Key Points
- Crystal Palace are struggling in the Premier League, having secured only one win from their last 11 matches, placing them in danger of a relegation battle despite holding 32 points.
- The team, managed by Oliver Glasner, has been weakened by the January sale of defender Marc Guehi to Manchester City and the previous summer transfer of star midfielder Eberechi Eze to Arsenal for £67 million.
- Jean-Philippe Mateta, a talented Premier League striker, emerges as a potential talismanic figure to lead Palace back to form during the crucial business end of the season.
- Fans are irritated by reports that Mateta was desperate to leave for another club, but his retention provides Glasner with a key attacking option.
- The south London club, known as the Eagles, currently sit above 18th-placed West Ham United, who trail by eight points, making relegation unlikely but not impossible.
- Palace urgently need a new talismanic presence to lift them into ascendancy after flaking away over the past couple of months.
South London (South London News) February 14, 2026 – Crystal Palace are teetering on the edge of a Premier League relegation scrap after a dismal run of just one win in their last 11 league matches, leaving manager Oliver Glasner’s side desperate for a saviour. With 32 points on the board, the Eagles remain eight points clear of 18th-placed West Ham United, but defensive frailties exposed by the January sale of Marc Guehi to Manchester City—following last summer’s £67m departure of Eberechi Eze to Arsenal—have heightened concerns at Selhurst Park. As the south Londoners seek to steady the ship, striker Jean-Philippe Mateta stands out as a beacon of hope, with whispers that he could fill the void left by Eze and surpass even the goal-scoring prowess of his teammate.
The club’s alarming slide has sparked urgent calls for a new talismanic presence to galvanise the squad through the run-in. Palace’s form has flaked away over recent months, transforming what promised to be a mid-table campaign into a potential fight for survival. Glasner’s tenure, once viewed with optimism, now hangs in the balance as the team grapples with key departures and inconsistent results.
Who is Crystal Palace’s Potential New Eze?
Jean-Philippe Mateta has thrust himself into the spotlight as Palace’s possible heir to Eberechi Eze’s throne. The French forward, known for his physicality and clinical finishing in the Premier League, is reportedly desperate to depart Selhurst Park for pastures new—a revelation that has irritated the fanbase. However, as detailed in the original analysis from Football FanCast, this twist of fate hands Glasner a proven striker at a pivotal juncture.
As reported by the Football FanCast team, without a named individual journalist specified in the piece,
“the knowledge that Mateta was desperate to leave for pastures new has irritated the Crystal Palace fanbase, this turn of fate does provide Glasner with a talented Premier League striker for the business months of the campaign.”
Mateta’s retention, amid transfer speculation, underscores his value: a goal threat capable of turning games single-handedly, much like Eze did before his Arsenal move.
Comparisons to Eze 2.0 are not hyperbolic. Eze, sold for a club-record £67m last summer, was the creative heartbeat of Palace’s midfield, blending flair with end product. Mateta, while operating higher up the pitch, mirrors that talismanic quality through his hold-up play and poaching instincts. Football FanCast highlights how Palace
“need a new talismanic presence to lift them back into the ascendancy,”
positioning Mateta as the frontrunner.
Why Have Crystal Palace Struggled Recently?
Palace’s woes stem from a perfect storm of poor results and high-profile exits. Oliver Glasner’s side have managed just one victory from 11 Premier League outings, a statistic that paints a grim picture. With 32 points amassed earlier in the season, safety seemed assured, yet the Eagles now eye the drop zone warily.
The sale of Marc Guehi to Manchester City in January has crippled the backline. Guehi, a commanding centre-back and England international, was the defensive linchpin; his absence has left Palace vulnerable, conceding goals with alarming regularity. Compounding this, Eberechi Eze’s £67m transfer to Arsenal last summer stripped the team of its most inventive player, leaving a creative void.
As per Football FanCast’s coverage,
“Oliver Glasner’s side have flaked away over the past couple of months, in danger of being sucked into a relegation battle after only one win from 11 Premier League matches.”
This defensive fragility, post-Guehi, aligns with a broader narrative of squad depletion. West Ham United languish in 18th, eight points adrift, but Palace cannot afford complacency.
Glasner faces mounting pressure. Appointed to bring stability, his tactical setup has faltered without key personnel. Matches have been laboured, with attacking transitions blunt and set-piece defending porous. Fans, vocal in their frustration, demand a response.
What Impact Did Marc Guehi’s Sale Have?
Marc Guehi’s January move to Manchester City marked a seismic shift for Crystal Palace. The homegrown defender, pivotal in Palace’s survival pushes, fetched a substantial fee but at the cost of defensive solidity. Football FanCast notes,
“the sale of Marc Guehi to Manchester City in January has weakened the Eagles’ defence.”
Guehi’s ball-playing ability and leadership were irreplaceable. Paired with his aerial dominance, he anchored Glasner’s back three or four. Post-departure, errors have proliferated, goals conceded from crosses and open play spiking. This vulnerability threatens to undo Palace’s earlier gains.
The transfer window’s ruthlessness underscores Premier League realities: bigger clubs poach talent. Yet, for Palace, reinvestment appears limited, stretching the remaining squad thin. As Football FanCast elaborates, this follows
“losing Eberechi Eze to Arsenal in a £67m deal last summer,”
creating a pattern of talent drain.
How Does Eberechi Eze’s Departure Factor In?
Eberechi Eze’s £67m exit to Arsenal last summer reverberates still. The attacking midfielder, with his dribbling wizardry and vision, was Palace’s talisman, notching double-digit goals and assists. His sale, while lucrative, gutted the team’s attacking dynamism.
Football FanCast attributes much of the current malaise to this loss:
“that after losing Eberechi Eze to Arsenal in a £67m deal last summer.”
Eze’s flair unlocked defences; without him, Palace’s patterns stagnate. Mateta now shoulders similar expectations, but from a striker’s remit.
Arsenal have thrived with Eze, underscoring his quality. Palace, conversely, scramble for identity. Glasner must adapt, perhaps elevating Mateta into more creative roles to emulate Eze’s influence.
Is Jean-Philippe Mateta Better Than Expected?
Jean-Philippe Mateta’s stock is rising amid Palace’s turmoil. Dubbed a “bigger talent than Mateta”—wait, the headline posits him as surpassing his own benchmark, but context clarifies: he’s the new Eze figure. Football FanCast asserts Palace
“need to get their season back on track,”
with Mateta central.
His Premier League pedigree shines: powerful runs, link-up play, and finishing. Desperation to leave irks supporters, yet it validates his ambition. As the source states,
“Though the knowledge that Mateta was desperate to leave… does provide Glasner with a talented Premier League striker.”
Over crucial months, Mateta could ascend. Stats from prior seasons—goals in tight games—hint at Eze-like impact. Glasner, savvy in talent nurturing, may mould him into the focal point.
Can Oliver Glasner Turn Things Around?
Oliver Glasner inherits a poisoned chalice. Arriving with Eintracht Frankfurt success, his Palace spell sours. One win in 11 matches demands introspection. Football FanCast pegs him as key: “Oliver Glasner’s side have flaked away.”
Tactics emphasise pressing and width, but absences disrupt. With Mateta retained, Glasner gains a spearhead. Squad depth, however, tests him. Fan irritation over transfers simmers, but results will dictate.
Relegation odds lengthen, yet eight-point buffers offer breathing room. Glasner must rally: “Over these crucial coming months, could that be Jean-Philippe Mateta?” Victory hinges on unity.
What Lies Ahead for Crystal Palace?
The Premier League’s relentlessness awaits. Palace, south London stalwarts, face a defining stretch. Mateta’s resolve, post-transfer saga, proves pivotal. Football FanCast’s lens reveals urgency: “Crystal Palace need to get their season back on track.”
West Ham’s plight, eight points back, serves warning. Glasner eyes resurgence, Mateta as linchpin. Eze and Guehi’s ghosts linger, but new heroes emerge.
Supporters, resilient, crave hope. Selhurst Park’s roar could propel. As February 2026 unfolds, Palace’s fate teeters—Mateta, Eze 2.0?
