Crystal Palace's Path to Overload: Consecutive Matches Threaten Burnout
Crystal Palace is bracing for a grueling spell of fixtures that could put an unsustainable strain on their players. Having navigated the tricky waters of the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, the Eagles now find themselves juggling multiple commitments in a condensed timeline.
Their next match against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium is set to take place on December 16 or 17 – just two days after facing Finnish side KuPS. This back-to-back fixture raises serious questions about Palace's ability to cope with their packed schedule, particularly considering they are also booked for Premier League clashes against Manchester City and Leeds in the coming weeks.
The situation is compounded by the fact that Arsenal have already secured Champions League fixtures in January, leaving Palace without much room for maneuver. The Football Association (FA) has been engaged in discussions with the English Football League (EFL), but a solution seems elusive, given the congested schedule.
In a surprising parallel to Tottenham's 2020 experience, Palace will be competing in four competitions simultaneously – an unprecedented feat that could lead to player fatigue and injury. The recent hamstring issue affecting Eddie Nketiah serves as a worrying portent of things to come.
Glasner's concerns about squad depth are well-founded, given the strain imposed by their multiple commitments. His warnings about the scheduling of past matches, such as the FA Cup semi-final against Aston Villa in May, have fallen on deaf ears – an uncomfortable irony considering Palace's precarious position now.
With Palace's packed schedule showing no signs of easing, the question remains whether they will be able to navigate this period without succumbing to player burnout. The answer, for now, seems shrouded in uncertainty as the Eagles confront the daunting prospect of five matches in just 11 days.
Crystal Palace is bracing for a grueling spell of fixtures that could put an unsustainable strain on their players. Having navigated the tricky waters of the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, the Eagles now find themselves juggling multiple commitments in a condensed timeline.
Their next match against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium is set to take place on December 16 or 17 – just two days after facing Finnish side KuPS. This back-to-back fixture raises serious questions about Palace's ability to cope with their packed schedule, particularly considering they are also booked for Premier League clashes against Manchester City and Leeds in the coming weeks.
The situation is compounded by the fact that Arsenal have already secured Champions League fixtures in January, leaving Palace without much room for maneuver. The Football Association (FA) has been engaged in discussions with the English Football League (EFL), but a solution seems elusive, given the congested schedule.
In a surprising parallel to Tottenham's 2020 experience, Palace will be competing in four competitions simultaneously – an unprecedented feat that could lead to player fatigue and injury. The recent hamstring issue affecting Eddie Nketiah serves as a worrying portent of things to come.
Glasner's concerns about squad depth are well-founded, given the strain imposed by their multiple commitments. His warnings about the scheduling of past matches, such as the FA Cup semi-final against Aston Villa in May, have fallen on deaf ears – an uncomfortable irony considering Palace's precarious position now.
With Palace's packed schedule showing no signs of easing, the question remains whether they will be able to navigate this period without succumbing to player burnout. The answer, for now, seems shrouded in uncertainty as the Eagles confront the daunting prospect of five matches in just 11 days.