Crystal Palace’s season has been peculiar due to a combination of injuries, management changes, and patchy play.
Despite everything going on, Chris Richards has quietly had a fantastic season, earning a spot in the starting lineup and performing well at several spots.
Given his remarkable performances and the fact that both Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise have had difficulty staying fit, the USA international may be considered for Player of the Year.
Let’s examine his performance thus far this season and see how he compares to other potential candidates.
Chris Richards ought to be considered for POTY.
Richards only made 10 appearances in his debut season after joining from Bayern Munich in 2022 for a reported £8 million. However, he has already made 21 appearances this season across all competitions.
He has made 19 appearances in the Premier League and has been exceptional in several of them, making strong plays most recently against Burnley, Spurs, and Luton.
Throughout the season, he has filled in at right-back, midfield, and most lately, in his natural position of center-half, and he has been a valuable member of the team.
Glasner has been outstanding since joining the team and implementing a three-at-the-back formation. The Austrian star probably sees himself staying there for the long run.
Even if Olise and Eze were able to win games on their own, he may not have had the most impact because he missed far too many games to earn the team’s Player of the Year.
Thus, Richards might have a shot only by virtue of his part in guiding Palace through a terrible time.
Who else has a chance to win the POTY award from Crystal Palace?
Given how amazing Eze and Olise are, they will always be the favourites, but there are undoubtedly more worthy players who have contributed significantly this season.
One player who has excelled this season and has a great chance of taking home the trophy in his first year at Selhurst Park is Jefferson Lerma.
Another is Jordan Ayew, who has performed admirably in the two major men’s absence. This season, Ayew has four goals and six assists, which should place him right in the mix.
The last player we would consider is Joachim Andersen, who has been reliable most of the season despite a few recent underwhelming outings.
