SAKA, ANTONY AND 10 PREMIER LEAGUE STARS HEADING TO THEIR FIRST WORLD CUP
When Jean-Philippe Mateta’s name was included in the starting XI last night, Crystal Palace fans everywhere were brimming with excitement.
It was to be their first sighting of the €3 million (£2.6 million) loanee in a red and blue shirt, with plenty excited to see what the unknown quantity is capable of.
Sadly, due to Roy Hodgson’s playing style, we’re still waiting.
The Eagles provided the Frenchman with barely any service apart from the odd, hopeful long ball up to his head.
As WhoScored shows, the 23-year-old mustered up just 16 passes at Elland Road before being withdrawn in the 64th minute.
For the record, we are by no means criticising Mateta.
He was partaking in his first game, in a new country, for a new club, and he certainly wasn’t helped by the negative style of play which we are witnessing on a weekly basis, unfortunately.
The danger here is that Mateta loses confidence if more games pan out like they did against Leeds.
He will be desperate to impress, although Hodgson’s system would hinder any striker on the planet.
In our view, even Harry Kane would struggle to hit double figures for goals in this set-up.
We have already witnessed Christian Benteke transform from a 17-goal hitman into a goal-shy, timid attacker under the ex-England manager’s tutelage.
It is up to Hodgson and Mateta’s teammates to provide him with some quality service, to ensure that the new boy’s confidence doesn’t completely evaporate.
If it does, then he can consider himself a member of the striker’s graveyard known as Selhurst Park, alongside Benteke, Connor Wickham and others.
