"PALACE ARE IN TROUBLE!" Alan Pardew EXPLAINS what Thomas Frank MUST CHANGE at Crystal Palace!

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Pardew on Palace sacking Sage: no defensive base, and Thomas Frank must fix what he has

On talkSPORT, Alan Pardew and the host discussed Crystal Palace's decision to sack Pierre Sage, framing it around financial pressure and a defence lacking structure. Pardew likes Thomas Frank for the job but says the new manager must first fix the defence and get more from the existing squad; fans disagree over whether Sage was treated unfairly, and the show also debates Adam Wharton's strengths and weaknesses.

Max Scott and Alan Pardew discuss all things Crystal Palace after The Eagles sacked their manager Pierre Sage. Subscribe: https://youtube.com/c/talkSPORT?subconfirmation=1 🏆 Ready to win? Check out the latest prizes at talkSPORTwin.com Enjoyed this YouTube video? 😍 🖥️ talkSPORT's Website: https://talksport.com/ 📲 talkSPORT's X/Twitter: https://x.com/talkSPORT 📷 talkSPORT's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talksport/?hl=en 👤 talkSPORT's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/talkSPORT/ 📱 talkSPORT's Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talksport ? 🔴 Download the talkSPORT app HERE! - https://talksport.com/apps/ 🔎 Want to see if you feature on our YouTube channel? Check out our Best talkSPORT callers playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFVMnSsi04LGLa9pS9xDvme-Gjmlu2 talkSPORT premierleague crystalpalace

Transcript

Crystal Palace. Of course, the big news during this international break, PSG gone after 16 games. Their bottom of the Premier League conceded 24 league goals already. PS, what do you make of that decision? Can you understand it considering the league position and some of the performances or do you think it's maybe a little bit premature just 16 games in? >> Uh, not for Crystal Palace. It's not because they make a lot of changes to their managerial structure. Um I do sense uh and from my time there I have some experience uh that they have hedge funds involved there uh who do not understand the concept of that Crystal Palace isn't a franchise that there's a relegation clause in there which does not sit well with their financial model. >> They're trying to build a new stadium down there. It's very very tight as you know at Crystal Palace. So there's changes of foot in terms of trying to change the stadium into something that's more practical for fans, more usable, creates more money, gives them more optimum situation in transfer market. So uh his points uh per game is 0.7 um over 10 games. Um now the only one worse than that in the last sort of seven changes of managers that they've had is Frank Deur who had 0.6 and he went after five games. So I think Frank Deber's record would probably be better than that if he had had 10 games. So he's in that category. Uh he's gone. But when you look at um I mean when points per game is an interesting thing I think. Uh and I've got them in front of me. Uh mine when I was there was 1.36. Uh Sam Allados is 1.25. Royson was 1.22. Patrick Vieira is 1.22. Exactly the same. Roy Hodson was 1.21. 2-1 his second time around so slightly under his batter one. Oliver Glasnner is the standout manager there uh who had 1.59 points per game. Now when you look at uh the the players that were under Oliver um he certainly had the best group of players. There's no doubt in my mind about that. I will talk not just my time there but Sam's time, Frank Roy Osen, Vieira, he had the best squad and he made the most of it and won two cups. Unbelievable runc brilliant and um >> but PS did come in to a difficult group that you know and not only that two of his best players have contractual arguments with the football club. S being one, Mata being another who both probably wanted to go in the summer and for whatever reason they didn't. This they're they're playing for the club again. In what capacity? I don't think Sars even started a game yet. He was the top player last year. So there's obviously issues that he had to face. Uh and whoever uh and it looks like Thomas Frank I mean it looks like nailed on. I don't know why it's taken so long by the way. That's another question. Um but um he's got he's obviously got to resolve those matters quite quickly and the January window by the way is just around the corner. Uh so that that problem isn't going to like just drift away. I'm pretty sure S and Mata again will push for moves. Pierre Sarge is in obviously different but quite similar position to Michael Carrick in that he seemed to have quite a long sort of stay of execution. We were reporting on Monday night that that they were finalizing the sort of details around his exit and it wasn't announced until Thursday. >> I don't know if you've had any experience of that where you've kind of read reports about your job and then it's taken days and you've still been at training, you know, particularly that that's been one of the stories around Manchester United is the kind of undignified classless way that that exit happened. What's that like when you kind of all of the noise is you're losing your job but you you still have to go to work every morning? Yeah. I mean, obviously I've had that myself and it's not nice and you you you you you you kind of kind of get in your mind. Um you start kind of getting conspiracy theories yourself. Oh, so and so's agents been in touch with the owner. D oh, he'll be putting his name in. Your staff are feeding it into you as well. Oh, did you see Sam Maladise was mentioned in past blah blah blah. You know, all that kind of feeds into the scenario. Um, but when you're a manager, you're so single-minded. You you can kind of push that noise to one side. You can't ignore. It's a bit what I was saying earlier about criticism you get tactically. You absorb it, but you you don't let it kind of try to affect you too much, but it's there. It is definitely there. Um, and my name's been mentioned at other clubs when uh other managers will be in difficult situations. There's times as managers and I'm not just talking about myself, other managers, we won't go to games because the manager is under pressure. In fact, you'll see less managers at a game when a manager is under pressure than probably normally. Um because you know you you feel like you >> it's a bit of the man like the manager union kind of thing. >> It's not just that, but you don't want to, you know, you don't want to be sit there and people pointing at you or you know looking at you as if say, "Oh yeah, know why you're here." There's no, you don't need to do it. Do you know what I mean? You don't don't need it. Um, I think Crystal Palace are in trouble. Um, and I'm going by the squad and I don't think actually I wouldn't put I mentioned Sar Mateta there because I think they do have some pressures and issues going on but the back four or the back five as he was playing it sage with three center backs does not sit well with me. Uh, it looks and the goalkeeper too it doesn't look under Glasg sound. uh and they look like they had a base to the team. >> And when I look at Man United and Crystal Palace, they're both in the same boat. There's no base. They're not sound. You can get at them. They're open. Uh there's situations it just not maybe all the game, but there's like 10-minute periods where they're just wide open. And if you and the team's going to exploit that moment. >> So, uh he's got a lot of work to do. Thomas Frank, I think he's a good choice, by the way. I've always liked him. I think he'd be a good choice for Crystal Palace if he is the man. Um but as yet we don't know. >> Well, if you are Thomas Frank or wherever the incoming manager is, presumably then you're you're looking at the lay of the land in terms of that defensive instability as you described saying we need reinforcements in January or do you think that you can improve? >> Well, you f first and foremost you got to improve what you got that that you know I sound like a bit of a judge on strictly come dancing then you you know but you you do you got you got to do what you you got 90% of your team is there. you're only going to you're only going to change it by 10% maybe maximum might only be like one player 5% you could call it a 5% change. So you got to you got to make better use of what the defense side defensive unit that you've got. Get a different structure in there. Maybe change back to a back four. Maybe change the goalkeeper. Change personnel. Um put a better midfield in front that has a bit more stability. Maybe not play such an open game. All those factors are issues you'd have to look at. >> On Thomas Frank, I I think what he did at Brenford was, I mean, historic for them as a football club, an absolutely wonderful manager. You know, brought them up through the leagues, established them. Yeah. >> In the Premier League. He was there for a long time. >> Remember also he had a tremendous background in terms of transfers and people they were bringing in. Every player seems to be a diamond and they're still doing that. So, he was that was he was at the start of that period. Now, that wasn't uh that wasn't all down to him. Um but he was a big part of that. Um uh Crystal Palace uh they've had some good uh they've had a good period in the windows recently, but the last window wasn't so good. And that's and that's all you need in a Premier League. One window can kind of really push you backwards. Look at Sunland for example. also about a bad window, you know, and and if if you don't one window, you could have three windows that go really well for you. And by the way, don't get s me on Man United who have had like four or five bad window. >> I'll get you started on them in about 20 minutes. But you know, M is my normal partner, you know, we'll be back next week about Spurs the is only this window. Even though those results were great, we kept saying that this window, this is the best window they've had for a long, long time. These players look proper. It looks like they've got and that and that's now been proven. So, one window can change things. Very difficult to do it in a January window. Dead. I I uh Newcastle we done a January window that transformed us. Don't always happen in January though. >> Yeah. >> Hello guys. How are you? >> Yeah, good thanks mate. How are you feeling about about things at your club at the minute? >> Um it's a bit hit and miss, isn't it? because Pierre V was bought in because he plays the same sort of system as Glasgner and we hoped it was going to be pretty seamless, but >> we you hear things in the news about players being unsettled. So obviously if the players are going to play for you then there's a bit of an issue. Um, but you know, I think he was given some time and and it's a it's difficult to suck anyone in it. But you've got to do it when there's a break, like an international break, so you can kind of reset. So, I think they've done it at the same time. I feel bad for him. I liked him. I like that we're playing attacking football. I just don't like that we're letting so many goals. Do do you think there's in any way, Michael, it's kind of a a bit of a a poison chalice in the sense in that he's following the greatest manager, you know, arguably of all time in Crystal Palace's history in terms of certainly in what he's won and that it's really difficult to follow in that in those footsteps. >> Yeah. And it's not a very nice saying, but the the first one through the wall gets the bloodiest nose, right? >> They're they're the one that's judged the most. Um but yeah, it's you know obviously we want to try and continue success and it's very difficult but you know we lost a lot of players in the summer as well and and that's not I I don't think that's always been an excuse because we've always sold players >> but you know we've also got a new stand to pay for and a percentage of each sale goes towards spending money on that new stand. So, you know, we're in kind of I'm not going to say we're comparing ourselves to Arsenal, but Arsenal, you know, had some dereliches, didn't they? Where they didn't really spend a lot of money. >> Um, and that meant, you know, but that's where Douggee gave a fantastic sort of account for himself. >> Douggee Freeman. >> Yeah. Being a being a sporting director and I I'm not seeing it with this guy from Wolves, >> you know. >> Do you see that part in terms of the recruitment? Think you think that's maybe suffered since Douggee Freeman left? >> Yeah, I think Parish and Freeman had a little thing going on. I mean, Steve Parish uh will do most of the transfers into pal into Palace regardless of technical director. He will have the final say with the manager that's worked when I was there and I understand that's still the same. I mean, Steve still holds the the power there uh of who comes into that football club and he will be appointing the manager. Laqua and Munz, Laqua went to Chelsea. He was he was the central center back was massively important to the stability of that team and Munos was the best right wing back I have ever seen I think forget you know as a wing back you don't see many wing backs >> do you mean at Palace or >> I'm talking about in the Premier League as a right wing back because obviously most players play a right back uh most teams and you play 433 >> but in that system uh he's as good as I've seen at right wing back he's used to get goals you get in the box he was good defensively he never really got exposed used massive loss he was to to this team and when you put that right side so if you put Laquire is in the middle Munz on the right Sar on the right coming in off the right hand side that's like that whole side's gone >> so that's a massive problem uh for any manager um I I'll go back to uh Pierre Saj I thought he got dealt a hand that was uncomfortable >> and I and I think um What we don't know and what only he will know is how much conflict he still had to have on the training ground. Was Sulking? Was Mateta sulking? Was did he have that problem trying to organize the team? He's got two of his big players not really at it. >> Yeah. >> You know, and that brings people down, you know. >> I think yesterday he was talking about Walton, you know, not being at his best. Well, you need an environment to be at your best. And maybe the environment's not right at the moment. >> Yeah. No, without a doubt. >> And a managerial change will hopefully help. We'll see. >> Michael, thank you for the call, mate. James is a Palace fan. He's called up. Good afternoon, mate. What do you want to say about Palace? >> Yeah, hi guys. Yeah, nice to speak to you. Um, yeah, I've uh I've got to just summarize summarize a few things and I think that Sarah has been has been very very unlucky to lose his job. Um, I think Alan Puer is uh is spot on with a few things that he's picked up on. I'd just like to add to a few things. So basically when he came within the six last six months we've lost Munoske and Laqua you know that's the fundamental basis of our defense very good defenders. So we've he's lost three of those straight away. Um beginning of the season, uh S and Meta were not available whether it was down to fitness or you know issues about leaving the club. Right. So it's our two main goalc scoring players um over the last year or so. Um anyway, the reason I think he's he's he's been unlucky is that we're we're literally three points away from safety. Um, we're six points away from a decent position in the the the league table. Well, okay, lower half, but a decent position. Our next two games are Commentary and Hull >> right now. I'm not no disrespect to Commentary and Hull, but I would hope that we win against them. And the way we performed against Liverpool, especially the first half, we were well up for it. >> So anyway, um I'm very disappointed that he hasn't been given at least a few more games. Um we've he's right. We've we've won against bottom half teams this season against Fulham and Not Forest. We've had two games against Ipsswitch and Tottenham where we've had a sending off. That's not his fault. Ipsswitch was a home game. I would have definitely thought we would have won that one if we hadn't have had a sending off. Uh Tottenham away arguably we probably would have still lost that one because Tottenham had just turned a corner as you probably are aware. Um, and in amongst that, we've still been winning the cup games in the caraval cup and we're still in the Europa Cup. Um, so yeah, I think he's very very unlucky. >> James, I I I make everything you say right, apart from the fact that you called my club not forest. I don't know if that's a bit of a dig. It's Nottingham Forest, but Py's got a point, you know. >> Well, that's usually what I do. I call forest, >> but I think James makes a really good point. You know, two two winnable games. He's he's come in been dealt a difficult hand with the players that have gone >> 10 games 0 0.7 uh points per game. That's the only stat if you're a hedge fund that you're looking at. They're not looking at what's coming up next or anything. >> But there's contextual nuance that >> of course there is if you're a football person, but the football they're not football people. >> They're they're numbers people and they they they're not accepting relegation. now 0.7 points per game. His relegation form regardless of what's happened or happened in the transfer window or anything else. So unfortunately um when Pierre was given the news that he hasn't got much to lean on. Oh yeah, we had a guy sent off and d and no I'm afraid that all goes out the window. >> Well, a a lot of emphasis of course is on the players that have left the football club. They do still have what I think is a wonderful talent in Adam Warton, who many would say was unlucky not to be involved in Thomas Tukul's World Cup squad. And on yesterday's kickoff show with myself, Troy Deany explained why he thinks no so-called big teams have come in to buy Wharton from Palace. On the ball, yes, I think off the ball he gives you so much uh defensive liabilities. He gets rabbed a lot and I like the kid. This is not a it's not, you know, pick it out. But I just think ultimately he's the reason no one buys players from for that from Palace that that player because everyone looks and sees very similar to me. Yes. On the ball is good. Off the ball, he doesn't give you a great deal cuz when they went in and got gay spent top money. When they went in and got Alise spent top money. Ez spent top money. So people have had the money because they've been watching over the last two to three years this team. So they've seen it week in week out. So like it's not Troy's opinion, it's the market's opinion that you don't offer whatever it takes for that next bit. What do you make of that parts? >> Well, I mean that's Troy's opinion and I'm a big fan of Troy. I think he knows the game and I think there are some what he's saying there uh probably resonates a little bit. I do think when he's with the ball he's not good is great actually. Some of his passing is above the level of Anderson and Rice for example. Um he he can put back spin on the ball and he can he can spin it between center backs and fullbacks like no one not many let's put it I would say no one else but not many. >> Do you see him on a massive recovery run like Declan Rice and doing a sliding tackle, gaining possession and giving it back to his team? No. Don't see so much of that. Is he proficient in the air like Declan Rice? Uh no. Um um can he get around the pitch his mobility like Anderson? to always be available. I.e. the reason Anderson's on the ball so much is because he gets around the pitch so fast >> and he wins the ball back >> and he wins the ball back. So yes, Troy's points about Alan Warton if he's going to look for a kind of where are the weaknesses in his game, Troy's identified those. But I still think that in a good team, this kid could get a move to a big club and could take Palace up again right to the level they were at when they won the competitions. But the environment to me at the moment doesn't look quite right for him. He doesn't look he doesn't look mentally to me like where he was. And therefore his presence on the ball is not enough. He ain't getting enough of the ball for example. They're not controlling games. He hasn't getting the moments when he can produce. So what we're seeing is a lot more of his deficiencies than the the the positive of him. So I think Troyy's spot on on that. Um but for me I think there is still a chance to him to get a big move to a big club purely because he has talent with the ball that is quite exceptional. >> No, I'd agree with you and and I I was surprised that Adam Walton wasn't really on any radar in the transfer window. But no doubt whoever does come in and we understand Thomas Frank is primed and ready to take that Crystal Palace job. No doubt >> I think Thomas Frank will be a good manager for him actually because you know the way Thomas plays he's actually quite got he's got quite a rigid game. Well, he did when it particularly at Brenford. Quite a rigid game and the transfer was really fast and he's got good pace in that team and and for that transfer to happen, you need a player like Walton. So, he'll he'll he'll be putting his arm around Walton. He'll be trying to get the best out of him.