In just a matter of months, Oliver Glasner has gone from hero to zero at Crystal Palace after a winless start to the 2024/25 Premier League campaign.
Glasner’s run of six wins and a draw from the final seven outings of last season have been starkly contrasted by a sequence of six winless Premier League games so far this term.
Understandable not all of this is attributable to Glasner – who lost two key players in Michael Olise and Joachim Andersen over the summer – despite questions being asked of the Austrian, who has yet to discover his best XI following a period of significant turnover.
The understanding is that those in the boardroom at Selhurst Park are unable to accept the shocking manner in which the 2024/25 campaign has begun, as the belief is that Crystal Palace chiefs did not expect such a sticky start to the season. However there is an acceptance amongst the hierarchy that they themselves are somewhat to blame, having sanctioned the sales of Andersen and Olise.
Reliable sources have shared that, despite this frustration, Crystal Palace are happy with the signings Dougie Freedman successfully negotiated, and believe better results will soon come. The board are said to feel these improved results will arrive without needing to make a change in the dugout, as Glasner is someone the hierarchy admire.
However it is unknown what John Textor – who is still eager to sell his stake in Crystal Palace after failing to buy Everton – thinks of the situation.
It is also understood that the man from Scharding’s decision to reject Bayern Munich earlier in 2024 has not been forgotten, and the respect he had shown to Crystal Palace in that moment will be reciprocated amidst this difficult spell.
It would not make any sense to sack Glasner after just the first hiccup of his time in charge of Crystal Palace, so Parish is right to be patient and continue to put his faith in the Austrian.
After all, it was only as recently as May that Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich had tried to poach Glasner as a replacement for Thomas Tuchel, which reinforces the impeccable caliber of the Austrian.
Of course, it is also understandable that fans and neutrals alike expected a better start to the 2024/25 campaign, but patience is needed from everybody involved, given the vast changes to squad personnel over the summer.
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