Eze and Wharton are a throwback to a simpler time | OneFootball

Crystal Palace’s surge up the Premier League and run to the FA Cup semi-finals has been one of the standout storylines of the 2024/25 season.

After a sticky start to the campaign, manager Oliver Glasner has guided Palace into contention to secure European qualification and win silverware.

He has done this with a highly organised team that contains a sprinkling of stardust. That combination makes Palace pretty pleasing to the eye.

Fleet-footed pair are a joy to watch

Eberechi Eze celebrated a memorable week by delivering a match-winning performance at Fulham in the FA Cup over the weekend.

He scored and set up another goal in Palace’s 3-0 victory to add to the strike he netted for England in their World Cup qualifying win over Latvia during the week.

Eze plays with the similar abandon demonstrated by the wing wizards of yesteryear – he’s a throwback to a time when football was much simpler.

The modern-day game is blighted by meaningless statistics such as ‘big chances created’, ‘through balls’ and ‘touches in the opposition penalty area’.

None of that seems to concern Eze, whose primary aim is to have fun on the pitch and entertain the fans. It’s refreshing to see.

The same can be said for teammate Adam Wharton, who was inexplicably left out of England’s recent games by manager Thomas Tuchel.

Watching Wharton pirouette past Fulham’s midfield highlighted the folly of Tuchel’s decision to recall Jordan Henderson into the squad.

Eze and Wharton play like they are in the playground with their schoolmates. They make football far more enjoyable to watch.

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Tonight’s football line-up is underwhelming. Fear not, the Premier League returns tomorrow!