After the dust settled on game week three in the Premier League, Frank De Boer has had early questions raised about the future of his position at the helm of Crystal Palace.
They have struggled to find any early season form, resulting in them sitting helplessly in the bottom 3 of the table with zero points from three games. Bournemouth and West Ham are the only other clubs who have not registered a league point as of yet and make up the bottom 3.
Crystal Palace are yet to score a league goal which gives De Boer reason for concern. Unfortunately for Palace, Wilfred Zaha gained an injury in week one but boss De Boer hopes he will return for their next Premier League game against Burnley. Yet, with Christian Benteke leading the line for the Eagles and Townsend another with huge attacking potential, having no goals on their name is a huge worry.
After the jubilation of their survival last season, the shock departure of Sam Allardyce resulted in management bringing in the highly-rated Dutchman, Frank De Boer, and after his success at Ajax he looked to be an exciting prospect at Selhurst Park. However, De Boer built his foundations at a club who were consistently challenging for the title in Holland and to be frank, Crystal Palace are certainly not a side challenging for the Premier League season upon season.
De Boer has come in and almost ripped apart their identity of a strong defence and pace down the wings and crossing the ball to the big man in the middle – this is the identity that has seen the club have success at stadiums such as Anfield and Stamford Bridge in recent seasons.
Players have clearly struggled to adapt to the demands of the Dutchman and do not look suited to the way De Boer wants them to play. As Palace departed the field last weekend after a 2-0 boss to Swansea, boos echoed around the famous London stadium yet De Boer stated when he signed a three-year contract ‘evolution not revolution’. He insists the changes in formation and team tactics are not to blame for the club’s poor start to the campaign and suggests ‘it all starts with courage when you have the ball. You have to make the right choices’.
However, the Crystal Palace hierarchy have been left questioning his appointment and question remains over whether he has what it takes to stimulate a change in form. De Boer found himself at a similar position at Inter Milan where he was sacked less than three months into his reign, the question remains as to whether management will stick with their gamble or send De Boer packing, the upcoming game at Turf Moor after the international break, a mammoth game for Palace and De Boer’s future.
Written by Eamon Kitching.
