Crystal Palace have enjoyed a brilliant unbeaten start to the season so far, it seems winning the FA Cup has created such a buzz around the place?
It’s more than a buzz, the moment the final whistle went at Wembley, I saw all sorts of emotions.. tears, joy and pure elation.
There was already a buzz around the place due to having Oliver Glasner at the club but winning the FA Cup saw our dreams finally become reality. We have only lost 4 games in 2025 and there’s an understanding from all at Palace that
we currently have an elite manager and some top top players.
A key part of that has been only losing Eberichi Eze in the transfer window, how would you summarise your window overall?
The summer was an absolute mess for us off the pitch BUT in the end we managed to keep our club captain and one of our best players and managed to sign Uche and Pino to replace Eze, as well as signing some depth.
I would probably give it a 7/10 but the end of it, but I never EVER want to go through that deadline day mess again. Hopefully we have learnt that we can’t always be reactive and need to be proactive sometimes.
Us fans don’t receive any money for transfers obviously, so for me, to be able to keep someone as world class as Marc Guehi for another season is brilliant. Only losing one key player after winning the FA Cup is a huge boost.
Last month Palace also secured their place in the Conference League and have some fantastic away days. After Chelsea won it last year and West Ham previously, is there belief among fans that you can win it?
There’s definitely belief, which is an insane feeling for a club like Crystal Palace!
We have a squad who have now won two trophies whilst we have a manager who has won the Europa League. Squad depth may be an issue as the fixtures get more congested, but we are one of the favourites for a reason.
It will be Marc Guehi’s first Premier League appearance since his collapsed deadline day move to Liverpool. Given he’s been a model professional all summer, do you think that will continue to January?
There’s no way Marc Guehi doesn’t play for Crystal Palace. The deadline day drama saw people forget that he was happy to stay at the club this summer and wasn’t going to force his way out.
He would have liked to have moved and Parish would have liked the money, but it didn’t work out and all that means for him is his move is delayed for maximum 12 months due to his contract situation.
He can get more wages and a bigger sign on fee on a free transfer and is still young, so I think the deadline day drama exaggerated how big a situation it is.
At the end of the day, he was never promised a transfer, like Isak and Wissa apparently were, so his situation is nowhere near comparable to them two and I think all who know Guehi are delighted with how he handled the situation.
The above mentioned Eze was such a key part of Palace’s success last season, who are you backing to come in and replace him?
It looks like Yeremy Pino is going to be the direct replacement, and he looked class in his cameo against Aston Villa. I’m excited to see him play for us and I believe he can become the next star at the club.
The thing about a Glasner setup is the fact that it’s more about the man in the dugout and the squad as a whole, not just one player (no matter how good they are).
Sarr was quietly going about his business last season whilst Eze got the praise and our defence has also been crucial to our success as well.
During the international break there have been injury issues for Ismailia Sarr, Adam Wharton and Yeremy Pino – do you think that trio will be fit to face Sunderland?
It looks like Pino is fine, Sarr will miss out (but isn’t injured for as long as expected) and Wharton could return but won’t be risked.
This Palace has plethora of talented internationals and experienced Premier League players – who would you say are the main players Sunderland will have to be wary of?
Attacking wise Mateta is always going to be the big threat, whilst in midfield Will Hughes is so so underrated.
Daniel Munoz is a menace for any opposition defender and is one of the best wing-backs in the league, whilst Pino will bring an element of the unknown if he starts.
How do you expect Oliver Glasner to setup against Sunderland and what would you say your sides weaknesses are?
One of our sides biggest weaknesses is struggling to break down a low block, as proven by our matches against Fredrikstad.
Weirdly, Sarr missing may actually benefit us in this situation as his ability is more through his directness and his counter attacking ability, so having more creative players like Kamada may help us. I expect Glasner to continue to have us as a team that is hard to beat and one that holds onto possession and looks for that big chance, whilst out of possession we will continue to press the Sunderland defence hard and look to catch you out on the ball.
Set-pieces have also become essential for us under Glasner, so I expect him to target them in this match if you are defending in a low block.
Are any players missing and which starting eleven do you think Glasnar will go for?
Nketiah, Doucoure, Wharton, Sarr and Riad are probably the ones missing.
(5-2-2-1) Henderson (GK), Munoz, Richards, Lacroix, Guehi, Mitchell, Hughes, Lerma, Kamada, Mateta, Pino.
Sunderland won 4-0 in their last visit to Selhurst Park back in 2017 – what is your prediction for the final score?
Don’t remind me of that match! That was chaos and haunts my memory. I don’t think it will be high scoring and I think Sunderland’s away trip to Burnley showed that they may find it hard to score many on the road.
It is after international break and we do have some injuries, so that does play on my mind a little, but I’m going to say 2-1 to Crystal Palace. (Sorry Sunderland fans!) I’m hoping you guys stay up though out of the promoted three but as football goes I’m sure I will have a different opinion after we play each other!
