The Eagles are flying high and the internet is losing its collective mind
Pre-season football is a weird, sweaty purgatory where everyone tries to convince themselves that a friendly match in humid conditions actually matters. Crystal Palace took down Fulham earlier today, and if you listen to the forums, theyโve already secured a Champions League spot for next year. As Sky Sports confirmed, the standout moment was seeing Takehiro Tomiyasu debut for the Eagles. It was a clean 90 minutes that had the Selhurst Park faithful already planning a trophy parade for a piece of silverware that doesn't exist yet.
The consensus among the enthusiasts is that Oliver Glasner has unlocked something special. Youโve got people on Twitter acting like this win is a definitive signal that the mid-table blues are a thing of the past. Itโs the usual August optimism, fueled by high-intensity pressing and the sight of a new signing slotting into a defensive line like theyโve been there for a decade. Honestly, itโs refreshing to see a fanbase so thirsty for a win that they treat a pre-season result like a cup final.
The skeptics are lurking in the comments section with their reality checks
Then you have the miserable crowd. These are the people who remind everyone that pre-season is basically a glorified training session where the fitness coaches are the real managers. Theyโre pointing out that Fulham played a defensive line that looked like it was held together by duct tape and hope. One post on a prominent fan board argued that until we see the team perform against a high press in a rainy Tuesday night at an actual Premier League ground, this result is just noise.
Itโs hard to blame the skeptics when you look at the defensive lapses Fulham showed in the second half. Sure, Palace looked sharp, but their opponents were caught sleeping on transition plays that would get punished mercilessly by a team like Manchester City or Arsenal. The contrarians arenโt just trying to kill the vibe; they are correctly pointing out that the scoreline doesn't show the lack of bite in the midfield battles throughout the game. Itโs a fair point, even if it makes them the least fun people at the party.
Tomiyasu is the glue, but is it enough?
The biggest point of contention remains the impact of the new boys. Takehiro Tomiyasu looked comfortable, sure, but is he the 15 percent improvement this squad needs to break into the top six? Half the thread thinks heโs the defensive messiah who solves every tactical headache Palace has had since 2024. The other half thinks heโs a solid squad player who is only standing out because the bar for expectations is currently buried six feet underground.
In my opinion, the enthusiasts have the stronger argument here, simply because morale is a currency in this league. You canโt put a price on a new signing looking fluid on day one. Watching Tomiyasu command the backline while the rest of the squad adjusts to the tactical setup is exactly what you want to see in August. Even if the opposition was lackluster, the patterns of play were coherent. Coherence is the one thing you usually don't get in friendlies, so Iโm buying the hype, even if Iโm keeping my receipts for December.
Still, letโs not get ahead of ourselves. The coaching staff is clearly experimenting with high-risk passing lanes, and while it worked against Fulham, itโs going to lead to some embarrassing goals against teams that actually know how to counter-attack. The balance between high-octane offense and leaving the back door wide open is a razorโs edge. If Palace keeps playing like they did today, their goal difference is going to be a wild ride this season. It won't be boring, but your blood pressure might hate it.
Ultimately, this game was exactly what it needed to be: a confidence booster that showed flashes of real quality. We saw a team with a clear plan, a debutant who looked like he belonged, and a squad that actually moved the ball with intent. Thatโs more than half the league can say after their first run-out. Just keep the championship talk in the group chat for a few more weeks until we see them tackle a team that actually tries to win.
