Roy Hodgson is doing a decent job in his first season at Selhurst Park. He not only managed to lift the Eagles out of the drop zone but is now in a position where he can think about taking his team to the top half of the points table.
However, injuries to key players have seriously dented their chances and the January transfer window will give the manager the perfect chance to rebuild his squad for the business end of the season. This has seen the club linked with a number of star players for a move this month.
Palace have already signed Erdal Rakip this month but have now announced Poland international Jaroslaw Jach on a three and a half year deal. The 23-year old CB is one of the most highly rated players in his country but how will Palace lineup with their new defender?
Hodgson has mostly stuck with a 4 man backline this season. The likes of Andros Townsend, Wilfried Zaha and Christian Benteke remain the first choice attackers for the Eagles. They are responsible to add goals to their game and have not been consistent enough this season.
The likes of Luka Milivojevic, Jason Puncheon (now injured), James McArthur, Yohan Cabaye (now injured), Ruben Loftus Cheek (now injured), Erdal Rakip (new signing) and Jairo Riedewald have all taken turns in the midfield.
Milivojevic has cemented a place in the first team as the deepest of the midfielders while McArthur and Loftus-Cheek provide Palace with the perfect balance in the midfield. In Loftus-Cheek’s and Cabaye’s absence, Reidewald gives the side an edge in midfield.
However, when it comes to their backline, Palace have just not been able to stick with a fixed lineup. While Wayne Hennesey has done well this season under the bar, Julian Speroni is not a bad option in this role. Hodgson seems to prefer Hennesey, who should be his first choice for most games this season.
Joel Ward acts as the defensive cover at right-back while young Timothy Fosu-Mensah, who is effective at both ends of the field, can also be used against the easier oppositions. Jeffery Schlupp (who is now out injured) is what Ward is, at right back. He is backed up by Patrick van Aanholt at left-back as an attacking option.
At CB, Hodgson used Scott Dann as his first choice defender. However, he is ruled out for the rest of the season, leaving James Tomkins as the only senior defender at the side, other than Mamadou Sakho, who is also currently injured and Martin Kelly.
The French international will be back in no time but Jach, at 22, could give Palace a chance to use an all aggressive partnership of Sakho and Jach.
Strongest lineup (4-3-3):
The trio of Sakho, Jach and Tomkins can also play in a 3-4-3 system, which will see Milivojevic and McArthur play as a midfield duo behind Zaha, Townsend and Benteke.
Strongest lineup (3-4-3):
Which do you think suits Palace better?
