This may be an unpopular opinion, but the pride of South London find themselves in a relegation battle. Yes, only months after lifting the FA Cup for their first major trophy in over a century, Crystal Palace are now going to have to battle for survival.
Since promotion into the Premier League back in 2013, Crystal Palace have become one of those clubs oft-referred to as “solidly mid-table.” Basically, this is an euphemism for a side that doesn’t often play the “beautiful” part of the game, but put up a good fight and can occasionally shock a superior opponent.
Enter Oliver Glasner
The Austrian manager, who replaced Roy Hodgson in late February 2024, revamped the Eagles. Under his guidance Crystal Palace emerged as one of the league’s most feared clubs. Possessing a resilient defense, and with a surfeit of attacking options, they were a thorn in the side of anyone who faced them.
True, for much of his first year Glasner’s tenure bore little differentiation from previous regimes.
The Eagles rumbled through the end of the 23/24 season between 14th and 15th place before a late surge propelled them into 10th.
The 24/25 season didn’t look much better. The club started abysmally, dropping all the way into 19th by Matchweek 12.
But then things picked up. A strong showing during the December 2024 Crucible pulled them up from the relegation zone back into the familiar position of 15th place. It’s at this point where Crystal Palace began a tremendous run of form, heralding what I call the “Icarus” period.
The Icarus Syndrome
It may seem a trite analogy, but likening Palace’s performance arc with that of Icarus is appropriate. Much like the mythical figure who flew too close to the sun with manufactured wings, Palace’s swift rise has met with some turbulence and ultimately a collapse. There are three clear phases of how this transpired, going all the way back to January of 2025.
Ascent
Timeframe: Jan. 2, 2025 through Oct. 2, 2025
Games: 33 (all competitions)
Record: 23 wins, 10 draws, 4 losses. Avg. 2.39 points per game (ppg).
By the standards of any non-Big Six club, a run like this is exceptional. True, they suffered two embarrassing back-to-back losses (5-0 and 5-1 to Newcastle and Manchester City). But the FA Cup victory over the latter, plus lifting the Supporter’s Shield over league champion Liverpool, more than made up for any sting. Even the loss of Eberechi Eze to Arsenal, and the snub from UEFA is dropping the club to the Conference League, couldn’t quell the optimism around Selhurst Park.
Melting
Timeframe: Oct. 5, 2025 through Dec. 12, 2025
Games: 14 (all competitions)
Record: 7 wins, 2 draws, 5 losses. Avg. 1.64 points per game (ppg).
It’s right about here that you see the wax holding the apparatus together beginning to melt. The sustained pressure of Carabao Cup and Conference League games on top of league ties began to take its toll. Overall the numbers are still good; the view from up high is still lovely. But the club is losing altitude, and shedding feathers. The injury to Daniel Muñoz is a significant blow.
Freefall
Timeframe: Dec. 14, 2025 through present
Games: 13 (all competitions)
Record: 0 wins, 3 draws, 10 losses. Avg. 0.23 points per game (ppg).
At this time the feathers are long gone. The club has sold captain Marc Guéhi to Manchester City. Jean-Philippe Mateta, their top goal scorer, is the target of a $40M offer from Nottingham Forest. Midfielder Adam Wharton is a rumored target for a summer transfer.
On top of all that, manager Oliver Glasner has announced he will not return and is throwing verbal potshots at the Palace board, accusing them of “abandoning” him and the club’s players.
The Hard Landing
All falls must end. For Icarus, he tumbled into the ocean and drowned. For Palace, their collapse could result in dropping out of the Premier League altogether.
Though they currently have an eight point cushion over 18th place West Ham United with 15 matches left to play, their place in the top flight is far from guaranteed. Until they reach the magic safety number of 36-39 points, Palace must approach every league fixture with the shadow of relegation looming over them.
Fixtures against other midtable sides take on added weight, particularly the next two against Nottingham Forest and Brighton & Hove Albion. The April 18 tie with West Ham United could very well be a decider for both teams.
The Qooligan is a respected Sports Journalist specializing in Soccer, Premier League and Champions League who holds a Masters – History from Columbia University. With extensive experience in Sports Journalism, particularly in Soccer, Premier League and Champions League, The Qooligan provides expert analysis and valuable insights based on years of professional practice. You can read more of The Qooligan’s professional background on Hooligan Soccer and Hooligan Soccer. Connect with The Qooligan on X and Bluesky. The Qooligan is an alias of Hooligan Soccer founder Q Williams. Q is a 20+ year veteran of numerous technology and media companies, including MTV, Gracenote, Watchwith and Crunchyroll. He has a master’s degree in European History from Columbia University. As an established authority in Sports Journalism with specialized knowledge in Soccer, Premier League and Champions League, The Qooligan is committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy content that reflects both expertise and experience.
