- Only four sides earned more Premier League points than Palace following the appointment of Oliver Glasner
- The Austrian has lost just three of his 13 matches in charge of the Eagles
- Recommended bet: Crystal Palace to finish in the top 10

There is a real buzz around Selhurst Park following Crystal Palace’s exceptional end to the 2023-24 season and their ceiling for the upcoming campaign is unknown. 

Oliver Glasner got an immediate tune out of the side following his appointment in February and despite some key departures, the Eagles could still be set for a stellar season. 

Last Season

Roy Hodgson was in charge to start the campaign but Palace found themselves 15th and just five points clear of the drop by the end of January. The football was poor and fans were getting frustrated, a 3-1 loss to Chelsea was the last straw and he stepped down on February 19.

Glasner was quickly appointed and got his ideas across in a similarly swift fashion, winning 3-0 against Burnley in his first match and closing out the season with a seven-game unbeaten run.

The Eagles thrashed West Ham, Aston Villa and Manchester United in that run while also beating Liverpool and Newcastle, which left fans wondering just how good they could be under the Austrian.

The manager

Glasner was a revelation at Selhurst Park last season, winning seven of his 13 games in charge and gaining some big scalps in that run as well. His attacking style brought the best out of certain players and breathed some much-needed life into the stands as fans were growing frustrated with Hodgson’s negative tactics.

The Austrian led Eintracht Frankfurt to the 2022 Europa League and has always been touted as a manager to go to the very top. If he can continue to implement his ideas as well as he did towards the end of last season, Palace could be in for an exciting year and Glasner may soon find himself at one of Europe’s top clubs.

Transfers 

It looks to be a summer of change at Selhurst Park as Michael Olise has departed for Bayern Munich while Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi’s futures are still up in the air. 

The Eagles have moved to replace Olise though, bringing in pacey winger Ismaila Sarr and attacking midfielder Daichi Kamada, who scored nine goals and registered six assists in 32 Bundesliga games when managed by Glasner in the 2022-23 season.

Young defender Chadi Riad has also arrived, but there could be even more incomings with plenty of the £60 million from the Olise sale still available and some big departures still potentially on the cards.

Strengths and weaknesses

Palace switched to a 3-4-2-1 system — the formation which landed Eintracht Frankfurt the Europa League with the Austrian at the helm — under Glasner and that seemed to instantly bring the best out of certain players.

Jean-Philippe Mateta was arguably the biggest beneficiary, netting 12 goals in 13 games to end the season thanks to the system getting the best out of the Frenchman. 

Adam Wharton also excelled in the midfield, while Tyrick Mitchell and Daniel Munoz have excellent wing-back profiles for Glasner’s tactics.

Their defence is the biggest weakness, especially if Guehi leaves. Joachim Andersen is solid but his lack of pace can leave him exposed, while Riad is just 21-years-old and is unproven in the Premier League.

Some defensive signings could sort their potential issues out, however, and a solid season could follow.

Best outright bet

The Premier League looks as competitive as ever this year, making Palace’s finishing position a difficult one to call. They landed in 10th last year, but sides who finished around them such as West Ham and Bournemouth have made some shrewd signings and that part of the table could be difficult to predict.

However, there is a real feel-good factor around Selhurst Park — in the stands and on the pitch — and even the exit of Olise has yet to dampen the mood. If Kamada and Sarr can hit the ground running, there is every chance they can build on last season’s promise. 

Mateta has scored six goals in seven games for France’s Olympic side this summer, suggesting his end-of-season form was not a fluke, while young stars such as Wharton, Mitchell and Riad will surely only improve with age.

Glasner is an excellent coach and given the Eagles finished 10th last season despite a dreadful start, there is no reason they can not at least replicate that this time around. 

Back Crystal Palace to finish in the top 10 at 7/5 with LiveScore Bet