Two crucial games for Sage at Crystal Palace

Pierre Sage's future at Crystal Palace is under discussion. Club chairman Steve Parish has given the French manager the chance to get the team back on track, especially defensively, in this week's games against Beşiktaş and Newcastle. If no improvement is seen, a change is likely.

The Eagles lost heavily to M23 rivals Brighton at the weekend and have won only two league games this season. With 17 goals conceded in 7 Premier League matches, the team is the league's most-leaking side. It is pointed out that in the home defeat to Ipswich, Palace played with ten men for more than an hour. Even so, the real concern is the inadequate quality of play, even in the wins. The team rarely takes control of matches and gives the impression of being too easy an opponent. Mateta and Ismaila Sarr not being at full performance has also created a gap.

Since taking charge, Sage had shown a cheerful manner in front of the press. In his recent press conferences, however, his disappointment and sadness were evident.

Out-of-work managers are also an added source of pressure on Sage. It is reported that the board also liked Thomas Frank, Gareth Southgate and Domenico Tedesco as replacements for Oliver Glasner in the summer, and that it has strong interest in Frank Lampard and Kieran McKenna too. The club, which wants to bring McKenna in before next June, would have to pay 8 million pounds.

Sage taking Lens to second place in Ligue 1 and winning the French Cup had been seen as a big plus by the Palace board, which values cup success. Fans, meanwhile, believe that adequate replacements were not signed for Maxence Lacroix and Marc Guehi, and that Sage inherited a difficult job.