Crystal Palace face Arsenal this Sunday, with Paddy McCarthy in charge, following the decision to sack Patrick Vieira.
The Irish – who created 151 Playing for the south Londoners – certainly not expecting to name a starting line-up before heading to the Emirates this time last week.
Nevertheless, McCarthy, who usually serves as U-21 manager at Selhurst Park, was entrusted with the heavy responsibility this Sunday. Let’s see what kind of lineup he can come up with in the U-21 level lineup.
What Palace XI will look like under Paddy McCarthy
Well, the 39-year-old has used a variety of formations at U21 level this season.
McCarthy deployed a 3-4-3 in the 1-0 win over Everton on Sunday 5 March, but has so far largely used a 4-2-3-1 throughout the 2022/23 season , as in your transfer market.
In that regard, here’s how we think Crystal Palace will perform against Arsenal under the Dublin-born manager.
Unfortunately, Albert Sambi Lokonga is not eligible to face Arsenal as he is on loan from the Gunners.
Therefore, we think Luka Milivojevic will enter the starting line-up alongside Cheick Doucoure, as Jeffrey Schlupp has been underperforming in recent months and is better suited in a 4-3-3 than in a 4 between two holding midfielders One-2-3-1.
McCarthy told Crystal Palace Official website He’s looking for his side to be “quick and quick in the final third” against Arsenal, so expect him to give it his all with the addition of Wilfried Zaha, Eberechi Eze, Michael Olise and Odsonne Edouard.
These four are by far the best attackers at Selhurst Park and are capable of causing problems for Mikel Arteta.
At the back, we’d like to see Chris Richards on the right – the American was badly dumped by Vieira despite winning Crystal Palace’s Player of the Month award in January.
However, we don’t see McCarthy making that kind of change at right guard, so we assume Nathaniel Cline will stay on the opposite wing from Tyreke Mitchell, with Mark Gay and York Achim Anderson is at center.
Between the sticks, 19-year-old Joe Whitworth prepares to let his second Vicente Guaita and Sam Johnstone were in the Premier League after injuries to Wednesday’s game against Brighton.
In other news, ‘great’ Tottenham player now closer to comeback than Yves Bisuma – Reporter