You have to go all the way back to the 1992-93 season to find a previous campaign in which Crystal Palace had yet to win after eight games, a season in which the club were relegated.
Something needs to change if they do not want to repeat the same outcome but that is a lot easier said than done.
It has been reported that for now at least, Oliver Glasner retains the backing of the Palace board, who remain eager to see him turn the team’s form around and get back to winning ways.
It is very clear that Palace do not have the personnel to play Glasner's favoured 3-4-2-1 formation which brought such success at the back end of last season, although the manager insists that the problems are born of a lack of confidence, rather than any tactical failures.
The Austrian has appeared to adapt slightly and tweak his set up, however. In the 1-0 defeat against Nottingham Forest on Monday night Glasner said the formation was a 3-5-2 with Ebere Eze playing next to or just off of Eddie Nketiah.
“We don’t create enough at the moment, but it’s too much to expect us to play offensively brilliant, maybe it is (time) to change the shape. Today we played 3-5-2, (but) maybe we need more players on the pitch who have scored goals (and to) find the right formation,” Glasner said.
There have been reports that in a behind-closed-doors match against Ipswich Town during the international break, Palace played with four at the back and two up top, these two being Jean-Phillipe Mateta and Nketiah. Is this the change Glanser needs to make to get his team to score goals since they are currently the lowest scorers in the league on five?
With an inconsistent Tottenham coming to Selhurst on Sunday it is an opportunity for Palace to pull off a shock and find that first win, but how they manage it is a different story.
-
Is it time to switch to a back four?
The question which has been on the lips of many Palace fans for a few weeks now is do they move to a back four?
Whilst their defence is not the issue right now, only conceding 11 goals all season, it is the personnel who are not working in the team.
Daniel Munoz was one of Palace's standout performers during the run in last season but so far this campaign he has looked fatigued and has struggled to be effective.
This is due to the departure of Michael Olise who played ahead of Munoz on the right side, attracting players inside for the Columbian to overlap with time and space to cross the ball.
The failure to replace Olise with a player of similar playstyle has affected Munoz, combined with the left side where you have Tyrick Mitchell who is a capable option as wing-back but much more suited to the full-back role.
One of Mitchell's strengths is to defend one-on-one, which he now does less of as a wingback, and is required to attack more, being the out ball on the left side for Palace. This is a weak point of his game.
Moving to a back four would see Mitchell playing as a left back which he is better suited to, the right side on the other hand may change as Munoz could be dropped for Trevor Chalobah, who is on loan from Chelsea.
Munoz would feel harshly done by, but Chalobah is a better defender than the 28-year-old and it would allow for changes further forward for Palace.
Glasner's preferred system requires wing-backs who have a heavy influence on the attack and so far this season the players used in these areas are not doing well enough, something needs to change and this may be the answer.
-
How does Daichi Kamada fit in this team?
Daichi Kamada's early life in South London has not gone to plan, he has been somewhat of a scapegoat for Palace's poor attacking form but there is fair reason behind this.
The Japanese international is yet to score, assist or create a big chance for his teammates so far this season. In fairness to Kamada, he has been used as a holding midfielder on many occasions this season, but when played here he has been unimpressive.
Adapting to the culture, intensity, and physicality of the Premier League has almost certainly been challenging and allows his some room for error, but for a player who is reportedly Palace's highest earner, many expected so much more.
Used on the left side of a midfield three against Forest on Monday along with Will Hughes and Jefferson Lerma his main contributions were defensively. He was tenacious and dogged in the tackle, winning the ball in his own half to try and spring a counter.
It is his ability on the ball which has left plenty to be desired, making the case for him to start being questioned by fans.
It is clear that Glasner is finding it hard to fit him in the team having tired Kamada in a number of different positions already, but if the former Lazio man is to be a success in the Premier League he will need a run of games in a settled position.
This however will be awarded to him on merit so no matter where he is used his performance needs to step up if he wants to start in this Palace team which evidently lacks creativity.
-
Could a front two exploit Tottenham's high line?
If you have watched Tottenham under Ange Postecoglou you will know they never change their principles, which are attacking on the front foot, pressing from the front and playing a high line.
Even when teams get the better of this high line, Postecoglou is unwilling to change and will stick to his game plan. This could benefit Palace on the weekend, however.
If Palace were to move to a back four it would most likely see them play Jean-Philippe Mateta and Eddie Nketiah as a front two, like they did in the friendly against Ipswich although it was not as successful as they would have hoped.
Playing the pair together up top would allow them to both play their natural positions, this might mean we see Mateta occupy the defenders, preferably Micky van de Ven who is the quicker of the two Tottenham centre-backs. All the while, Nketiah is able to get in behind and use his pace to make runs beyond the Spurs back line.
Glasner has said in his pre-match press conference that Adam Wharton will be with the squad for the upcoming three games before the next international break after it was reported that the 20-year-old may require surgery on his groin.
Wharton’s ability to break lines with precise passes would be a huge asset for Nketiah, giving him more opportunities to receive the ball in advanced positions and create goal-scoring chances.
Without Wharton Palace have no one to progress the ball forward quickly and with purpose.
Palace have struggled to create clearcut chances this season and have resorted to shooting form distance more often than not, only Wolverhampton Wanderers have an average shooting distance (18.9 yards) further out than Glanser's men (18.6).
If things are to change Palace need to find a way to create chances, ones of which are expected to be goals, if they do this then their strikers will flourish. It is easier said than done, yet if not done then Palace will be winless in nine with a match against relegation rivals Wolves next up.
