Why Max Meyer would be an excellent buy for Crystal Palace
Sweet are the fruits of patience and so it has proved to be for Crystal Palace. After a relatively quiet transfer window so far, Crystal Palace are on their way to securing the signature of German prodigy Max Meyer, as the reported by the Guardian.
According to the report, the 22-year-old midfielder fell out with the board of his former club, Schalke, after they refused to meet his high wage demands. Palace head the race for signing one of the most versatile young talents around.
The captain of the German football team that won the silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Max Meyer is often referred to as ‘The German Messi’. Speed, agility and dribbling are not the primary attributes of a central midfielder but when it comes to Max Meyer, he has got it all to fit into any position in the attacking third.
A footballer with good technique and balance, Meyer is the dream for any manager to have in his squad. He has shown immense versatility, playing as a central midfielder, defensive midfielder, winger and even as a supporting striker. He not only has the blocking and intercepting skills of a defensive midfielder but also has the vision, flair and flamboyance of a playmaker.
Meyer can definitely prove to be the answer to many of Palace’s problems. Roy Hodgson has preferred a back-four and the German can be deployed in multiple positions in the midfield of a 4-4-2 formation. Needless to say, Hodgson, the oldest manager in the league, is one of the best in channelising the potential of rising talents to the fullest.
With Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend up front, Palace have plenty of attacking prowess and the addition of Meyer behind them as a central attacking midfielder would only make things brighter. Luka Milivojevic, who was one of the architects of Palace’s successful campaign last time around with 10 goals, will have the pressure relieved off his shoulders as far as winning the midfield duels are concerned.
With the pace and flair of Meyer in the middle of the park, Palace will be able to make more out of the counter-attacks they initiate.
Christian Benteke did not have the best of seasons last year but few can doubt the Belgian’s towering presence in the penalty area. Although he excels in terms of strength and aerial ability, Benteke is not the best when it comes to holding the ball for build-up play.
If Hodgson opts to go with Benteke as the lone man up front with Zaha and Townsend on the flanks, then Meyer can be the perfect feeder for the No. 9.
With his sense of agility and trickery, Meyer can be more than handy down the wings as well and can shift to the flanks if the situation demands so. In times of desperation, Meyer has shown the ability to play as a makeshift wing-back.
However, with the abundant resources that Palace have down the flanks in Zaha, Townsend, Schlupp and Joel Ward, Hodgson might be better off using the German’s versatility at the middle of the park.
Ability to play well in multiple positions from such a young age is something that does not come by very easily and that is exactly the reason why the emergence of Meyer onto the Premier League scene would be such an exciting proposition.
One player does not make a team but the deal, if it materialises, will be a massive boost for the Eagles heading into the season. Meyer might just prove to be the difference between a fight against relegation and a surge to a top-half finish.
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