Disastrous Start to the Season
Pierre Sage is out of a job at Crystal Palace after just five months in charge. The French manager left the south London club sitting bottom of the Premier League in November. Palace have managed only two wins from ten games and hold the worst defensive record in the top flight, having conceded 24 goals.
It is a sharp turn of events since September, when chairman Steve Parish publicly praised the work Sage was doing. Sage arrived in June 2026 on a three year deal following an impressive spell at Lens. He had won the Coupe de France and secured Champions League qualification in France. However, his transition to English football proved difficult from the start.
Transfer Struggles and Tactical Fits
Palace struggled to build a solid squad for Sage. Key defenders Marc Guéhi and Maxence Lacroix both left the club, bringing in £72 million combined. Guéhi went to Manchester City in January while Lacroix moved to Chelsea over the summer. Their replacements arrived late, which disrupted Sage's plans to build his preferred system.
The French coach insisted on using a back three setup that worked well during his time at Lens. Palace players never looked comfortable in that shape. The club brought in Axel Disasi, Honest Ahanor, Óscar Mingueza, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ben Chilwell on loan. Yet, financial limits hampered squad building. Parish noted that balancing the books was a top priority under new cost rules.
Key Squad Issues and Missing Fans
Attackers Ismaïla Sarr and Jean Philippe Mateta missed key periods due to injury. Early spending also proved messy. The club spent £83 million on Brennan Johnson and Jørgen Strand Larsen, but Johnson has already departed for Everton in a swap deal for Dwight McNeil.
Off the pitch, the atmosphere at Selhurst Park suffered. The Holmesdale Fanatics supporter group decided to walk away after 20 years. Their absence left the stadium feeling quiet during a rough patch of form.
What Lies Ahead for Palace
Palace must now find a replacement to save their season. Reports suggest Thomas Frank and Sean Dyche could be options for the vacant post.
Sage leaves quietly after a brief spell where very little went right for him or the team. Palace now face a tough task to rebuild their season and keep their place in the top division.
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