Crystal Palace have had time to re-group in the Premier League after a two-week break – something their fans here in the Tavern think could be a blessing in disguise!
It’s been a topsy-turvy season for the Eagles and with just a handful of games to go in the league, they’re still fighting down at the bottom of the table.
Relegation would be disastrous for Allardyce and his team, who are looking to become one of the bigger sides in London over the next decade.
There are ambitious plans in-store at Selhurst Park but to drop down a tier would be a nightmare for everyone involved at the club.
And with Chelsea, Southampton and Arsenal on the very near horizon, it’s crucial Allardyce and his team pick up as many points as possible as the gap near the bottom of the table grows ever-closer.
And after speaking to some of our Palace locals here in the pub, it’s clear they want to see some change in a starting XI that has struggled for the entire season.
So with that in mind, here’s TWO Crystal Palace stars who must be axed for the Premier League run-in…
Patrick van Aanholt
Bold… But hear us out.
A January signing from Sunderland, it wouldn’t have been the start Patrick van Aanholt would have wanted when he traded Wearside for London.
The Dutch defender, who is a fantastic attacking outlet, has somewhat struggled defensively at times and it was good to see Jeff Schlupp get some time on the pitch last week as Palace beat West Brom 2-0.
Eagles fans here in the pub believe the new signings have certainly freshened things up a bit and it’s good to see Palace lining up a little more unpredictably after back-to-back wins.
Schlupp certainly offers more defensively compared to van Aanholt, and that is what is needed when in a relegation battle.
Damien Delaney
35-year-old centre-back Damien Delaney has been a fantastic servant at Selhurst Park over the past five years, and Palace fans here in the pub are certainly grateful of the strong performances he puts in week-in, week-out.
But with Mamadou Sakho now getting a say in first-team affairs, we think the Liverpool loanee is a better shout at the back than the Irishman.
He’s a good defender but when up against a pacy forward, he no longer has the legs to cope.
Throwing in the more agile Sakho at this stage of the season makes a lot more sense going forward.
