da wazamba： This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
da dobrowin： Since arriving on a season-long loan from Real Betis back in the summer, Victor Camarasa has struggled for game time at Crystal Palace.
The Spaniard has played just five Premier League minutes for his new side as he struggles to dislodge James McArthur, Luka Milivojevic and Cheikhou Kouyate from the midfield, although he could get a rare chance after an incident last time out against Norwich.
What happened?
Despite playing just seven Premier League games so far this term, Palace captain Milivojevic has already picked up five yellow cards – his booking against the Canaries came in the 93rd minute.
What is the significance of this, you ask?
Well, the Serbia international’s fifth booking of the campaign means that he has received a one-game suspension, so the 28-year-old will miss the trip to West Ham on Saturday.
In his place, Camarasa could be handed a chance.
What would Camarasa bring?
The 25-year-old is clearly a decent player having won the Players’ Player of the Year award with Cardiff for his efforts last season.
Camarasa scored five goals and grabbed four assists for the Bluebirds while playing in a central midfield position, as well as a more attacking midfield role at times – as per Transfermarkt – and could be given a chance alongside or slightly ahead of McArthur and Kouyate in the middle of the park.
The former Spain Under-21 international would presumably bring a similar amount of creativity as Milivojevic does if Roy Hodgson gave him the nod, seeing as he registered 1.6 key passes per game last season – the same number as Palace’s No.4 managed.
What Camarasa could also bring that Milivojevic doesn’t, however, is the ability to carry the ball forward and dribble with it – he recorded 1.1 dribbles per game in 2018/19, whereas the Serb only managed 0.3.
It would be bold from Hodgson seeing as Camarasa didn’t make the bench last time out against Norwich, but Milivojevic’s suspension has handed the Spaniard a boost up the pecking order – there is certainly the chance that he could finally be given a chance.