While it is sometimes unwise to place too much focus on one game in particular, Crystal Palace’s 5-0 defeat to rivals Brighton on Saturday has raised questions over manager Pierre Sage.

The Frenchman has endured a tough time of things since replacing club legend Oliver Glasner in June, winning only two of his seven Premier League games in charge of the Eagles. Clearly, this was always going to be a transitional season after so much change, but it’s reasonable to expect more.

Quite who is to blame for the issues, however, remains up for debate.

Sage’s alarming defensive record as Crystal Palace manager  

Palace sold key players over the past two transfer windows, namely defenders Marc Guehi and Maxence Lacroix. It would be difficult to replace players of that stature at any club, let alone one who do not tend to spend huge money in the transfer market, and that is an important thing to note.

Yet, the defensive difficulties that Palace have endured since Sage replaced Glasner are difficult to ignore. Palace allow their opponents a frankly ludicrous number of touches in their penalty box and the number of shots they face per game has increased exponentially. 

FBREF data shows that the Eagles face 6.12 shots on target per Premier League game, which is the highest average in the division. Last season, they only allowed 4.26 over the same period.

No one has conceded more goals (17) in the Premier League this season. In all but two of their games this season, they have conceded more than two goals. It is obvious that they are more open under Sage, even if the quality and experience of the defenders on an individual basis has dropped.  

Why Sage cannot be blamed for all of Palace’s problems

Palace were the Premier League’s lowest spenders during the summer of 2026, taking a cautious approach to the transfer market because of UEFA’s Squad Cost Ratio rules.

Clearly, that does not mean they cannot sign good players. However, a look at the profile of their summer signings speaks volumes. Takehiro Tomiyasu made only 10 appearances in the two seasons before his move to Selhurst Park due to injury, while Axel Disasi only had a brief spell at West Ham during the 2025/26 campaign after Chelsea condemned him to their now infamous ‘bomb squad’ in the summer of 2025.

Ben Chilwell and Dwight McNeil also offer Premier League experience but to suggest either of them were leading players in the division before their moves would be wrong. Anan Khalaili, Quinten Timber, Dario Osorio, Zavier Gozo and Oscar Mingueza arrived with no experience of English football.

That isn’t inherently a bad thing, but it does pose an issue. Palace are enduring a gruelling schedule, balancing Premier League and Europa League commitments, all while trying to bed in new players and a new manager. 

It is perhaps not a surprise, then, that some subscribers to We Are Palace on TalkingPoints were in agreement, claiming that Sage must be given time.

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kilham.max

Give him time. Clearly a good manager but every new job takes a little time to adjust to. Have faith palace fans.

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“Palace are about where they should be in the table IMO. No need to get rid,” read another comment.

“I don’t think they should or will sack him, but Palace are due a bad season and this was always going to be a gamble,” was another response. “Like a lot of smaller prem teams I think they’ve got a bit too used to winning and are getting above their station.”

One subscriber wrote: “I’d stick with him for now, but I think the next few games are massive. The 5-0 defeat is obviously awful, but sacking a manager this early feels like admitting the appointment was a mistake before he’s really had a chance. My bigger concern would be whether the players are actually buying into his ideas.”

That’s not to say there were not dissenting voices, however. Some of our responses on TalkingPoints were slightly more anti-Sage. He is not exempt from criticism, even if there are other issues in play here.

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dakir.thanveer

I’m a huge fan of Sage but I fear he’s not going to survive ://

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“Having to issue an apology to fans always feels ominous,” commented another football fan. “He’s been dealt a difficult hand, but not sure he lasts too much longer.”

One supporter said: “Wouldn’t want to see him go already but there has to be some kind of meaningful change in the next three games. Can’t keep giving themselves mountains to climb in every game before they start to look functional.”

Palace’s issues with player recruitment outdate Sage, too. The departure of celebrated former director of football Dougie Freedman has seemingly left a void in their recruitment structure and the fact that the club haven’t made an outfield signing from an EFL club since he left is telling. 

Under Freedman, Palace enjoyed a lot of success in signing younger players from the EFL before selling them on, generally for a huge profit. Guehi, Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze are leading examples, while Adam Wharton could be next.

There has been a notable shift in their transfer policy and Sage is the man tasked with wading through that water, which cannot be an easy thing to do. These are early days and Sage, who did brilliant work at Lens, could yet turn things around. Still, the club have clearly gambled in their attempts to change their transfer approach, and that has not worked out thus far. If Sage fails here in south London, he will be only partly to blame.