Tampa Palace

Crystal Palace at Sunderland:

Total Expected Assists (xA): 0.87
•Yeremy Pino: 0.59 xA

Total Expected Goals on Target (xGOT): 1.04
•Pino: 0.81 xGOT

The Spaniard accounted for the vast majority of Crystal Palace’s attacking output - creating for himself AND teammates.

#CPFC

Chance Quality vs. Finishing Quality, with bubble size reflecting shot volume

Interestingly, Crystal Palace and Manchester City are near-identical in both.

The difference is 𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐞. City attempt far more shots, creating more opportunities for goals.

#CPFC #PL

This visual further illustrates Aston Villa’s improvements after halftime.

A strong second half may not negate poor underlying data from the first, but it often flips results.

Villa have shown just that.

𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬: 𝐀𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚
7 Jan 2026

Aston Villa are a second half team - and there's reason to believe it's sustainable.

For Crystal Palace, a fast start isn't optional today.

My full preview in today's matchday programme explains why. #CPFC #AVFC

It’s all about context.

Crystal Palace had 13 fully healthy senior players available.

Knowing that, I’ll 𝒈𝒍𝒂𝒅𝒍𝒚 take a point & a clean sheet against the side currently 3rd in the table. #CPFC

After Sunderland & Chelsea, February begins a 𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘 pivotal stretch of matches.

These 6 weeks could define our season.

#CPFC

Fulham: 1 Jan 2026

#CPFC #FFC

Tottenham Hotspur: 28 December 2025

#CPFC #THFC #PL

🇫🇮 Kuopion Palloseura (“KuPS”): 18 December 2025

#CPFC #KuPS #UECL

Manchester City: 14 December 2025

#CPFC #MCFC #PL

If you told a Crystal Palace supporter that, after 20 matches, Palace would be 4 points away from 5th (a likely UCL place), they’d be ecstatic!

If you told a Crystal Palace supporter that, after 20 matches, Palace would be 14th, they’d be angry.

Somehow, both are true.

52% of the goals conceded by Crystal Palace during the 2025-26 Premier League season have come from set pieces.

This is 𝐛𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐫 the highest rate in the league.

All other criticisms are secondary. This is the priority. It must be fixed.

#CPFC

Adam Wharton & Yeremy Pino (combined):

7.1 xAG
7.3 xA

𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬

This isn’t a creativity problem.
It’s a finishing problem.

#CPFC

Justin Devenny’s role here suggests pragmatism over attacking intent.

Fulham attack down their left 41% of the time - 2nd highest rate in the PL.

Antonee Robinson’s return at LB strengthens this.

With Daniel Muñoz out, Devenny likely helps shield Clyne defensively.

#CPFC #FFC

As 2025 draws to a close, let’s reflect back on the year that was.

Crystal Palace supporters may disagree often, but one thing is indisputable..

This has been the greatest calendar year in the history of Crystal Palace Football Club.

Let’s toast to that!

To more in 2026 🥂

This is an issue of personnel.

A bit more concerning than fatigue.

Oliver Glasner’s system works because it is direct - hitting vertically at breakneck pace.

Without any runners, Palace’s attack will remain toothless

Whether from within or via transfers, additions are needed.

Kamada ranks near top of the PL for tackles & jumpstarts Palace’s attack with forward actions once winning possession

In his place, Will Hughes lacked forward play

One-third of his passes were backward & his expected threat (xT) was nearly zero- showing low progressive movement

Palace looked to still utilize the right flank - especially in the 1H.

Nathaniel Clyne received the most passes in the opening 45, but his average receiving position was far deeper.

More often than not, possession was recycled backward rather than testing Leeds’ defense.

With the ball, these players look to create their own shot or play the ball into the box - where attacking teammates have flooded & the opposite wingback runs far post.

No runs from the right flank meant Mitchell had no one to cross to - nor did he receive any crosses back post.

So how were Kamada, Sarr, & Muñoz missed?

First, it helps to understand their roles in Glasner’s system.

Alongside Tyrick Mitchell, Sarr & Muñoz are the primary “runners,” looking to directly drive the ball at defensive lines or open up space with off-ball sprints behind.

Fatigue didn’t cause Palace to sit back, either.

The Eagles decreased tackle attempts in their defensive third, and nearly doubled their attempts in midfield.

Zones of Domination corroborate this. Both halves saw Palace get more touches in central areas than their opponents.

The simple answer to all these questions is no.

•Palace attempted and won more tackles than average, at a comparable win rate

•Progressive actions and entries into the final third were up

•Palace’s 10 fouls committed were dead-on average, as were ball recoveries

Fatigue isn’t directly quantifiable, but we can use metrics to determine its role.

Compared to season averages, did Palace..

-attempt less challenges?
-win challenges at a lower rate?
-make fewer entries into the final third?
-make fewer progressive actions?
-commit more fouls?

Oliver Glasner does not believe fatigue played a role in Crystal Palace’s defeat at Leeds United.

Match data backs his claim.

Rather than tired legs, the loss falls on the absence of Daichi Kamada, Daniel Muñoz, & Ismaïla Sarr (and poor set piece defending).

Let’s review 🧵

What if Crystal Palace didn’t lose at Leeds because of fatigue — but because of who 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐧’𝐭 on the pitch?

𝐸𝑎𝑠𝑦 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑙𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑓𝑖𝑥𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛. 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑎 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑒𝑙𝑠𝑒𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒.

#CPFC #LUFC

He’s featured with England’s U21s. He clearly has talent and ability.

He needs to work on his intangibles. It’s from the neck up right now imo.

The worst thing to help him develop that would be his own supporters turning on him.

He hasn’t looked great, but it’s been a very limited sample size, and now we have a backup wingback - something we quite literally didn’t have for YEARS.

For his cost, it’s hard to say it’s a failed transfer. I think he’s come in to do exactly this.

Don’t think he warrants our negativity.

Very astute! Led in xA by some margin. Was fairly lightweight in duels, but keen to engage.

He needs to develop a short memory on the pitch. He’s too emotional and easily affected by mistakes.

No one will be perfect, he can’t let one small error linger & turn into multiple.

I think we’re saying the same thing, tbh.

He’s definitely lacking confidence, but I think that goes into his mentality.

The talent is clearly there.

One argument I won’t here is “he’s a winger playing in a wingerless system”

Sarr is a winger by trade also! Pino too

I’d agree, and i’d add on that I think he’s consistently showed a weak mentality.

Every time he’s played, there’s a moment where he makes a mistake & you physically see his body slump.

Good players forget quickly. He let one error zap his focus. It’s a trend.

But still young enough to fix it!