Football Manager 2022 Crystal Palace tactic and team guide. Club culture
and board requirements, tactics, key players, youth prospects and potential
transfers in FM22.
Here is a brief analysis of the Crystal Palace squad, their club structure, relationship any potential managers will have with the board, expectations and possible tactics any FM2022 manager can use.
About Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace are a London club that play their home matches at Selhurst Park. After initially being a part of the Premier League in 1992, the club yoyoed between the first 2 tiers of English football by getting relegated thrice. They eventually fell into administration in 1999 and had a tumultuous few years after that. However, after the successful purchase of the club by a few fans led by Steve Parrish, the club eventually came back into the Premier League in 2013. Now, Palace are a lower mid-table club aiming for some stability.
Palace finished 14th in the 2020-2021 season, but the board requirements once you take over are pretty basic;
· Making the 5th round of the FA cup
· Making the 4th round of the EFL Carabao Cup.
· Grow the Club's reputation.
You will additionally be required to play counter-attacking football, develop players using the club’s youth system and sign players who are u23 for the future.
Palace have decent training facilities and a moderate youth setup. Once you reach your initial objectives with the club, you should aim to improve the facilities to increase the club stature and become more consistent.
RELATED: FM22 Transfer and Wage Budgets
Squad, Formation and Tactical Style
You should definitely aim to play a fluid counter-attacking tactic with Palace, as the key strength lies in the pacy wingers. You should definitely aim to release the ball quickly and catch the opponent off guard.
A 4-3-3 is ideally suited for the palace squad. This ensures that adequate backup is given to the defenders, and once you release the ball quickly, the wingers will come into play with their direct running and trickery.
A rough example of what your line-up would look like in a 4-3-3 formation is as follows;
Vicente Guaita as a sweeper keeper.
Marc Guehi & Joachim Anderson as the 2 ball-playing centre backs.
Tyrick Mitchell & Nathaniel Clyne as the 2 fullbacks. The former should be given more attacking freedom and the latter to be played more defensively.
Conor Gallagher, Will Hughes & Cheikhou Kouyate as the 3 central midfielders. Kouyate to be played as the holding midfielder, Gallagher as a box to box midfielder & Hughes as a playmaker.
Wilfried Zaha & Eberechi Eze as the 2 attacking wingers. Zaha to be played as an inverted winger from the right side of the pitch.
Odsonne Edouard as the lone striker in an Advanced Forward role.
You can alternatively use a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-4-2 if you wish to mix things up.
Wilfried Zaha is the heart and soul of the Crystal Palace team. Most attacks go through him. The pace and trickery of the winger rank amongst the best. You’ll do well to retain him in the club.
Odsonne Edouard
New signing Edouard is an accomplished finisher who is lethal in front of goal. His performances will definitely help managers get results with Palace.
Eberechi Eze
Although he has not had an ideal start to his Palace career, Eze oozes quality and with the right guidance, can easily become a top player at the club. He is a natural goal threat and an attacking release option.
Youth Prospects
Tyrick Mitchell
Mitchell is already the starting full back for Palace and will only improve with time. In a few years, he can be amongst the best players at the club.
Michael Olise
The new signing oozes quality and is an excellent dribbler of the ball. He also excels at set-pieces and can be one of the best players at the club in the future.
Weaknesses
· The overall squad depth is also quite average outside the first team. The backups may not be up to the league standards.
· The quality of fullbacks, especially on the right, is quite poor.
· Palace have a big squad where many of the backups are ageing which could lead to disharmony inside the team.
Potential Transfers (in)
These players could be a handy addition to the Palace squad and help them achieve their targets,
· Tyrone Mings
· Ainsley Maitland Niles
Potential Transfers (Out)
These players may be surplus to requirements at the club or may not be of the expected quality.
· James McArthur
· Jairo Riedelwald