The Athletic FC Podcast — "Why is there so much uncertainty at Palace?"

Date: January 12, 2026
Host: Ayo Akinwolere
Guests: Matt Woosnam (Crystal Palace writer), Dom Fifield, Rob Smethurst (Macclesfield owner)

Episode Overview

This episode digs into the shock FA Cup defeat of Crystal Palace by sixth-tier Macclesfield, examining what went wrong for Palace, the emotional and sporting impact for both clubs, and, crucially, the uncertain futures of Palace manager Oliver Glasner and captain Marc Guéhi. The conversation expands to broader issues of squad building, the realities for mid-table clubs in the Premier League, and the powerful community side of football as told through Macclesfield’s fairytale win.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Macclesfield's Historic Cup Upset

[02:12]-[03:02]

• Unprecedented Shock: Macclesfield—a club 117 league places below Palace—knock out the FA Cup holders. First time in 155 years a top-flight side has lost to a sixth-tier team.
  • "We were just in floods of tears ... watching grown men cry ... who've supported this club from well before I got it."
    – Rob Smethurst (02:12)
• Reactions: Even high-profile ex-pros like JJ Okocha and John Obi Mikel, watching alongside host Ayo, were stunned.

2. What Went Wrong for Palace: Lack of Urgency and Depth

[03:02]-[08:18]

• Woosnam’s Take: Admits he hasn’t fully processed the match, describes Palace’s inability to ignite and Macclesfield’s stronger desire and composure:
  • "From a Palace point of view, it’s infuriating … But part of that comes from Palace having won the FA Cup in May ... It’s hard to really process exactly what happened." – Matt Woosnam (03:02)
• Macclesfield Praised:
  • "Macclesfield were by far and away the better team ... They played really, really well. They were well organised at both ends of the pitch. And Palace were not any of those things … exactly the right result." – Dom Fifield (03:58)
• Palace’s approach:
  • Played nervously from the start, lacked "responsibility," physicality, and player cohesion.
• Notable Moment: Woosnam recounts the post-match camaraderie between Macclesfield’s Sam Heathcote and Paul Dawson—a snapshot of the pure joy in the Macclesfield camp.
  • "They were just laughing and smiling and it was just a really, a really nice moment and that was just really pure." – Matt Woosnam (07:51)

3. Recruitment Woes and Squad Depletion at Palace

[08:18]-[13:02]

• Dom’s Assessment:
  • Palace’s "first-choice XI" is unavailable (injuries, AFCON, etc.), but that’s no excuse. Bigger systemic issues:
    • Poor summer transfer window.
    • New signings (except JD Camvo) have yet to add value.
    • Preparation and adaptation failures (esp. to pitch and opponent).
  • "One transfer window can set you back years if it’s poor ... Those five players all played on Saturday and the team were really, really poor and unfortunately I think that has exposed the deficiencies of Palace’s transfer window in the summer." – Dom Fifield (12:02)
• Lack of Physicality and Profile:
  • Palace lack players with the right "physical profile", especially in midfield and attack.
  • Uche and Pino—highlighted as struggling signings who haven’t adapted to the Premier League.

4. The Growing Uncertainty: Glasner and Guéhi’s Futures**

[16:52]-[23:06]

Manager Oliver Glasner

[17:20]-[20:00]

• Contract Talks:

  • Unclear future; club and manager yet to "sit down" amid the season’s chaos.
  • Glasner prioritizes club vision and infrastructure over salary.
  • "He said that every part of the club needs to improve and he needs to see a vision that matches his ambition. ... If he doesn’t see a vision that is aligned with his, he will leave in the summer."
    – Matt Woosnam (19:55)

• Is Glasner ‘Too Good’ for Palace?

  • Debunked: Dom argues he fits Palace well but questions if his counter-attacking style would suit a bigger club.
  • "He’s a perfect coach for a team like Palace... My concern would be whether he’s good enough to be a coach for a bigger club ... So I think he’s at exactly the right type of club as long as that club is ambitious." – Dom Fifield (20:11)
  • "He is culpable for some of the things that are happening at the moment. This nine match winless streak. I think he’s a very rigid system manager." – Dom Fifield (21:00)

Captain Marc Guéhi

[22:47]-[23:06]

• Transfer Speculation: His contract is up and there’s a real risk Palace lose him this window if not in the summer.
  • "How Palace would cope without Guéhi...you lose him and suddenly you’ve got a massive problem there because you haven’t got anyone to fill the gap, not just in numbers but also in talent and ability." – Matt Woosnam (23:06)

Palace’s Recruitment Ceiling & Future

[25:50]-[26:45]

• Reminders of Limits:
  • Palace must keep "unearthing gems" just to stay competitive.
  • "Do you think the Premier League is not stacked against clubs of Palace’s size? ... There’s probably a natural ceiling for clubs of Palace’s size ... They have to keep unearthing these gems..."
    – Dom Fifield (25:50)

5. The Magic & Community of Macclesfield’s Win

[28:45]-[39:32]

Rob Smethurst, Macclesfield Owner

[28:54]-[39:32]

• Epic Shockwaves:

  • The victory "broke the internet," brought mass euphoria to fans and town, and reaffirmed the power of football to revive community spirit.
  • "The power of the sport just does something that no other sport does ... We’ve created something special ... it goes so much deeper than just football." – Rob Smethurst (29:45, 35:08)

• Behind-the-Scenes:

  • Macclesfield’s part-time players’ day jobs: teachers, electricians, plumbers.
  • Crowd and volunteer efforts: 200+ locals helped shovel snow to ready the pitch.

• Tragedy & Triumph:

  • The recent loss of player Ethan McLeod in a car crash gave added meaning to the win, with players and community supporting each other and McLeod’s family feeling the outpouring of love.
  • "It was a really special moment to bring them in and give them that sort of love and attention that we wanted to do." – Rob Smethurst (33:09)

• Community Boost:

  • The win impacted the entire town—local businesses thrived, and players became local heroes overnight.

• No Illusions, Just Dreams:

  • Smethurst candid about never expecting the win; elation at full-time and the magic of the FA Cup:
  • "That’s the moment of the FA Cup. ... It gives us small little clubs, that little glimmer, that little chance that we can all one day dream ... And you know what? We did it. And dreams can come true. It’s incredible. Absolutely incredible." – Rob Smethurst (37:30)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "There were certainly some Palace fans on Saturday who were kind of happy for Macclesfield. ... maybe those heads would be less level today."
  – Matt Woosnam (03:02)
• "This is what can happen. … as a supporter, it’s a bit embarrassing, but ... I don’t begrudge it at all."
  – Dom Fifield (03:58)
• "Palace had a poor summer transfer window ... one transfer window can set you back years if it’s poor."
  – Dom Fifield (11:31)
• "If [Glasner] doesn’t see a vision that is aligned with his, he will leave in the summer."
  – Matt Woosnam (19:55)
• "Everything’s always put through the prism of what the bigger clubs want."
  – Dom Fifield (20:48)
• "We train two times a week. One’s a school teacher ... electricians, plumbers, coaches ... they gave it absolutely everything."
  – Rob Smethurst (31:35)
• "When the snow came down ... 200 people turned up with snow shovels and quad bikes ... We’ve created something special."
  – Rob Smethurst (35:08)
• "We were just in floods of tears ... watching grown men cry … That’s the moment of the FA Cup. … it gives us small little clubs, that little glimmer, that little chance that we can all one day dream. And you know what? We did it."
  – Rob Smethurst (37:30)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:12] – Rob Smethurst on the emotional impact of the cup win
• [03:02] – Matt Woosnam reacts to the defeat, Palace fans’ conflicted feelings
• [05:22] – Early warning signs and tactical analysis of Palace’s loss
• [08:41] – Dom Fifield on squad depletion and transfer window fallout
• [13:02] – Matt Woosnam discusses the need for "ready made" signings
• [17:20] – Glasner’s contract situation and vision for the club
• [20:11] – Is Glasner too good for Palace?
• [23:06] – The implications of losing Guéhi and the manager
• [25:50] – The inevitable ceiling and challenges for Palace
• [28:54] – Macclesfield’s owner on the victory’s impact
• [32:45] – Macclesfield’s tribute to Ethan McLeod
• [35:08] – Community spirit: volunteers and local impact
• [36:35] – The moment belief set in for Macclesfield
• [39:32] – Close of interview and episode

Tone and Takeaways

The episode alternates between analytical deconstruction (regarding Palace’s tactical, recruitment, and leadership struggles) and sentimental celebration (the human story behind Macclesfield’s win). There’s an undercurrent of realism about football’s harsh hierarchies, even as the FA Cup provides dramatic, emotional upsets.

Essentially:

• Crystal Palace face real uncertainty and must confront recruitment missteps and leadership questions if they are to stabilize.
• Macclesfield’s story isn’t just a footballing miracle—it’s a reminder of the deep roots and communal magic that define English football, particularly in its most historic competitions.