Glasner must hit ground running to prevent Eagles being downed

Manager Roy Hodgson agreed to step aside to allow the club to appoint Austrian Oliver Glasner, but the former Eintracht Frankfurt boss must hit the ground running, or Palace could be facing the drop.

Glasner, 49, has a solid managerial record across his last three jobs. At Eintracht Frankfurt, he guided the club to Europa League success in 2021/22.

He also won the Austrian second tier with LASK. Glasner’s points per game averages at Frankfurt, Wolfsburg and LASK are impressive, too.

But Palace, in their current predicament, present the Austrian’s biggest test, and this is echoed by the best sports betting sites, who don’t hold out too much hope where Palace’s odds are concerned in the majority of fixtures they have remaining.

What Glasner must first get to grips with is enabling his news team to pick up points without key duo Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise.

Without Eze and Olise, Palace struggle, it’s clear to see. But this isn’t something Glasner or his staff can focus on, their focus must be on finding a way to pick up points, and, if possible, wins.

If they can find a way, Palace may be able to pull clear and not be embroiled in a relegation scrap when there’s just a handful of games remaining.

Another hurdle Glasner will have to get over is the fixture list itself. Not only do Palace have Spurs, Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United and Aston Villa still to play, but they also have teams like Luton too, who are fighting for their lives and have proven themselves more capable of competing in the second half of the season especially.

Luton have shown they’re a team that can pick up points and hold their own in most games, and this puts pressure on Palace.

What will also be a factor is if Everton are successful in their appeal against their points deduction.

If they get some or all the ten points back that they were deducted, it could really throw the cat amongst the pigeons. So this will only up the ante and mount the pressure on Glasner to hit the ground running at Selhurst Park.

What will stand Glasner in good stead is that he’s been described in the past as being somewhat of a miracle worker.

He’s a manager who has defied the odds and has the confidence and determination to keep doing so. The Austrian is also fully aware of the challenge ahead, and he’s taken the job regardless.

Glasner may also have the luxury of the manager bounce because his style of play could catch teams off guard. Opposition outfits won’t be playing a predictable Palace team, they will be facing a side that will play a different way than they have previously, which could prove to be another weapon in their arsenal.