West Brom v Crystal Palace: Inside track on the Eagles

We spoke with James Howland, author of The Palace Addiction books, and Chris Windsor, from the Five Year Plan Fanzine, to get a proper look at the Eagles.

See what they had to say here...

How has the season been so far for Palace?

JH: It was all going well - results wise - until last week when we lost to both Burnley and Newcastle.

Our football has been dire for quite a few seasons now so every time we lose, frustration boils over on social media. I think Twitter etc. will be pretty toxic if we lose again at the weekend.

A lot of fans appear to feel that Hodgson is ready for the retirement home.

CW: Inconsistent has been the best way to describe the season so far, Palace have managed some good results, beating the likes of Man Utd and Southampton, but recent games have highlighted the inability to win without Zaha which has plagued the team in the past and the inability to win when we have had the majority of chances and possession.

We have looked slightly more threatening in games compared to last season when we failed to score more than twice in any game, but defensively we have been more susceptible with an inconsistent back four not helping the cause.

What are the expectations like around Selhurst Park this season, what would be considered an acceptable season?

JH: I think most fans expect to comfortably stay up despite the emptiness, mind blowing boredom and delusions of grandeur that multiple consecutive seasons of lower mid table Premier League football bring.

A top half finish would be brilliant and a foray into Europe is a pipe dream but the reality is that I’ll be content with finishing above Brighton and staying up.

CW: Fans would like the team to finish top ten, along with a half-decent cup run, but with elimination from the Carabao Cup and the team struggling of late, expectations may not be met.

Acceptability differs across the board; some fans are content with merely staying up whereas a proportion of the fans are expecting to see a more progression with arguably the best squad we have amassed in the Premier League.

Are there any injury/covid issues heading into the game?

JH: Zaha has been out with COVID and I’m not sure if he’s back or not. We’ve had a whole host of other injuries but if Wilf is out, I’d rather just hand you the points now and not bother with the match.

Failing to score without him (15 losses in our last 17 without him) has been a reminder that we’re basically just waiting around for him to leave and us to finally drop down and out of the Premier League.

CW: The Friday night game last week vs Newcastle has led to some COVID concerns, as Newcastle have had a wave of positive tests and now Palace awaits to see if anyone has been infected.

Zaha and Milivojevic have both missed the last two games after testing positive but the hope is they may return for the West Brom game.

After having a torrid time with injuries at the back, Palace have started to see some of their preferred options return so should have a more options to start with a more settled back four - which is a key step to trying to keep only their second clean sheet of the season!

What kind of style of play can we expect to see against Albion? and what's your predicted XI?

JH: Negative. If we play less than four defensive midfielders, I’ll be shocked.

Defend deep, rely on Zaha (and Eze to an extent) and bore you into submission.

If you attack us, we’ll win. If you sit back, we have no quality to break you down.

Predicted XI: Guiata, Clyne, van Aanholt, Cahill, Kouyate, Townsend, Eze, Luka, McCarthy, Zaha and Ayew.

CW: Hodgson has adopted a 4-4-2 this season, utilising Zaha as one of the two up front and trusting the width to be created by Townsend and new signing Ebere Eze.

Expect them to defend in two banks of four and try to use the pace of the width and through the strikers to hit on the counter when the opportunities present themselves.

Expect to see them line up something like this: Guiata - Clyne, Cahill, Dann, Van Aanholt - Townsend, McArthur, Riedewald, Eze - Zaha, Ayew.

One man Albion saw head to Palace recently was Nathan Ferguson, what's been the issue surrounding his fitness and transfer - it seems to be a situation which hasn't worked out yet for any party so far?

JH: He seemed to get an injury that stopped him signing in January and he hasn’t recovered since.

He was photographed in training in pre season but hasn’t played for the first XI or reserves yet. He does sound like an exciting signing.

CW: Nathan Ferguson joined to fill a gaping hole left by Aaron Wan-Bissaka at RB, but had surgery over the summer and has yet to feature at all this season, leading to Palace signing former academy star Nathaniel Clyne as cover for Joel Ward, who has now made the RB spot his own.

Hodgson has provided the occasional update on Ferguson and there is a caution to rush him back, especially as the area is now suitably covered.

Clyne's contract is up in January, and with Ferguson back in light training, the hope is he can join the first-team action in the second half of the season, as fans are excited about his potential!

What have you made of Albion from afar? Do you think they have what it takes to survive in the PL?

JH: From what I’ve seen, which is admittedly little, Albion have played well with limited reward against the big teams (Chelsea and Man Utd) but don’t have the quality to stay up.

Luckily for us, and potentially you, there are a few dire teams in the league this year so maybe you’ll survive against all odds.

CW: Being a promoted team is the league always has its challenges and that is the same for West Brom, trying to find the right balance between those players that got the team promoted whilst adding quality and goals to keep the team in the league.

I've seen them play a few times, and there are clear threats in the team as demonstrated in the Chelsea game where you raced to a three goal lead.

There is also doggedness and resilience, as seen in the victory last time out vs Sheff Utd. It's games like the one on Sunday that will determine the team's likelihood of surviving the drop, winning at home against the bottom half teams.

It's always a popular away day for Palace fans, and its a shame that we are unable to make the trip this year, so for that sake I hope that the team are in the same league next season and fortunes begin to change... Just not on Sunday!

Your match prediction?

JH: To be honest... I expect you to beat us but still go down with Fulham and Sheffield United.

CW: I think this will be a tight game and it may require a piece of magic from either side to really get anything from it.

I have to favour Palace, but it will be by a single goal if they are to win. 2-1 Palace.

You can follow James on Twitter here. You can follow the Five Year Plan on Twitter here.