SAKA, ANTONY AND 10 PREMIER LEAGUE STARS HEADING TO THEIR FIRST WORLD CUP
Of all the signings Crystal Palace have made this summer, there’s one player who’s going to completely transform the way we play.
Marc Guéhi.
The 21-year-old is a unique defender to the Selhurst Park faithful – SE25 has rarely seen a centre-back so composed, and surgical, in possession.
Heroic in 3-1 win over Watford
Earlier today, Guéhi played 90 minutes as the Eagles recorded an impressive 3-1 win over Watford.
In eye-catching fashion, the 21-year-old completed 84 of his 88 passes, and had more touches than any other player with 98.
Marc Guéhi completed 84 of the 88 passes he attempted today 👏
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) August 7, 2021
He also had the most touches (98)#CPFC | https://t.co/utMcYSlISB pic.twitter.com/fF5TP1O2M8
One moment saw Guéhi – under pressure – deftly clip the ball over a couple of Watford players into Wilfried Zaha, which led to us starting an attack.
It was something that fans of Manchester City and Liverpool are probably used to seeing most weeks.
However, to us, it’s something we’re not accustomed to, as the likes of Scott Dann and Gary Cahill wouldn’t usually have done it.
Marc Guéhi will transform Crystal Palace
It’s a bold thing to say about a 21-year-old, but he will.
As aforesaid, Dann and Cahill wouldn’t have had the awareness to find Zaha in that area, nor would Cheikhou Kouyate or James Tomkins for that matter – with all due respect to their abilities.
For too long, we’ve employed centre-backs who are far too happy to just hoof the ball to safety, rather than think about how they could contribute to an attack.
In Guéhi – and Joachim Andersen – we now have two defenders who are far more resourceful in possession.
If the midfielders and attackers can show themselves and find space to receive passes from them, we will almost certainly go up a level under Patrick Vieira.
