Team Focus: Tenable Palace Plight Typical of Pardew Profile

Christmas Day 2015 was one to celebrate with extra cheer for Crystal Palace fans. With 29 points after 17 league matches of the season the Eagles sat sixth but importantly they were level with both Tottenham and Manchester United in the race for a Champions League finish.

At the time the manager was well in the reckoning to earn what would be a second Premier League Manager of the Season award, albeit with Claudio Ranieri the clear favourite. The former Newcastle boss emerged as a favourite to be named the next England manager and whilst still thought to be in the running - ironically with Gary Neville, who is enduring an equally torrid time at present - Magpies fans will tell you that Palace’s recent woes were an inevitability.

Starting with a 0-0 draw at Bournemouth on Boxing Day, the Londoners are now without a win in 8, picking up just 3 points and scoring just 3 goals - one of which was a Jan Vertonghen own goal. They’ve fallen to 12th in the league as a result and having been level on points with Tottenham in fourth at Christmas, are now 6 points closer to the relegation zone than a Champions League berth, now 16 points behind Spurs.

The Eagles brought a run of 5 consecutive defeats to an end with a 1-1 draw at Swansea last time out - only Aston Villa have suffered more in a row this season - and while dropping into a relegation battle seems unlikely, Palace need to buck up their ideas. It’s been a lack of goals that has proven costly, with centre-back Scott Dann now joint top scorer (5) with Yohan Cabaye, the Frenchman having scored 3 times from the spot.

A run of 5 games without a goal starting on Boxing Day is the longest of any side in the league this season, and Newcastle fans will attest to the fact that Pardew often oversees dismal spells to negate the kind that saw him become an instant hit upon returning to Selhurst Park. Last season at Newcastle was certainly no different.

While a run of 5 consecutive victories had lifted the Magpies as high as 10th by the time of his departure at the start of last year, Newcastle had gone 7 games without a win at the start of the campaign. Having spilled over from a dire end to the 2013/14 season at St. James’ Park, losing 7 of their last 8 league matches, Pardew’s decision to join Palace was not one that left Newcastle fans saddened, though John Carver’s interim appointment as his replacement certainly did.

Pardew’s first full season at Newcastle in 2011/12 involved a far more pleasing streak - two in fact - as they went 11 games unbeaten to start to campaign before winning 6 on the bounce late on to secure 5th spot and the manager’s aforementioned individual accolade. The worry is that the honeymoon period under the 54-year old is now over in the capital, spanning over a calendar year rather than the course of a season.

Emmanuel Adebayor has been signed to arrest the Eagles’ current slump, but it’s the impending return of Yannick Bolasie that will likely prove crucial to Palace’s hopes of easing their recent struggles. The winger endured a tough start to the season off the field and subsequently on it but, by the time of his injury, had began to hit his best form once again.

Indeed, in his last 6 matches for the club the 26-year old secured an average WhoScored.com rating of 7.93, scoring three goals, registering 1 assist and picking up man of the match awards in wins over Newcastle and Stoke. Over that time he completed 23 dribbles, with an average of 3.8 per game up from 2.4 beforehand proving not only that he had hit his stride once more but that Palace fans hadn’t seen the best of the DR Congo international at the start of the campaign. Indeed, after 10 appearances this season Bolasie’s rating was at a modest 6.73.

Back in training and reportedly in line for a return in the FA Cup against Tottenham, Palace desperately need Bolasie to hit the ground running, with much of the burden falling onto the shoulders of Wilf Zaha in his absence. Having both fit is crucial to Pardew’s side being at their best, not only as they offer a greater balance in attack but give more for their opponents to think about, not knowing down which side the Eagles will look to attack.

With most streaks, particularly negative ones, their tend to be clear caveats that offer an explanation. Alan Pardew will certainly point to Bolasie’s absence among others, as a reason for his side’s slump. Nevertheless, there seems to have been something of a regression to what should be expected as the norm for a side of Crystal Palace’s stature. Nevertheless, the longer their slide continues, the further off-track the Pardew for England bandwagon will veer.

BUABOOK TRADE TIP

With a return unlikely this weekend the match market may be redundant as far as Bolasie is concerned against Watford next time out. Nevertheless, with the winger set to be in action very soon it may be wise to act now in the season market and despite a hit and miss season, buying shares at £2.50 or less should carry little risk.

Will Palace's form improve once Bolasie returns? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below

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