Gareth Southgate Among Likely Crystal Palace Targets As Sage Put on Notice

· GiveMeSport

Crystal Palace may already be assessing their options as pressure begins to grow on the struggling Pierre Sage.

Crystal Palace boss Pierre Sage is already entering trouble territory after overseeing a disappointing start to the season. The Eagles managed to beat Nottingham Forest last weekend to earn some reprieve, but it was short-lived.

Palace suffered a five-goal defeat to rivals Brighton away from home over the weekend, conceding three within the first 10 minutes. The result leaves Palace with just two wins from their first seven games, and it has been a disappointing start, even with few expecting it to be an easy transition from Oliver Glasner. Glasner wasn't immune to a poor start to the season, mind you, and that will perhaps play a part in the decision-making of the Palace board over the coming weeks.

According to TalkSPORT , Sage is already fighting for his job, with owner Steve Parish already having 'doubts' that stem back to before the international break. A sack decision is not said to be imminent, but Sage needs to start delivering results, and the report also claims there are some doubts within the dressing room.

Sage said after the Brighton defeat:

> "Only one feeling, shame. When you play this kind of game you have to show another face. It was our worst face. We cannot accept that, especially at the beginning of the game. > > We didn't fight at this moment. Once it was 3-0 after nine minutes, the game is really different. > > "Especially in the way we don't understand in which context we were. In this kind of game you need different ingredients. It's my fault because I am the coach, I gave the angle to the players. I gave the motivation. I prepare the situations. We played so badly. It's my fault. > > "I don't want to speak really individually or thinking about details. I have to analyse what's happened to take a decision. At this moment, once the score is [large difference], it's easier to play. It's about bravery. We have to deal with these things from the beginning of the game."

Who Palace would turn to is another question. Perhaps the most obvious candidate is Sean Dyche, who has been out of work since leaving Nottingham Forest early this year. But Palace have been playing a more expansive style of football, so that would be a big shift.

Former England manager Gareth Southgate is often being linked with a return to club football, and he could be an option, as could England under-21s boss Lee Carsley, who is often being linked with jobs.

Palace's likely shortlist

Former Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna is perhaps the most popular name in Premier League circles, but he has suggested he will take some time out of the game, and he has also taken an advisory role with UEFA.

Former Spurs and Brentford boss Thomas Frank is also out of work, and he will be a name fans like the look of, given the sort of football he had his Bees side playing and the success he had there with limited resources.

Former Lens and Eintracht Frankfurt boss Dino Toppmöller was linked with Palace ahead of Sage taking the job, as was Coventry City boss Frank Lampard, who seems unlikely to switch clubs to a Premier League rival during the season.

Many thought the Eagles had made the signing of the summer

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