Sage may point to the disbanding of the squad that led Palace to their first ever major trophies, with the FA Cup in 2025 before last season’s Europa Conference League triumph, as the reason for his tough start to life in south London.<\/p>\n
Eberechi Eze, Michael Olise, Maxence Lacroix, Daniel Munoz and Guehi have all departed Selhurst Park since the summer of 2024.<\/p>\n
The departure of highly influential sporting director Dougie Freedman in 2025 has also been keenly felt.<\/p>\n
In addition to Sage, the position of Freedman’s replacement Matt Hobbs is also under the spotlight.<\/p>\n
But conceding 17 goals in seven Premier League matches points to a problem, at least in part, of Sage’s own making.<\/p>\n
The team’s recent DNA is rooted in defensive stability. Predecessors Glasner and Roy Hodgson produced well-organised teams with a solid base for its attacking players.<\/p>\n
Conceding close to 2.5 goals per game is so far removed from what the team’s recent successes has been built upon that it has raised major concern from the club’s powerbrokers.<\/p>\n
Palace are currently on course to concede 92 goals this season. No club has conceded more since Sheffield United shipped 104 goals to finish bottom in 2024. <\/p>\n
Personnel is contributing to those defensive deficiencies. Losing Guehi, Lacroix and Munoz in the space of six months represent significant losses.<\/p>\n
From the three centre-backs that started in Sunday’s 5-0 loss to Brighton<\/a>, Jaydee Canvot is 20 years old and Honest Ahanor only 18.<\/p>\n Nevertheless, there is a clear sense from inside the club that Sage’s system and approach has been a major contributing factor towards their troubles in defence.<\/p>\n There is a perception from sections of supporters that the club’s summer defensive recruitment has not helped.<\/p>\n Takehiro Tomiyasu, Ben Chilwell and Oscar Mingueza arrived on free transfers, while Axel Disasi and Ahanor arrived on loan.<\/p>\n As mitigation, it is understood Palace have encountered major difficulty in complying with Uefa’s financial rules, leaving them hampered in the transfer market.<\/p>\n Trying to stay within Uefa’s guidelines was among the reasons why the club sold Munoz to Nottingham Forest<\/a> for \u00a322m.<\/p>\n But those financial difficulties do not make the situation Sage finds himself any less critical.<\/p>\n