Does Jean-Phillippe Mateta deserve to play for Crystal Palace again?
Not long ago, Mateta felt indispensable. Last year was a strong one for the French striker, who was scoring freely and at the back end was among the Premier League's leading goalscorers at the heart of a Crystal Palace side full of confidence and momentum.
Two months on, the feeling has dramatically shifted.
Palace's form has dipped, Mateta has scored just one in 10 games and his future at Selhurst Park is uncertain.
Form ebbs and flows, especially for a striker, but it is what is happening off the pitch that has left a sour taste. The transfer window is rarely a fun time to be a Palace fan, you are always worried who is going to leave and if we are actually going to sign anyone decent, but this time has been a particularly painful one.
The loss of our club captain, our manager announcing his exit and the public drama surrounding Mateta has made it an unstable few weeks.
Mateta's conduct has been disappointing to say the least. While his knee injury – the issue that reportedly caused his deal with AC Milan to fall through – may explain his recent struggles both mentally and physically, it does not excuse the manner in which the situation has unfolded.
Complicating matters further is the arrival of Jorgen Strand Larsen, who came at a hefty club-record price, one I am not entirely convinced is justifiable for a player who has scored just one goal this season.
Nevertheless, this leaves Mateta facing genuine competition rather than a guaranteed starting position – something only Eddie Nketiah has been on rare occasions this season.
Oliver Glasner has always spoken highly of the 4-4-2 system, so the idea of them playing together is not entirely impossible. Yet reconciliation depends as much on trust as tactics and if the striker can earn back the fans' support.
We must also remember a very similar thing happened back in 2019 when Wilfried Zaha wanted a move to Everton, which Palace blocked, but he too tried to force a move, yet he went on to become a club legend.
Whether Mateta can follow that path now remains the unanswered question.
Find more from Ellie Killick at Eagle Eye View
