Crystal Palace, once basking in the glory of their maiden major trophy win last year, has fallen on hard times. What was expected to be a new beginning to 2026 for the south London club turned into a tumultuous saga of departures and controversies.
The latest casualty was Marc Guéhi, who was sold to Manchester City despite holding the captaincy. The news came with no warning, leaving fans stunned and bewildered. This was followed by Oliver Glasner's departure at the end of the season, sparking doubts about Palace's long-term plans.
The January transfer window brought more bad news as Jean-Philippe Mateta's hopes of joining Milan were dashed due to a failed medical. The situation surrounding Dwight McNeil, whom Palace had agreed to sign from Everton, only added to the chaos after the winger's partner accused the club of "toying" with his mental health.
The arrival of Jørgen Strand Larsen for £48m may have alleviated some concerns about defensive solidity, but questions still linger over whether such a hefty price tag was worth paying for a player who has scored only one Premier League goal this season. The McNeil debacle and the lack of a replacement for Guéhi left many to wonder if Palace's recruitment strategy is on the right track.
New chairman Steve Parish's warnings in the summer about not investing enough in the squad have come true once again, with some pundits arguing that it was about time he took decisive action. The Austrian manager's words echo those of Ron Noades from 1991, who broke the transfer record to sign Yohan Cabaye, but ultimately failed to capitalize on his success.
With Palace now facing a long-term financial hole and Parish counting on American billionaire Woody Johnson for support, it remains to be seen whether the club can recover from this crisis. The immediate concern is ending the current winless streak in 12 matches, while the question of how Jean-Philippe Mateta will return to form after his failed medical also hangs over Palace.
For fans who once looked forward to a promising new year under Glasner, the outlook has darkened. As one supporter put it, "the mood around the stadium is now pretty bleak".
The latest casualty was Marc Guéhi, who was sold to Manchester City despite holding the captaincy. The news came with no warning, leaving fans stunned and bewildered. This was followed by Oliver Glasner's departure at the end of the season, sparking doubts about Palace's long-term plans.
The January transfer window brought more bad news as Jean-Philippe Mateta's hopes of joining Milan were dashed due to a failed medical. The situation surrounding Dwight McNeil, whom Palace had agreed to sign from Everton, only added to the chaos after the winger's partner accused the club of "toying" with his mental health.
The arrival of Jørgen Strand Larsen for £48m may have alleviated some concerns about defensive solidity, but questions still linger over whether such a hefty price tag was worth paying for a player who has scored only one Premier League goal this season. The McNeil debacle and the lack of a replacement for Guéhi left many to wonder if Palace's recruitment strategy is on the right track.
New chairman Steve Parish's warnings in the summer about not investing enough in the squad have come true once again, with some pundits arguing that it was about time he took decisive action. The Austrian manager's words echo those of Ron Noades from 1991, who broke the transfer record to sign Yohan Cabaye, but ultimately failed to capitalize on his success.
With Palace now facing a long-term financial hole and Parish counting on American billionaire Woody Johnson for support, it remains to be seen whether the club can recover from this crisis. The immediate concern is ending the current winless streak in 12 matches, while the question of how Jean-Philippe Mateta will return to form after his failed medical also hangs over Palace.
For fans who once looked forward to a promising new year under Glasner, the outlook has darkened. As one supporter put it, "the mood around the stadium is now pretty bleak".
. It's like they're going through one crisis after another. I mean, who expected Marc Guéhi to get sold without any warning? And now the whole situation with Dwight McNeil and his partner... that's just not fair on anyone 
. 
. They can't keep shelling out huge amounts of money for players who aren't delivering. I mean, £48m for Jørgen Strand Larsen? That's just crazy 
. And what about Jean-Philippe Mateta's medical? It's like they're not even trying to fix the problems.
. They need to sort out their finances, get a solid squad in place, and build trust with the fans again 
. Until then, things are just looking bleak for them 
he did warn us about the squad not being strong enough in the summer... but yeah, recruitment has been pretty shoddy this season... a £48m price tag for Larsen is just crazy 
im starting to wonder if palace will ever be able to compete with the bigger clubs... and what happened with mateta?? didnt he have a serious injury?? 
. It's like the club is playing a game of musical chairs with their players, never sure who's going to be next on the out 
. Parish needs to take some responsibility here and stop making promises he can't keep 
. The fans deserve better than this uncertainty. Can we please just get through the rest of this season without too many more dramas? 
i mean, 1 premier league goal from jørgen strand larsen? 
this is getting ridiculous 
.
. Can they turn things around before the end of the season? Only time will tell 
.
i mean i know they had a big win last yr but this all seems like too much drama... marc guéhi just got sold to man city outta nowhere? and oliverglasner left already? 
Palace are having a rough patch, but this Marc Guéhi business just takes the biscuit 
. Selling their captain without warning? It's like chopping off your own head to spite your face 
. Steve Parish needs to sort his act together, pronto! 
. It's like they keep setting themselves up for failure 
. I guess you could say Steve Parish is really living up to his "not investing enough" vibes 
. On the bright side, they do have Jørgen Strand Larsen now... but at 48 million quid? 
I mean, I get it, he's got skills but is it worth that much? And poor Mateta, failed medical and all that drama 
Oliver Glasner's departure is also a big mystery, what happened there? 
And what's going on with Dwight McNeil's partner, it's just not right 
. I know Steve Parish said he wouldn't invest in the squad, but that doesn't mean he has to be so harsh 
. First, they sell their star captain Marc Guéhi to Manchester City without even warning the fans... what's going on here? 
. And let's not forget about Jean-Philippe Mateta, who gets a failed medical to join Milan... it's like Palace is playing a game of musical chairs with their squad 
.
. I mean Parish said he'd invest in the squad but it's clear he hasn't 
. Now they're relying on some American billionaire to bail them out, what's next?