It has been a difficult start to the 2024/25 campaign for Crystal Palace.
Oliver Glasner has overseen our worst start to a Premier League season in seven years, with the Eagles yet to taste victory after five league outings.
Some new signings are also struggling, with Maxence Lacroix yet to replicate Joachim Andersen’s imposing displays, while Daichi Kamada has also failed to adapt to English football so far.
Eddie Nketiah and Ismaila Sarr look sharp – at least – although the latter is yet to be handed a start, whereas the £25m signing from Arsenal is strangely being deployed on the right.
Now, Tony Cascarino has shared his thoughts on how Oliver Glasner is using the Crystal Palace No.9 at Selhurst Park…
What Tony Cascarino said about Eddie Nketiah
The man from Orpington has now written a column on Nketiah in The Times – where he suggested that the England international will not be enjoying his new position.
Cascarino opined: “Do Palace think they have found a replacement for Jordan Ayew, the highly flexible attacker who joined Leicester City in the summer? Unlike Ayew, Nketiah needs to be deployed centrally and Palace need to find a way to get the best out of him. I have always been a fan. He has quick feet and an innate sharpness but he won’t be enjoying his latest role.”“Nketiah needs to play with a centre forward who occupies defenders. Jean-Philippe Mateta is not that style of striker. Palace have paid relatively big money for Nketiah so they clearly see they need a goalscorer, and maybe they are just easing him in, but one thing you can’t do with centre forwards is allow them a barren run.
“Yes, Nketiah scored in the Carabao Cup against Queens Park Rangers but he does not want to find himself being subbed in games when the team needs a goal, as was the case against United. It preys on strikers’ minds if they don’t justify their fee.”
Oliver Glasner has to move the Crystal Palace No.9
We really have no idea why Nketiah is playing on the right, and it has to stop.
Even when Sarr came on against Manchester United, the Senegal international played as a striker, with Nketiah remaining on the right, leaving many scratching their heads given the fact both have often plied their trade in the opposite areas.
It would work if the Arsenal academy graduate was left footed, but as things stand, there is a significant lack of balance in the attack, and tweaks must be made.
Speaking on Match of the Day, Danny Murphy has also questioned how Glasner is using Nketiah in the frontline.
Hopefully, changes are made.
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