Crystal Palace have lost 'two big players', it's not Pierre Sage's fault

Pierre Sage faces sack after Palace's poor start, but sources say the board's failure to replace departed defenders Lacroix and Munoz is equally to blame.

Crystal, former Palace manager Pierre Sage is under increasing pressure following a below-par start to the season, with just two league wins and defensive frailties costing them dearly. However, Football Insider sources suggest the board has left him exposed by allowing key players to depart without adequate replacements.

Maxence Lacroix and Daniel Munoz were the most influential exits during the summer, with only Anan Khalaili brought in to replace Munoz. The centre-back position has become a major concern, with loanees Axel Disasi and Honest Ahanor struggling to fill the void left by Lacroix's departure. This follows Marc Guehi's exit last January, dismantling much of Palace's trophy-winning defence.

Sage could be given until the November international break to save his job, with a Newcastle visit to Selhurst Park looming as a crucial fixture. While the manager must shoulder some blame for performances, sources indicate the board's transfer failings have put him in an impossible position. Former Everton CEO Keith Wyness told Football Insider that Palace must sign at least one new centre-back in January to address the defensive crisis created by their summer sales.