Player Focus: Is Adebayor the Solution to Palace's Goalscoring Problems?

A 4-0 defeat to Manchester City on Saturday left Crystal Palace in a problematic position. The Eagles may be well clear of the relegation zone, but an inability to hit the back of the net at the Etihad Stadium means the club have failed to score in their last 452 minutes of top-flight action. Lee Chung-yong was the last player to net for the south London side, that coming in a 2-1 win at Stoke last month. 

Since then, though, Palace have seriously struggled in front of goal. The prolonged absence of key man Yannick Bolasie has not helped their cause, but his spell on the sidelines is not the sole reason for Palace’s recent profligacy. Indeed, Alan Pardew must look to his disappointing strikers to their lack of goals. Only three teams - West Brom (22), Swansea (19) and Aston Villa (18) - have scored fewer goals than Palace (23) in the Premier League this season. 

Of those 23 goals, only one has been netted by an out-and-out frontman for the club, coming courtesy of big-money summer arrival Connor Wickham from the penalty spot in the aforementioned win over Stoke. Following the culmination of Patrick Bamford’s loan spell, it’s fair to say Palace are in need of another striker. 

Marouane Chamakh, Dwight Gayle and Fraizer Campbell have each underwhelmed when called upon by manager Alan Pardew and with Wickham showing no signs of improvement, coupled with his ongoing injury concerns, reports suggest the club will look to bring in a new striker this month. Indeed, prior to the loss to City on Saturday, Pardew confirmed he is hoping to bring in a new frontman before the transfer window closes. 

“We’ve had discussions about him and he is in that kind of nine or 10 strikers that possibly we could get,” Pardew said of Emmanuel Adebayor. The Togolese frontman is currently a free agent following his release from Tottenham Hotspur and while he has been linked with moves to Aston Villa, Watford and Chelsea, Palace appear to be the latest side to take up an interest in his services. A lack of competitive football in the last six months would perhaps hinder his impact, but Adebayor could make for quite the coup for Palace. 

Anything longer than a six-month deal would, of course, come at a detriment to the Eagles, but Adebayor is a striker that is capable of making an immediate impact when he has a point to prove. A prime example of this came during Tim Sherwood’s short stint as Tottenham manager. The 31-year-old had been cast aside by Andre Villas-Boas, but was welcomed in from the cold by Sherwood. Adebayor repaid the faith shown in him with 11 goals in the following 20 Premier League appearances. 

However, coupled with Harry Kane’s emergence as a first team regular under Mauricio Pochettino, Adebayor struggled to adhere to the demands of his new manager at White Hart Lane and was subsequently deemed surplus to requirements once more. Nevertheless, in a short time span, he showcased his talents to the watching world, with the immediate impact he can have clear for all to see. 

It’s this instant effect that Pardew needs if his side are to get back on track in their quest to secure a European finish. Palace are considered a dark horse for a Europa League place this season, but their goal drought is likely to dent their chances of doing so. Their current five-game goalless run is the longest in Premier League this season. Given Adebayor’s track record, however, he could provide the necessary focal point to the attack needed to help their cause. 

Of players to score 10 or more league goals in the 2013/14 season - the campaign Adebayor enjoyed his mini-renaissance - only Yaya Toure (31.3%) had a better conversion rate than Adebayor (25%). Given Palace’s top scorer in the league this season - Yohan Cabaye (5 goals) - has a conversion rate of just 11.9%, it further strengthens the argument to secure the services of Adebayor, at least until the end of the season. 

It’s difficult to quantify Adebayor’s impact on a short-term deal, but he has proven in the past for both Real Madrid and Tottenham that he can have a positive effect on a side’s attack when his future is at stake. With Palace labouring in front of goal, they could do worse than bring in a player of Adebayor’s ability, with his Premier League experience weighing in his favour. 

The striker’s reputation may make for poor reading, but for a team of Palace’s stature in need of a frontman who knows the league and is keen to defy the critics, they may be wise to consider Adebayor as a means of easing their goalscoring woes.

Should Crystal Palace take a gamble on Emmanuel Adebayor? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below