Crystal Palace are 12 games without a win and have sold their captain—how much danger are they actually in?
Host Ayo Akinwolere opens by outlining Crystal Palace's struggles: 12 games without a win, captain sold, and sliding down the table. Guests Matt Woosnam and Dom Fifield join to dissect the situation. They first cover the January transfer window, where Palace broke their transfer record twice to sign Brennan Johnson and Jürgen Strand Larsen, spending heavily in a chaotic period. Fifield notes that Palace lost three key players—Mark Guehi, Jean-Philippe Mateta, and Eberechi Eze—totaling 900 first-team appearances, forcing a mid-season rebuild. The new signings bring 700 appearances but are younger, shifting the squad's profile. Discussion shifts to the defensive hole left by Guehi's sale to Manchester City, with failed bids for replacements like Araujo and Ordonez. Mateta's situation is detailed: he refused a contract since 2024, has a knee injury, and faced fan criticism after a social media spat with Wilfried Zaha, likely leading to a summer sale. The podcast then explores historical context, with Fifield recalling Palace's past collapses in the 1980s and 1990s after selling stars to Arsenal, suggesting a recurring cycle. Manager Oliver Glasner's future is uncertain after he told chairman Steve Parish he wouldn't renew his contract, leading to a tense press conference. The hosts debate whether Palace can aspire to be like Aston Villa or are stuck as a stepping-stone club. Relegation fears are addressed, with Woosnam optimistic but acknowledging pressure if form doesn't improve. The episode ends with a preview of the Brighton derby, explaining its origins in 1970s clashes and its potential to galvanize Palace's season.
