MICHAEL OLISE CRYSTAL PALACE
Wilfried Zaha has seemed like the Atlas of Croydon for too long, carrying Selhurst Park on his shoulders with a world-weary frown. Crystal Palace’s modernisation was always going to see the 30-year-old pass the weight of the world on to someone else, however, and Olise has stood tallest of any Eagle this season.
The 21-year-old winger began in fits and bursts from the bench this term, but his role has crystallised; now he’s the reliable spark of energy when Palace need it most.
Olise has been deft and daring – the lightning to Eberechi Eze’s thunder. The bulk of his highlights reel has been built since last August: he scooped a free-kick past David de Gea for a point, netted a stoppage-time winner to sink West Ham, and in April’s 5-1 battering of Leeds he became the youngest player to assist three goals from open play in a single Premier League match.
“In the first half, we didn’t get enough out of him and we couldn’t bring him into the game as much as we wanted,” Roy Hodgson said of Olise’s creative masterclass at Elland Road. “In the second half he got it all right. I think he’s an enormous talent – he has a great possibility to have a wonderful career and a wonderful future.”
It’s a reflection of his season as a whole: perhaps Patrick Vieira will himself admit that Palace didn’t get the best from Olise earlier in 2022-23, but when it has clicked, it’s felt like watching a coming-of-age campaign.
Disappointing runs will happen over the course of a season. In those stretches, it’s the brightest, bravest sparks who give hope to fans. Palace will pray not that Olise puts them on his shoulders post-Zaha, though – but that the others rise to his levels of verve.
HE SAID “Wilf passed me the ball. Shot. Scored. It’s a good feeling.” Olise’s blood-from-a-stone interview after Palace beat West Ham went viral, the monosyllabic London-born Frenchman surpassing even Erling Haaland for awkward briskness.
38 JOAO PALHINHA FULHAM
Picked up from Portugal for about £90m less than Argentine ace Enzo Fernandez, Palhinha might well be the signing of the season. The feisty ball-winner locked down the midfield as Fulham pushed for Europe, becoming a big Craven Cottage favourite. Joao’s value now? Shedloads. HE SAID “In Portugal, I felt I couldn’t tackle – every touch was a yellow card. Here, though, it’s completely different.”
37 THOMAS PARTEY ARSENAL
Patchy in previous campaigns – the ‘new Vieira’ hopes are never helpful – Partey’s robust presence empow
