Crystal Palace have now made contact to appoint a “top level” manager as a replacement for Pierre Sage, following their concerning start to the Premier League season.
Pierre Sage and Oliver Glasner struggling
Replacing Oliver Glasner was always going to be a difficult task, considering the Austrian won three trophies during his spell at Selhurst Park, but Sage appeared to fit the bill, after lifting the French Cup with Lens last season.
The Frenchman also guided his side to a second-place finish in Ligue 1, but rather than competing with the big boys in the Premier League, a relegation battle is looking more likely for Palace this season.
The Eagles have taken just seven points from their nine matches, which means they are currently in the relegation zone, one point above Nottingham Forest and journalist Rahman Osman points out Glasner’s departure has had a major impact on both clubs.
With Sage struggling, Steve Parish & co have already started identifying potential replacements, including Sean Dyche, who has made a name for himself as a survival specialist.
Most recently, the Englishman was in charge of Forest, where he didn’t last long, being dismissed in February before Vitor Pereira guided the Tricky Trees to safety.
However, Dyche could be a safe pair of hands, having avoided relegation with Burnley and Everton in the past, but a more left-field appointment is now being considered.
Sean Dyche’s managerial record | Matches | Points per match |
Nottingham Forest | 25 | 1.40 |
Everton | 83 | 1.23 |
Burnley | 425 | 1.34 |
Watford | 49 | 1.37 |
Crystal Palace make approach to hire Anthony Barry
According to a report from The Mirror, England assistant manager Anthony Barry has now emerged as the frontrunner for the Crystal Palace job, with Sage under increasing pressure, having won just two Premier League matches this season.
The former Lens boss may be given a stay of execution, as he is expected to take charge of the Europa League clash against Hoffenheim on Thursday night, while the result against Liverpool on Sunday could also play a major role in deciding his future.
However, should the poor form continue, Barry is in line to replace Sage, and contact has already been made with Thomas Tuchel’s number two, who has received rave reviews from Tuchel and
What Thomas Tuchel has said about Anthony Barry
Tuchel may be reluctant to lose his right-hand man, after saying during the World Cup in the summer: “You see the quality. The guy is a top coach. He is an inspiration, and he pushes me, and helps me and supports me. It’s just top level.”
The Three Lions went on to finish third, their best performance in the competition since lifting the trophy in 1966, and Barry was also with Chelsea when they won the Champions League in 2021, and Bundesliga-winners Bayern Munich in the 2022-23 season.
However, the 40-year-old is yet to take the reigns as a manager, instead making a name for himself as part of Tuchel’s backroom staff, which means he could be a risky appointment for the Eagles.
There is still plenty of time to turn things around this season, but with Palace inside the bottom three, hiring a manager with plenty of experience in relegation battles may be a wiser move.
Source: www.footballfancast.com
