With the final stretch of the season almost upon Crystal Palace, we’ve decided to take a look back at what’s come before.
Patrick Vieira took over from Roy Hodgson last July and has helped give the club a new identity on the pitch, bringing with him an attacking style of play that already has the Eagles nearing the top half of the Premier League and in an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley next month. There have been setbacks along the way, with a disappointing Carabao Cup exit plus an indifferent run of form around the turn of the year, though the overall feeling around the fanbase is wholly positive as we enter the final international break of the campaign.
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That has been reflected in our player ratings for the season so far, with each rating based on each individual players’ expectations for the season due to previous standards, rather than being a tool to compare them with other teammates. We’ve looked at every player that has played a minute for the first team this season, but for some of the younger players, we’ve spoken about their performance and prospects instead.
Goalkeepers
Vicente Guaita - 7.5
Still Crystal Palace’s first choice goalkeeper at the age of 35, it’s been another busy season for the Spaniard who has kept eight clean sheets in 24 Premier League games.He has missed a handful of games through injury but has by and large been a reliable enforcer at the back. His best performances have come away at Brentford and Wolves where he made a string of reaction saves in both to preserve the Eagles’ clean sheet. He was also impressive in both matches against Manchester City and drew a compliment out of Pep Guardiola after shutting out his side for the second time in a single season.
Jack Butland - 7.5
The Englishman has been kept busy this season by playing in six Premier League matches as well as all five of Palace’s cup games. Made a high-profile mistake that cost a goal against Millwall in the FA Cup third round but more than made up for it with his penalty save to deny neal Maupay from the spot against Brighton a few days later. Should get the chance to start against Chelsea at Wembley and will already be eyeing up more game time next season no doubt.
Defenders
Joel Ward - 7
Now in his tenth year at Crystal Palace, Ward’s experience and seniority in the dressing room has been important to Vieira this season. He started 24 of the opening 25 Premier League matches of the season and was captain six times, only missing the trip to Manchester United due to an accumulation of yellow cards, before suffering a groin injury in February that has seen him sit out. Hasn’t adjusted completely seamlessly to Vieira’s new system and can occasionally be targeted, as he was in away games against Leeds United and Norwich. As one of the few players who was there when Crystal Palace last reached an FA Cup semi-final in 2016, his experience will be important next month against Chelsea.
James Tomkins - 6
Made to wait for his chance to impress under Vieira in the league but took it when an injury to Joachim Andersen forced the Frenchman to bring him in during November and December. Tomkins performed admirably despite playing in four defeats and being subbed off at half-time against Spurs on Boxing Day. He did manage to get on the scoresheet in the 3-1 win over Everton though, but it seems unlikely he’ll be offered a new deal when his contract expires this summer based on his playing time.
Nathaniel Clyne - 6.5
Also had to wait until he got a chance in the team but has taken it well and is currently enjoying his time at right-back ahead of Joel Ward. Performed well away at Watford and played 90 minutes in each of Palace’s last three matches where they kept clean sheets against Wolves, Man City and Everton.
Marc Guehi - 8.5
Recently called up to the England senior team for the first time and having played the most minutes (2,970) of any player in the squad, Guehi is having a fine debut season in a Crystal Palace shirt. He’s looked composed, dependable and has grown into a senior player in the dressing room despite still only being 21-years-old. He’s formed an excellent partnership with Danish powerhouse Joachim Andersen alongside him and has been handy for a goal this season too, netting four times.
Martin Kelly - 5.5
Only been used once all season which was a 90 minute showing against League Two side Hartlepool United in the FA Cup fourth round. Has still been a good professional and even featured three times for the Under-23s against Blackburn, Chelsea and Liverpool in order to keep up his fitness. Unlikely he’ll still be around next season with his contract ending in the summer.
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Joachim Andersen - 8
Arrived having been a shining light in an otherwise dismal Fulham campaign under Scott Parker that ultimately ended in relegation from the Premier League. Andersen didn’t bring any of that baggage to SE25 though and seems to have found a real home at Palace after spending the previous four seasons at four different clubs. Matches Vieira’s playing philosophy perfectly and his passing has been a key weapon to starting attacks, while his physicality acts as a good foil to Guehi’s speed and reading of the game.
Nathan Ferguson - N/A
It’s not been an ideal season for the full-back who came back from a long-term injury to finally make his Crystal Palace debut against Spurs on Boxing Day only to get sidelined once again during early 2022 with another injury. Looked promising in the eight minutes that fans saw of him and in the two Under-23s games he played in January before getting injured.
Tyrick Mitchell - 8.5
Has to be considered as one of the best players of Crystal Palace’s season so far after going from strength to strength under Vieira. Has completely nailed down the left-back spot as his own this season and has even now earned the first international recognition of his career after being drafted into England’s senior squad at the age of 22 this month. His tackling numbers are up there with the best in the Premier League this season, while he has been voted as the club’s player of the month and won several man of the match awards for his consistent displays up and down the left-wing. Mitchell has developed a strong partnership with Wilfried Zaha and is the only player in the squad to have started every Premier League game of the season so far.
Tayo Adaramola - N/A
Made his senior Crystal Palace debut in the FA Cup fourth round against Hartlepool before starting in the fifth round against Stoke at left-back. Looked a little nervous but no doubt he has immense potential and will be better for his two appearances.
Midfielders
Luka Milivojevic - 5.5
Has been phased out of the starting XI under Vieira and hasn’t shown that he has the capability of keeping up with the new system when he has had his chances. The club captain still has a year left on his current deal at Selhurst Park but with more midfield reinforcements likely to come in over the summer his opportunities likely won’t increase next season.
Conor Gallagher - 8.5
Dougie Freedman finally got his man last summer when bringing Gallagher to Selhurst Park after keeping tabs on him for several seasons while he was at Charlton, Swansea and West Brom on loan from Chelsea. The 22-year-old has been nothing short of superb in a Crystal Palace shirt this season and has been their standout player of the season operating tirelessly in midfield, where he excels at both sides of the game. Gallagher has always been a tough tackler and showed his defensive attributes at previous clubs but where he has really impressed this season is his eye for a goal. Prior to arriving in SE25 he had only scored eight goals in 78 senior appearances, though he’s already hit eight goals in just 25 Premier League games for the Eagles this term, with double digits now a realistic target. Vieira has loved every minute of working with the midfielder and has given him the third-most game time in the squad (2,563 minutes). His form has also warranted two call-ups to the senior England team, making his debut last November against San Marino.
Jairo Riedewald - 5
Has barely featured this season but did score a huge goal in the FA Cup fifth round against Stoke City to send Palace through to the quarter-finals.
James McArthur - 7.5
Despite suffering injury problems that have forced him to miss a large chunk of the season, McArthur has shown he is still just as valuable to Crystal Palace as ever. His experience and ability to still read the game and operate across the midfield at the age of 34 makes him an outlier to many of the other senior members of the dressing room. His injury coincided with Palace’s worst drop off in form of the campaign and Vieira would love for him to keep fit for the final run in, as well as have him available for the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea. Should be kept on for another season and offered a coaching role at the club when he is ready to hang up his boots.
Jeffrey Schlupp - 7
Had to wait before he got a proper run in the team but has been solid since getting that chance. Has appeared in several positions but has mainly been used in central midfield where he compliments Conor Gallagher well. Had his best game of the season in the 2-0 win over Wolves at Molineux where his bursting runs forward caused problems and he won a penalty that Wilfried Zaha converted. Has chipped in with three goals and two assists in his 27 appearances so far this season.
Eberechi Eze - 6.5
Vieira was adamant he wouldn’t rush Eze back from his Achilles injury even if the midfielder was growing agitated with his playing time. The Frenchman seems to have been proved right with Eze impressing recently in the FA Cup win over Everton after being very slowly phased back into the team. If he can now get back to starting Premier League games for Palace it’ll be a great indicator of what is to come. He should be the next player from the squad to get an England call-up if he can continue his steady return to the top.
Cheikhou Kouyate - 7.5
Clearly one of Vieira’s most trusted generals in midfield and someone who adds a much-needed physicality to the side, Kouyate has been an integral part of the team especially when James McArthur suffered an injury. He was missed when he went to the Africa Cup of Nations but since his return as champion with Senegal, he has improved even more and has almost 2,000 minutes under his belt - the only midfielder with more is Gallagher. He is reportedly in contract negotiations with the club over a new deal and should be tied down for at least another season if possible.
Will Hughes - 7
Another player who had to wait to get his chance but has since taken it with both hands. The injury to McArthur pushed him into the team over Christmas and he impressed when starting against Everton in the 3-1 win at Selhurst Park in December. Kept his place in the starting XI and played well in his return to Vicarage Road in February when Palace won 4-1 and at Molineux not long after. Grabbed his first goal for the club in the 4-0 FA Cup quarter-final win over the Toffees.
Forwards
Jordan Ayew - 6.5
Finally got his long-overdue goal in the 2-2 home draw against Southampton but hasn’t offered much more in front of goal overall this season. Was used heavily in the first part of the season and put in several good defensive displays against some of the top six sides, especially against Arsenal at the Emirates and in the 3-0 home win over Spurs. Has lost his place in the team to Michael Olise of late who is ten years his junior and provides much more of an attacking threat.
Wilfried Zaha - 8
Hit double figures for goals this season with his strike against Everton in the FA Cup and is currently playing some of his best football in the second half of the season following his return from the Africa Cup of Nations. Vieria heralded Zaha’s two-goal haul against Watford in February as his best performance under the Frenchman and it doesn’t seem like he’ll be slowing down as we enter the final months of the campaign. There have been some noticeable low points, including the sending off at Spurs on Boxing Day, and some matches where his attitude got the best of him, but he remains one the team’s most lethal attacking players and can still end the season on a big high at Wembley in the FA Cup.
Odsonne Edouard - 6.5
After scoring two goals in his first six minutes of Premier League football back in September it seemed like Edouard would go on to have an incredibly memorable debut season at Crystal Palace following his deadline day move from Celtic. Instead, he’s struggled to hold down a spot in Vieira’s starting XI and has only managed four goals in the 1,267 minutes of league action since his brace against Spurs. His best performance came in the 3-0 home win over Norwich, where he scored one and created another starting on the left wing, but Jean-Philippe Mateta’s rise in form and Zaha’s return from AFCON have pushed him to the sidelines of late. He’ll be hoping for a run of games towards the end of the season where he can hopefully try to find some consistent form.
Michael Olise - 8.5
A breakout star of the second half of the season, Olise arrived with a lot of hype but fans had to wait until Vieira deemed him ready before he was unleashed. A goal off the bench against Leicester whetted the appetite further before Ayew and Zaha’s departure for AFCON afforded him his moment. In 2022 he’s scored three goals and put on six more for his teammates, earning him the Palace player of the month award for both January and February. He’s since been called up to France’s Under-21s team and has been recognised by many pundits and observers of the game as one of the brightest upcoming talents in the Premier League. Signing him from Reading for £8million last summer could turn out to be one of the best pieces of business Crystal Palace have ever done.
Jean-Philippe Mateta - 7.5
Seemingly destined to either head back to Germany at the end of the season or have his loan cut short in January, Mateta has defied the odds to win a place in Vieira’s preferred starting XI and earn himself a four-and-a-half-year contract that keeps him at Selhurst Park until summer 2026. Managed just 61 minutes of football from the first 17 league matches before starting six of the last 12, coming off the bench in the rest. He’s scored five goals in that time and is now showing signs of what regular game time can do, with his performances in recent wins over Wolves and Everton showing several sides to his game that Vieira has been hugely complimentary about. It doesn’t seem too likely he’ll lose his shirt going into the final run of games and he
Christian Benteke - 6
Similar to Edouard in that he hasn't managed to nail down his spot in the team with just four goals in 27 appearances across all competitions. The Belgian scored all four of those in a six-game spell across October and November but hasn’t managed to replicate that form at any other point across the campaign. Has barely been used in 2022 with just 134 minutes of actions from 14 matches.
Jesurun Rak-Sakyi - N/A
The 19-year-old has not built on his debut against Chelsea on the opening day of the season with any further first team appearances but he has still trained regularly with Vieira’s side and has earned high praise from the manager for his talent. His form for the Under-23s this season has been solid with 14 goals and four assists in 21 games, winning the Premier League 2 player of the month award for March. Should be integrated into the first team next season or sent out on a loan in the Championship or League One to get more of a taste of senior football.
And the manager
Patrick Vieira - 8
With Palace sitting close to the top half of the Premier League table and into an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, it's clear that Vieira has done a good job so far in south London. But however impressive the team have been on the pitch, his most impressive mark on the season so far has been how he has helped shift the mood of the entire club. The stagnate atmosphere that engulfed the final months of Roy Hodgson's tenure now feels a distant memory and there is huge optimism around the project Steve Parish and co have in place with Vieira at the helm.
