The Athletic FC Podcast: "How much danger are Palace in?"
Date: February 5, 2026
Host: Ayo Akinwolere
Guests: Matt Woosnam (Crystal Palace correspondent), Dom Fifield
Episode Overview
This episode of The Athletic FC Podcast investigates Crystal Palace's turbulent 2026, marked by a winless streak, key departures, a chaotic transfer window, and uncertainty over the club’s trajectory in the Premier League and Europe. Host Ayo Akinwolere is joined by experts Matt Woosnam and Dom Fifield to dissect the reasons behind Palace’s slide, examine the lasting impact of transfer business and managerial change, and gauge the club's prospects for the remainder of the season.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Transfer Window Chaos and Squad Turnover (01:46–05:32)
- Club Record Signings: Palace broke their transfer record twice in the January window, signing Brennan Johnson and Jørgen Strand Larsen, signaling unusual, late-window activity for the normally conservative club.
- High Player Turnover: Palace lost experienced mainstays—Ezra, Mark Gaye (club captain), and have doubts over Jean-Philippe Mateta. Combined, these three accounted for 900 first-team appearances.
- Replacement Strategy: The club moved for immediate, Premier League-ready replacements with significant senior experience, though not as proven or ingrained as those lost.
- “You can’t judge a transfer window as soon as the deadline passes. … Let’s have a look in three, six, nine months, and then judge.” – Dom Fifield (04:45)
2. Can Palace Compete in Europe and Cope in the League? (05:32–07:35)
- Europa Conference League Ambitions: Despite domestic woes, Palace’s resources make them favorites for UEFA’s third-tier competition.
- “I’d expect them to go very, very deep in that competition, if not win it.” – Dom Fifield (05:41)
- Squad Balance and Fatigue: With exits from domestic cups and tempered league ambitions, focus may shift to European success.
3. Impact of Recruitment Changes Post-Dougie Freedman (06:32–07:35)
- Leadership Transition: Replacing long-serving recruitment chief Dougie Freedman with Matt Hobbs has challenged club stability and familiarity.
- Recruitment Structure Broadening: Steve Parish, Palace chairman, considers expanding recruitment into a true department rather than relying on one key figure.
4. The Huge Hole Left by Mark Gaye's Departure (07:35–09:27)
- Leadership and Quality Loss: Gaye’s departure is irreplaceable mid-season, weakening the dressing room and defensive reliability.
- “It’s impossible to replace him...he leads by example and I think Palace will miss that.” – Matt Woosnam (07:49)
- Replacement Challenges: January market made it impossible to sign proven quality, with failed bids for top targets and only minor cover returning from injury.
5. The Jean-Philippe Mateta Conundrum (11:46–16:16)
- Out-of-form, Injured, Unhappy: Palace’s top scorer is out of form, nursing a knee injury, and wants a move, having rejected improved terms since 2024.
- Failed Transfers and Fan Friction: A proposed AC Milan move fell through, and both club and fans have grown disillusioned after social media spats and controversial comments.
- Player Mismanagement:
- “I actually feel a bit sorry for Jean-Philippe Mateta because I think he’s been unbelievably poorly advised.” – Dom Fifield (14:14)
- International Implications: A move now looks unlikely, jeopardizing both club future and his France World Cup dream.
6. The Inevitable Cycle—Palace as a Selling Club (19:00–23:47)
- The Club Food Chain: Despite 2025 silverware and European qualification, Palace’s best players are being picked off by richer clubs (“big money of Arsenal have come in again…”).
- Historical Precedent: Collapse after prior periods of relative success is a recurring club theme; the window for “glory” is always short-lived.
- “Almost inevitably, it’s just the food chain in English football.” – Dom Fifield (20:15)
7. Aspiring to Break the Glass Ceiling—Villa Comparisons & Infrastructure (23:47–25:22)
- Realism vs. Ambition: Can Palace ever become a fixture in the Premier League’s upper echelons like Aston Villa?
- “I think it’s extremely difficult for Palace to reach a level of Aston Villa. But I don’t think it’s completely impossible.” – Matt Woosnam (24:17)
- Financial Fair Play and Investment: New financial regulations will make progress even harder without major structural improvements.
8. Managerial Uncertainty: Oliver Glasner’s Impending Exit (25:22–30:54)
- Glasner’s Departure Announced: Already told the board he won’t sign a new contract; an increasingly emotional, disruptor approach valued by some but unsettling for the club hierarchy.
- Managerial Succession:
- “I think Palace may sort of revert a little bit…to a manager that they maybe know a bit more about, someone who’s perhaps less emotional and a bit more grounded and probably less ambitious.” – Matt Woosnam (25:31)
- Short-Term Risks: If results deteriorate (potentially as soon as the Brighton derby), Glasner could leave even sooner.
- Leadership Optics: Outspoken press conferences damage perceptions—future employers may see a red flag, even if clubs believe “that won’t happen with us.”
9. Relegation Risk: Will Palace Get Sucked In? (33:08–37:31)
- Matt’s Bold Prediction:
- “Palace are not going to get relegated. Straight up. They're not getting relegated.” – Matt Woosnam (33:37)
- Statistics Behind Optimism: Only a 2% chance per Opta; Palace have a significant points cushion and key players returning.
- But…Sliding Further Could Change Everything: Poor results, especially against rivals and lower-table teams, could force a managerial crisis and fan unrest.
10. The Brighton Derby—A Season-Defining Match? (37:07–39:59)
- Derby Context: Long-standing rivalry rooted in 1970s promotions; emotionally and historically charged.
- “It’s a rivalry really, born of familiarity…the clubs came up from the third tier to the top division together…a lot of fractious games.” – Dom Fifield (37:31)
- Opportunity for Redemption: Players and manager have a chance to win over the fanbase and halt the slide.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Transfer Judgement:
“You can’t judge a transfer window as soon as the deadline passes…judge a transfer window in three months time, six months time, nine months time even.”
– Dom Fifield (04:45) -
On Losing Mark Gaye:
“It’s impossible to replace him…such an incredibly talented player, but also, you know, in the squad, a big part of the squad as well as in off the pitch, big part of the dressing room.”
– Matt Woosnam (07:49) -
On Palace as a Stepping-Stone Club:
“There’s an inevitability at some point they all leave, and I think that’s really the problem here.”
– Dom Fifield (22:05) -
On Glasner’s Press Conferences:
“You just don’t do that in public, unfortunately.”
– Dom Fifield (30:38) -
Matt’s Relegation Challenge:
“If Palace get relegated, you can clip this up, put it on social media, tag me and put me in the stocks publicly.”
– Matt Woosnam (33:42)
Important Segment Timestamps
- Transfer window analysis & squad turnover: 01:46–05:32
- Competing in Conference League/League priorities: 05:32–07:35
- Recruitment department after Dougie Freedman: 06:32–07:35
- Mark Gaye’s departure & defensive stability: 07:35–09:27, 11:11
- Mateta saga and contract limbo: 11:46–16:16
- Palace’s place in the football food chain: 19:00–23:47
- Aston Villa as a model—ambition vs. reality: 23:47–25:22
- Managerial change—Glasner’s future: 25:22–30:54
- Relegation danger, fan sentiment, likelihood: 33:08–37:31
- Brighton rivalry and importance of next game: 37:07–39:59
Tone & Style
The discussion is candid, sometimes combative, with flashes of wry humor and reflective realism—especially from Dom Fifield’s historical perspective and Matt Woosnam’s die-hard optimism. The hosts draw from both analytics and anecdotal club history, providing a balanced, comprehensive look at Palace’s unique circumstances in 2026.
Conclusion
The episode delivers a nuanced look at Palace's current instability—an intersection of optimism for new signings, concern over defensive and leadership losses, skepticism about managerial direction, and a grounded sense of their status as a "stepping-stone" club. With massive games looming and more than pride at stake, the next few weeks look critical for Crystal Palace's season narrative and identity.