Sage blames the breakup of the title‑winning squad—FA Cup 2025 and last season’s Conference League glory—for his rocky start in south London.
Since summer 2024, Selhurst Park has said goodbye to Eberechi Eze, Michael Olise, Maxence Lacroix, Daniel Munoz and Guehi.
The exit of influential sporting director Dougie Freedman in 2025 still reverberates.
Matt Hobbs, Freedman’s successor, also finds his job under intense scrutiny alongside Sage.
Conceding 17 goals in just seven league games points to a flaw that traces back to Sage himself.
Palace’s recent identity has been built on defensive solidity, a legacy of Glasner and Roy Hodgson’s well‑structured sides.
Allowing nearly 2.5 goals per match strays far from the foundation of those earlier triumphs, alarming the club’s hierarchy.
At the current rate the club heads for 92 goals against this season, a tally only topped by Sheffield United’s 104 in 2024.
Personnel losses have hurt the back line; the departures of Guehi, Lacroix and Munoz within six months are keenly felt.
In Sunday’s 5‑0 defeat to Brighton, the three centre‑backs were Jaydee Canvot, 20, and Honest Ahanor, 18, among others.
From inside the organization it’s clear—my view is that Sage’s system has largely engineered these defensive woes.
Some fans argue that the summer’s defensive signings have done little to shore up the leak.
The club brought in Takehiro Tomiyasu, Ben Chilwell and Oscar Mingueza on free deals, while Axel Disasi and Ahanor arrived on loan.
Compounding the issue, Palace has struggled to meet UEFA’s financial regulations, restricting their transfer options.
Sticking to those rules forced the sale of Munoz to Nottingham Forest for £22 million.
Financial constraints, however, do not lessen the pressure on Sage.
With a Europa League trip to Besiktas and a Premier League clash with Newcastle looming, Sage can still shift the narrative.
Two wins would help the Frenchman spark a steady upward climb.
Can Palace tighten up enough to avoid another season of record‑low defending?