central midfield players who are tasked with playing forward quickly. This focus on direct vertical play is one of Glasner’s key principles. 

Another of Glasner’s core ideas is to allow his wing-backs complete autonomy over either flank. They are tasked with attacking and defending in equal measure and form a key part of the team’s creative output. 

In Glasner’s first six weeks in charge, Colombian international Daniel Muñoz has assumed this wing-back role on the right flank whilst Tyrick Mitchell has done the same on the left. The former, a naturally attack-minded fullback, has taken to his task with distinction and has proved to be a considerable attacking threat. This was exemplified by his contribution to Palace’s opener against Luton. Muñoz’s pace, tenacity and high starting position allowed him to latch on to a loose Alfie Doughty backpass and break beyond Luton’s defence before squaring for Jean-Phillipe Mateta. 

Mitchell, on the other hand, has not had the same immediate impact in his new role. Under Roy Hodgson, his task was relatively simple and suited the positive aspects of his game. He had limited attacking licence in a system that prioritised a rigid back four. The attacking width was provided by players higher up the pitch and Mitchell could focus mainly on his defensive work, an area in which he excels.

In each of the last three seasons, Mitchell has ranked as Palace’s best defender in terms of number of tackles and the best player in the entire squad for tackles won. He is physical, tenacious and quick, all of which help him hugely in one-on-one take-ons with opposing forwards.

With Hodgson in charge, when in search of a goal or in a position of rare territorial dominance, Palace’s full-backs would push high and look to overlap their respective wingers. Mitchell’s fortunes in this area were less positive. Although blessed with pace, he often lacked the necessary intricacy and skill required to operate in the attacking third of the pitch and when he did find himself in crossing positions, more often than not, they did not lead to a chance creation. 

It is no surprise that in this new more attacking role, questions have been asked of his ability to adapt and meet the new demands. 

Can Mitchell succeed in Glasner’s system? 

Glasner’s 2021/2022 Europa League-winning Eintracht Frankfurt side exercised the same 3-4-3 set-up that is now being implemented at Palace. 

In the wing-back positions, Glasner deployed Serbian Filip Kostic on the left side and either one of Ansgar Knauff or Timothy Chandler on the right. This system, very similar to the one implemented by his predecessor Adi Hütter, worked to great effect and suited the players at his disposal. 

Kostic, in particular, thrived in an attacking sense. In the 2021/2022 season, he ranked in the top 1% of Bundesliga fullbacks for number of crosses per game, and in the top 3% for completed dribbles. In 31 Bundesliga games, Kostic mustered a total of 13 goal contributions (four goals and nine assists), averaged 1.6 shots per game and created 16 ‘big chances’. 

This is the level of attacking output that is needed and expected in a system in which the wing-backs are so advanced and crucial to offensive play. History tells us that Mitchell will struggle to replicate these numbers. 

Even when using statistics from the 2021/22 Premier League season (Palace’s joint-best attacking season since promotion), Mitchell’s attacking metrics are poor. In 36 games, he registered just two goal contributions (zero goals and two assists), averaged 0.1 shots per game and created two ‘big chances’. 

Although this is mitigated by the fact that his role in Patrick Vieira’s back four was nowhere near as advanced as it currently is in Glasner’s system, Mitchell’s attacking struggles are impossible to ignore.

This may not be as big a problem as it initially sounds. The fact that Muñoz’s initial attacking performances and statistical numbers have been positive could mitigate Mitchell’s potential shortcomings. The January signing from Genk, whilst sometimes bordering on erratic, has brought attacking dynamism and energy to the Eagles’ right flank. 

In his eight appearances since his arrival (five of which being under Glasner), he has already notched one assist and has on occasion found himself as Palace’s most advanced player. Analysis of his heatmap for these matches illustrates his ability and willingness to operate across the full length of the pitch. 

Daniel Muñoz Heatmap 2023/2024 (source: Sofascore)

It is fair to expect Muñoz, a player who this season has already scored five goals in 17 appearances for Genk, to continue to grow as an attacking threat under Glasner and to have a higher attacking output than Mitchell. 

Having differing levels of attacking ability and output from full/wing-backs is not uncommon and is not necessarily a bad thing. Glasner experienced a similar situation whilst at Frankfurt. 

Kostic’s aforementioned attacking abilities on the left dwarfed that of both Knauff and Chandler on the right. The right-wingback duo managed just one goal and one assist between them in a combined 34 appearances. 

Analysis of Timothy Chandler's (one of Frankfurt's wing-backs) heat-maps for the 2021/22 season, further shows this asymmetric approach. Similarly, the case is interchangeable when analysing Filip Kostic and Ansgar Knauff.

Timothy Chandler Heatmap 2021/2022 (source: Sofascore)

With Muñoz in the side, a similar situation could be implemented at Palace; ultimately taking some of the attacking onus away from Mitchell and allowing him more natural defensive responsibility. 

This balanced and conservative approach may serve Glasner’s Palace well considering the deficiencies in the squad due to injuries and inadequate recruitment.

With the prolonged absence of Cheick Doucoure, Palace lack rigidity and protection in midfield. Having Mitchell take a more defensive approach, will ensure that the three centre-backs are not left too exposed as a result of Adam Wharton and Jefferson Lerma’s limited defensive capabilities in the box-to-box role they have been tasked with. 

Nevertheless, operating as more of a defensive-minded wing-back does not absolve Mitchell from all attacking responsibility. Improvement is needed, and Glasner could be the man to push Mitchell towards it.

It is still early days, players need time to adapt

With the widespread changes to the system and style of play, it can be easy to forget that Glasner has been in charge for little over a month. 

An adaptation period is needed for both the incoming staff as well as the existing players who have been used to a fairly rigid way of operating under the previous manager. 

Glasner, reluctant to take the job in the absence of a pre-season, has had little time to work closely with his players and implement the finer aspects of his philosophy. There are bound to be teething problems, especially for players, like Mitchell, who have had their positional remits significantly changed. 

The Palace boss and his players used the three-week break handed to them, as a result of Newcastle’s FA Cup involvement, to head to Marbella for a warm-weather training camp. 

It was hoped that this ‘mini pre-season’ would have allowed the coaching staff to work closely with the players in a way that is impossible in the midst of a Premier League run-in. 

In the two games since the return to action, it is unclear what immediate effect this has had. Palace have looked fitter and more capable of being competitive over 90 minutes, but dropping points to late goals remains an ever-present problem. 

What is clear, however, is the fact that Mitchell, at just 24 years of age, is already one of Palace’s most experienced Premier League players. He has shown an ability to adapt to the rigours of top-class football as well as the difficulties that come with managerial change. His immediate place in the side is by no means under threat. 

In fact, for a large proportion of his time in Palace’s first team, Mitchell has not faced any meaningful competition for his place. Patrick Van Aanholt’s departure in the summer of 2021 fully established Mitchell as Palace’s first-choice left-back for the foreseeable future. Since then no alternative left-backs have been brought in. 

There is an argument to say that Mitchell’s development has suffered as a result. Competition for places, in most cases, leads to greater levels of consistency and performance. 

Whether the hierarchy at Palace feel they need to act in the summer, depends on how quickly Mitchell can grow into his new role. Glasner, who has a history of being demanding in transfer windows, is not a manager who will accept stagnation when there is a need to strengthen areas of his squad. 

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