MusaPierre Sage endured another miserable afternoon on Saturday as Crystal Palace suffered a damaging defeat against Tottenham Hotspur, with pressure continuing to mount on the French manager following another disappointing Premier League result.
The Palace boss was already facing uncertainty over his position before travelling to Tottenham, but matters quickly became more complicated when his side were reduced to 10 men inside the opening 15 minutes.
Jean-Philippe Mateta was shown a straight red card following a dangerous challenge on Micky van de Ven. Referee Michael Oliver initially produced a yellow card before being advised to review the incident on the pitchside monitor following a VAR intervention, ultimately upgrading his decision to a dismissal.
Having lost one of their key attacking players so early in the contest, Palace struggled to cope with the numerical disadvantage.
Tottenham took advantage when Archie Gray rose highest to head home from a corner, giving the hosts the breakthrough. The Eagles were unable to recover, and Jan Paul van Hecke added another goal in the second half to complete a difficult afternoon for Sage and his players.
The defeat represents another significant setback for the Frenchman, whose position at Selhurst Park has reportedly become increasingly uncertain.
Sage initially collected seven points from his opening six Premier League matches, showing signs of improvement after beginning his first campaign in English football with consecutive defeats.
However, three successive league losses have raised fresh questions about his ability to turn things around.
According to a report from The Guardian earlier in the week, another defeat against Tottenham could prove decisive for his future, with the Palace hierarchy potentially considering a managerial change.
Their inconsistent performances in European competition have added to the frustration, particularly after suffering defeat against Lyon, a club previously managed by Sage.
The Frenchman has also had to deal with considerable squad disruption over recent transfer windows, with several important players departing Selhurst Park.
Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi, Maxence Lacroix and Daniel Munoz are among those who have left, leaving Palace with significant rebuilding work to complete.
The Conference League holders were already sitting in the relegation zone before Saturday’s encounter, increasing the pressure on the club’s leadership to consider whether a change in the dugout is necessary.
Crystal Palace have previously demonstrated a willingness to act quickly when their Premier League status is under threat, bringing in experienced managers such as Tony Pulis, Sam Allardyce and Roy Hodgson to stabilise the situation.
With questions surrounding Sage’s future, several names could potentially enter the conversation if the club decide to make another managerial change.
Gareth Southgate
Former England manager Gareth Southgate could emerge as an interesting candidate should Crystal Palace decide to part ways with Sage.
The 56-year-old has a long-standing connection with the Eagles, having started his professional playing career at Selhurst Park before eventually moving to Aston Villa in 1995.
During his time with Palace, Southgate made close to 200 appearances and established himself as an important figure before taking the next step in his playing career.
He has remained without a managerial position since leaving the England national team following Euro 2024 and has not appeared particularly eager to return to club management.
However, Palace could potentially offer an attractive opportunity for the former Three Lions boss to return to the Premier League dugout.
His experience of managing at the highest level and his previous association with the club could make him an appealing option, although there is currently no indication that he is actively pursuing the position.
Rob Edwards
Rob Edwards is another manager who could attract attention if Crystal Palace begin searching for a replacement.
The 43-year-old has a connection with Palace sporting director Matt Hobbs, having previously worked alongside him at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Edwards occupied several positions at Molineux before returning to the club as manager last season, but his spell eventually came to an end when he departed on the eve of the new campaign.
He remains available and could therefore become a realistic candidate if Palace decide to make a managerial appointment.
The former Luton Town boss recently appeared on The Managers podcast, where he suggested that he had received interest from several unnamed clubs.
Although there have been suggestions linking him with West Ham United amid uncertainty surrounding Nuno Espirito Santo, those reports have yet to establish a concrete move.
His previous Premier League experience and familiarity with Hobbs could potentially work in his favour if Palace decide to approach him.
Eddie Howe
Eddie Howe is another experienced English manager who could become an option for Crystal Palace.
The former Newcastle United boss has been without a club since leaving St James’ Park during the summer, with his name previously linked to several Premier League vacancies, including Manchester United.
If United decide against pursuing him, Palace could consider testing his interest in taking charge at Selhurst Park.
Howe has already demonstrated his ability to transform a struggling Premier League side, having guided Newcastle away from relegation danger during the 2021/22 campaign.
His appointment at St James’ Park initially came with enormous pressure, but he successfully stabilised the team before eventually helping them establish themselves as regular contenders for European qualification.
However, Palace would need to convince him that their project offers the necessary conditions to succeed.
Unlike Newcastle, who benefited from significant financial backing following their takeover, the Eagles may not have comparable resources available to support his ambitions.
Whether Howe would be interested in taking on another rebuilding challenge at Selhurst Park remains another major question.
Thomas Frank
Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank could also be considered if Palace decide to make changes to their coaching structure.
The Danish tactician was previously mentioned as a possible candidate following Oliver Glasner’s departure from Selhurst Park during the summer.
However, the club eventually settled on Sage, who was handed the responsibility of leading the next phase of their project.
Frank’s successful spell at Brentford demonstrated his ability to build a competitive Premier League team without relying on the financial resources available to some of the division’s bigger clubs.
His tactical organisation, player development and experience of working within a carefully managed transfer structure could make him an attractive option for Palace.
Nevertheless, his difficult experience at Tottenham last season could raise questions about whether he is the right man to take charge of another London club.
Some supporters and decision-makers may also be concerned about whether he can reproduce the success he enjoyed at Brentford in a different environment.
Despite those reservations, his Premier League experience could make him a name worth considering.
Oliver Glasner
Perhaps the most surprising name on the list is Oliver Glasner, who previously enjoyed considerable success at Crystal Palace before leaving Selhurst Park for Nottingham Forest during the summer.
The Austrian manager established himself as a popular figure among Palace supporters after guiding the club to its first major domestic trophy, winning the FA Cup before subsequently lifting the Community Shield.
However, his move to the City Ground has not gone according to plan, with Nottingham Forest struggling to find consistency under his leadership.
Interestingly, Forest have found themselves among the teams sitting below Palace in the Premier League standings, creating an unusual situation for a manager who previously enjoyed such a successful spell in South London.
If Evangelos Marinakis eventually decides to make another managerial change at Forest, Glasner could potentially become available.
Palace may then face an interesting decision over whether to consider bringing back the man who delivered some of the most memorable moments in the club’s recent history.
Although returning to a former club does not always produce the same results, Glasner’s previous achievements at Selhurst Park could make him an attractive possibility.
For now, however, the immediate focus remains on Sage and whether he can convince the Crystal Palace hierarchy that he deserves more time.
With results deteriorating and pressure continuing to build, the coming weeks could prove crucial in determining whether the Frenchman remains in charge or becomes the latest Premier League manager to lose his position.
Musa
