Palace and Newcastle Clash: Both Sides Desperate for Revival
The season hasn’t kicked off as planned for Pierre Sage and Crystal Palace, who have struggled to find their footing amid a flurry of injuries and tactical challenges.
Conceding 17 goals in just seven Premier League outings is far from the desired start for Sage or the Palace hierarchy. The shift from Oliver Glasner’s counterattacking 3-4-2-1 setup to Sage's more aggressive philosophy has laid bare significant defensive frailties, highlighted by last week’s painful defeat to Brighton. Palace supporters, who enjoyed success under Glasner, are anxiously glancing at the relegation zone. Even the two victories under Sage against Fulham and Nottingham Forest could easily have swung the other way. Something is amiss in south London.
Meanwhile, Newcastle is in a state of flux following a summer of significant changes. Selling their top three players – Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon, and Bruno Guimarães – has understandably caused some disruption. Eight new faces arrived, with many of them young and inexperienced at the Premier League level, and the late managerial switch has only added to the upheaval. Adjusting to a new style and personnel just weeks before the season began was always going to be a tall order.
Sage finds himself under intense scrutiny, especially after the Brighton debacle. Palace’s chairman, Steve Parish, is reportedly not fully convinced by Sage, who previously led Lens to a French Cup victory. With defensive solidity being a key demand for improvement, Sunday’s clash with Newcastle is a make-or-break moment for Sage. If results don’t improve, names like Thomas Frank and Kieran McKenna are already being whispered as potential replacements.
On Tyneside, the initial excitement surrounding Matthias Jaissle has faded quickly. The club paid £9.5 million to Al-Ahli for the 38-year-old German, enticed by his vision of “vertical football.” Jaissle’s collaborative approach has impressed the club’s hierarchy, but many fans are skeptical. They fear that his high-pressing, attack-focused tactics are too risky, especially given the current squad's limitations.
Palace seem a shadow of the trophy-winning side they were under Glasner, and Sage’s decisions have come under fire. After a fallout with Parish over summer signings, he opted to dismantle the successful midfield partnership of Adam Wharton and Daichi Kamada. Bringing in Quinten Timber added energy but disrupted stability, as evidenced by a more solid performance when Wharton and Kamada were reunited against Besiktas. It’s a partnership that Sage might need to reconsider to regain some consistency.
For Jaissle, his preference for a bold 4-2-3-1 formation has left Newcastle struggling. Lacking a natural playmaker has resulted in issues for holding midfielder Nicolás González, who often finds himself overwhelmed. With defensive stalwarts like Malick Thiaw and Sven Botman having a tough time at the back, a shift to a more conservative 3-5-2 could offer better balance. A more pragmatic approach might help cover up the team's flaws while maximizing their attacking pace.
Adding to the chaos, Sage is managing a bloated squad that lacks defensive leadership after selling Maxence Lacroix. The situation has been exacerbated by Axel Disasi receiving a three-match ban following a reckless red card. Parish and sporting director Matt Hobbs face criticism for not securing more experienced reinforcements, placing their own positions under scrutiny. Sage is also dealing with discontent among attackers Ismaïla Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta, both of whom expressed a desire to leave Palace.
Jaissle, having arrived late in the summer transfer window, had limited influence over Newcastle's recruitment drive. He has quickly determined that some of his new signings, like Aladji Bamba and Bazoumana Touré, may not yet be ready for the Premier League challenge. The team’s focus on younger talent has left their dressing room short on experience, which could be contributing to their long injury list, notably with absences like Anthony Elanga and Tino Livramento.
