Palace dominated Ipswich Town for significant spells, but couldn't quite make that dominance count with goals. But what did we learn from the game? Here's Alex Pewter.
(Image from Crystal Palace's video interview with Patrick Vieira, here.)
Following the opening pre-season win against Walsall, Patrick Vieira's next pre-season challenge came in League One, Ipswich Town. With Kouyaté, Ward & Milivojević back in training following extended breaks and Marc Guéhi making his first Palace appearance, more first-team options were available. The team lined up in the new 4-3-3 formation, making two changes to the XI that started the week prior. The team started brightly and arguably ought to have led at the halftime break. Wilfried Zaha's second-half well-struck penalty separated the two sides before the game petered out after both teams made changes deep into the match.
Kouyaté at Centre Back
Cheikhou Kouyaté was a fill-in centre-back last season, covering for numerous injuries afflicting the other options. With Palace having already signed a prospective starting centre-back and with media links to other options, such as Joachim Andersen, there are question marks over whether Kouyaté will remain an option at defender, return to midfield, or play as a hybrid option. Today, he got a 60min run out in that right-centre-back spot he occupied last season.
Last season, Kouyaté's passing was accurate from the back, particularly at the medium range of 15-30 yards, at 87.1% completion, which should be an asset Vieira would value more than Hodgson. On the ball, Kouyaté looked in good touch today, happy to take the ball under pressure when needed as Palace shifted the ball around the back to build possession. Whether his passing style would be suitable for the defensive midfield role Riedewald has filled for two games is yet to be seen. Jaïro is happy to play quick touch passes as the centre midfielders shift around to create space, a role we haven't seen him in for Palace.
Slow Start for Mateta
Jean-Phillipe Mateta had limited chances given to him under Roy Hodgson following his loan move from Mainz, partially due to the upsurge in Christian Benteke's performances. Supposedly it was a positive Covid test that has stalled his pre-season, restricting him to a sluggish 17-minute cameo against Walsall.
His first start of pre-season similarly seemed off the pace, as a good break-away from Jeff Schlupp found Wilfried Zaha out wide, only for his cut-back to go tamely wide by an off-balance Mateta. That chance was the only clear-cut opportunity created by the side in the first half, but the run made by Mateta to get open from inside his half was encouraging.
It was clear Mateta's redemption story was going to be left for another day after hitting both the crossbar from a corner routine and the inside of the left post later in the second half. There will undoubtedly be negativity floating around Twitter post-match expecting Mateta to have come away from this match with a couple of goals to his name. Still, you would rather see a forward getting himself into goal scoring positions rather than being a bystander for the match at this stage of pre-season.
Growing Confidence in Possession
Patience is the key to how Palace are looking to work the ball out from the back this season. Both pre-season performances have seen the team dominating possession, which admittedly is less likely in the opening game against Chelsea. Still, there are already clear plans about how the team should move the ball into midfield. Compared to the train-wreck stay of Frank de Boer, where the passing was short but scatty, Palace's seem well-coached, finding space to get open.
Ipswich was far more capable of closing down today than Walsall, which is precisely what Patrick Vieira will want to be facing. The ball made its way into the opposition half with ease, but possibly the attacking play is still too reliant on the brilliance of Zaha near the opposition's box. McArthur and Schlupp have risen to the challenge of a new role, if not position, looking increasingly comfortable either circulating the ball or driving forward.
This afternoon's shape was asymmetrical, as Ipswich allowed Zaha to float inside into the half-space too often, giving Tyrick Mitchell the freedom to play as a winger rather than a defender. As Premier League teams will be more disciplined defensively, Palace is less likely to have such an easy outlet open for the whole game and will need more creative passing to break defences.
Lovely footage of that Zaha penalty to put Palace1-0 up.
— Plan Quinquennal🇨🇵 (@FYPFanzine) July 24, 2021
📽 @AnnissDuncan pic.twitter.com/DgWswBlVXO
Lack of Depth in Attack?
With the signing of Marc Guéhi, the re-signing of Joel Ward, and the presumptive announcement of a Nathaniel Clyne contract, the defensive depth looked a lot more solid today. Where there are still notable holes is in the attacking areas. Rak-Sakyi and Street continued their impressive pre-season, having a reasonable effort on goal each as they subbed on amongst two batches of changes past the hour mark. Gametime for any of the younger players was limited as Patrick Vieira gave the starters increased minutes.
Due to injuries to Eze and Olise and the confirmed departure of Townsend, once the team is past Zaha and Ayew, the team is very reliant on the U23 crop of players to cover. There is still time for the club to add further signings to the squad, but it would appear that the wide areas should be the priority as we near the opening fixtures.
Guéhi's First Appearance
After wholesale changes at the 60th minute, the new signing from Chelsea made his way onto the pitch at the left-centre-back spot pairing with Martin Kelly. Aside from one moment where a forward beat him to the ball in the air, Guéhi was untroubled by a tiring Ipswich side. He looked at ease on the ball and immediately organised the backline, despite being the junior member of the back pairing.
Impressive in stature and by far the most mobile of centre back options Palace currently have on offer, he is a fascinating prospect and one that will be exciting to watch when he debuts in the league.