If Pierre Sage underestimated the ruthlessness of the Premier League before he arrived, then Sunday’s defeat against Liverpool in a game which saw Crystal Palace put in one of their best displays of the campaign would have sent a timely reminder.
The Frenchman is now in pole position to win the Premier League’s sack race, perhaps just about edging out Manchester United’s Crystal Palace, as the Eagles prepare to head back to the drawing board.
How Sage’s Crystal Palace tenure unravelled
As has often been the case throughout history, replacing an incredibly successful manager is a near-impossible task.
Just ask Manchester United, and they will flip through a book of endless managers who have failed to replace Sir Alex Ferguson over the last 13 years.
Liverpool thought they cracked the code when Arne Slot won the Premier League title in his first season in place of Jurgen Klopp, before his second campaign ended in dismissal.
So, when Crystal Palace went on the hunt for an Oliver Glasner replacement, the next man in line was always likely to be a lamb up for slaughter. Unfortunately for Sage, it was he who took hold of the poisoned chalice.
With the Eagles sitting bottom of the Premier League heading into the November international break, those at Selhurst Park are reportedly set to send the former RC Lens manager packing just months into his tenure. When the results are laid bare, it’s hard to argue with that decision, either.
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Pierre Sage at Crystal Palace |
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|---|---|
|
Games |
16 |
|
Wins |
5 |
|
Draws |
3 |
|
Defeats |
8 |
|
Goals scored |
23 |
|
Goals conceded |
30 |
No team in Europe’s top five leagues has conceded more goals than Sage’s Palace so far this season. That, alongside just two wins from ten Premier League games so far this season, was always likely to cost him his job, as has been reported.
Why Crystal Palace have to hire Thomas Frank ASAP
It’s not often the case, but right now is actually a good time to move on to another manager. The market is full of talented free agents just waiting for their next opportunity, and Thomas Frank is one of them.
Truth be told, Palace could and probably should have saved everyone’s time and made this decision several months ago. Frank has always looked like the real natural successor to Glasner, but he’s been forced to see out Sage’s spell in charge, which is expected to come to an end.
According to The Athletic, Frank is the leading candidate to become the next Crystal Palace boss and fulfil the prophecy that many foretold earlier this year.
If he takes the job, then the Dane will be back where he thrives. The last time he took charge of a mid-table side, Brentford almost secured European football.
Whilst some may be hesitant to praise Frank after what followed that Brentford spell at Tottenham Hotspur, Crystal Palace would be different. They are a ready-made side for someone who still has plenty to offer in the technical area.
Frank can instantly unlock Crystal Palace’s new Benteke
Frank’s Brentford side were known for their scintillating, counter-attacking football. No one was safe from the Dane’s side at their best, as the likes of Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa and Ivan Toney tore Liverpool, Manchester City and others apart.
He will now be looking at the Palace squad and rubbing his hands together with the same menace that saw him transform those in West London.
In Yeremy Pino, for example, he has his quick, direct dribbler who can lead a counter-attack. In Ismaila Sarr, he has an athletic forward who can join that frontline whilst also creating in a similar fashion to Wissa in his final season.
But the best player for Frank will be Jorgen Strand Larsen. The Norwegian can become Palace’s new version of Christian Benteke if Frank joins the club. He is powerful, athletic and clinical at his very best.
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Strand Larsen in the Premier League 24/25 (Wolves) |
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|---|---|
|
Minutes |
2,599 |
|
Goals |
14 |
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Assists |
4 |
|
XG |
10.26 |
|
Shots P90 |
1.87 |
The answer to Palace’s problems lies in getting the best out of their £48m signing, and that means getting him back to his Wolverhampton Wanderers form.
It was there that he scored 14 goals from an xG of just 10.26 and whilst taking just 1.87 shots per game. He looked untouchable at times, showing levels Palace last saw at Jean-Philippe Mateta’s best and Benteke’s clinical run in the 2016/17 season, in which he netted 15 Premier League goals.
Frank famously got the best out of every striker at Brentford and as Palace look to drag Strand Larsen back to his best form, it would clearly be a match made in heaven.
