Putting aside the understandable clamour for a striker, Crystal Palace have recruited well this summer. The hope is that quality acquisitions re-ignite a side that fell apart after Christmas, the worry is that the rut continues to fester. Which way will this season go? The Football Lab spoke to The Eagles Beak (@TheEaglesBeak) to find out
Crystal Palace finished 15th last season. What caused the dip in league results after Christmas?
Some said that we would never keep up that early season form and a period of normality would return to the Premier League but no-one told Leicester City now did they? It is no coincidence that teams managed by Alan Pardew in the past have witnessed very similar poor runs of form which was obviously a concern once it started. None of us ever thought it would go on quite like it did and the more bizarre thing about it was that we were beating Premier League sides in the FA Cup. In truth, I along with many fans would have taken a shot at the cup final and finishing 15th in the table but there is a real wonder of what could have been when you look back at the excellent start. A lot has to do with a horrific list of injuries which really did contribute. A club like Palace are not in the position of having the option of replacing like for like in the squad unfortunately which is what was really highlighted to us all.
You reached the FA Cup final last season, losing narrowly to Manchester United. A memorable occasion?
Extremely memorable especially when many of us have had to wait twenty-six years for another go at winning the prestigious trophy. The overriding memory was the fans and how brilliant they were. From long before kick off to long after the final whistle, even in defeat and the huge disappointment that went with it, the fans truly showed what it means to support a football club and that is something that has been lacking in this country for a while now. Those minutes after the Jason Puncheon goal so late in the game until we conceded were indescribable. It was complete pandemonium and that is no understatement.
Alan Pardew is loved by a lot of Palace fans. How much of that is down to his winner against Liverpool as a player in ’89, and how much is down to his results in charge?
It is everything to do with that winner in the cup. Most Palace fans of that era will probably agree with me that Pardew was not the best player we have ever seen at Selhurst but he was a grafter. That goal just epitomised everything about the club at the time and the pure fact that following the 9-0 defeat at Anfield earlier in the season, we were never given a hope. Perhaps the most one sided game ever in terms of predictions in the build up. Super Al was just that man who popped up to send the Palace end into raptures and I still have the scars to prove it!
Wayne Hennessey and Alex McCarthy had their critics last season while Julian Speroni is 37. Was it important to sign a new goalkeeper in Steve Mandanda?
The goalkeeping position was a real hindrance to us last season and still Julian Speroni did not get a look in. To be fair, Wayne Hennessey did actually make some crucial saves during the season but you would not think so considering Palace fans reaction. In truth, over the course of the season, he just was not good enough. When Alex McCarthy had his chance, he too made mistakes. Towards the end of the season there was a visible change in the back line as they had clearly lost all confidence in Hennessey. The addition of Frenchman Mandanda is superb. He was much loved by Marseille fans having spent a good ten years there and much of it as captain. Hopefully, we start seeing some consistency between the sticks this season.
Joel Ward and Martin Kelly are not as quick as you might expect a right-back to be. Can this be a problem when you are forced to play with a higher defensive line?
Martin Kelly, certainly and I think that goes back to his awful knee injury that he suffered at Liverpool. It has left him much less mobile and that shows when he plays full back. However, he looks like he could convert to centre back quite easily and he has been tried there. Personally, I think that is where his future lies with some experience there. As for Joel Ward, he was not as consistent as we have come to expect but he is certainly no slouch. He is more a defensive minded full back rather than an offensive minded one that gets forward at every opportunity. That is often far better for us when we have wingers such as Yannick Bolasie and Wilfried Zaha playing in front of him, they must be an absolute nightmare to play behind!
Damien Delaney looks a spirited leader, but question marks have been asked about his distribution and tendency to make mistakes. Do you feel new signing James Tomkins will be the one to partner Scott Dann?
Those that know me will probably be fed up with hearing me say that our Scott should be in the England squad. Delaney is not getting any younger and if I am being honest, he has done wonderfully well to get this far. After promotion, I thought he would be one player that would really struggle to keep his place in the Premier League but he has been a very pleasant surprise. He will be phased out this season and will spend time on the bench once Tomkins has settled but I expect Delaney to start the season alongside Dann.
Yohan Cabaye clearly has a good passing ability and reading of the game. However, he has been substituted in 14 of his 32 Premier League starts and some question his energy out of possession. Can you start him and another attacking midfielder, without losing balance?
Cabaye has been that marquee signing for us. A real showing of intent by the owners last summer, and while we have not seen the real best of him just yet, there has been enough to prove that he is a real class act. I think this will be a really big season for him. The substitutions is an interesting one though and while I did not know it was quite that many, I would say that he is one player that gets targeted by the opposition and we have seen him lose his cool. He has not had the protection that some players so often get in the Premier League but maybe he just needs to get used to that a bit more.
James McArthur is seen as Palace’s best midfielder. Would you say that when he got injured in February, it was hard to replace his range of qualities?
He was a massive miss for us. A no-nonsense midfielder that has the biggest engine on him. He is a true box to box midfielder. There was one game last season, I forget the opponents, but he cleared an effort off the line and Palace broke forward, he was the player at the end of the move to have a shot on goal. That just epitimises what he does for the team.
Wilfried Zaha’s pace, energy and commitment made him one of Palace’s best players last season. Would you say his inconsistent end product is the only thing holding him back from getting into the England squad?
After the disappointing stint at Manchester United, we are really starting to see Wilf back to his best. He really came into his own last season when his wing partner Yannick Bolasie was out injured for two months. Palace are one of the only teams in the Premier League that use two our and out wingers in most games but he stepped up when it was probably easier for a winger of his calibre to hide in the team. Just sometimes wish he was a little more direct but he is learning and expect another big season from him particularly with more competition for places after the arrival of Andros Townsend.
Last season, Yannick Bolasie and Jason Puncheon didn’t seem to hit the same heights they did in the 2014/15 campaign. Was it important to add winger Andros Townsend to the squad?
I mentioned it above but it is all about competition for places. You could argue that the place in the starting line up for both these two players was not really under threat which really makes them complacent. I am not saying that these two were but when you do not have someone on your shoulder wanting your place then it sometimes makes players too comfortable and while you want that to a certain respect, they have to know that if they have a poor game then there is a chance that someone will replace them. We have that going into the new season which can only be a healthy situation. The problem we face is keeping players happy as there are not many that would be content with a place on the Palace bench like some are happy to do just that at bigger clubs.
Every time Connor Wickham starts to find form he seems to get injured. While he may be an effective target man, can he be relied on? Was it right to let go of Dwight Gayle?
I think it was three spells out injured in total last season and one suspension if memory serves me right. When he was fit he showed his worth to the team, no more so than in the homes wins over Southampton and Newcastle United. There is no doubt that we will be playing the lone striker formation this new season so we need reinforcements to fight Connor for that role. I like Dwight but he simply cannot play that lone striker role that is the one that fits the personnel that we have in our midfield. It was a shame to see him go but I have no doubt that he will score 20+ goals in the Championship this season. He will be remembered for his double against Liverpool when Palace came back from three goals down to draw 3-3. What an incredible night and he was a huge part of that.
What are your thoughts ahead of the Premier League season as a whole? Anyone you think could be a surprise challenger for the top four?
It has been said so often recently but with the managerial changes this summer it could be quite a season in the Premier League. I look at the big six in United, City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs and Liverpool as those challenging and I do not see many others breaking that up if they all fulfill their potential. I would be very surprised to see Leicester break into that top six, unless one of them fails miserably. One team I do think could pull of a surprise is Everton with new boss Ronald Koeman. the Dutchman carried on the great work at Southampton and will be looking to do similar at Goodison Park.
Where will you finish?
That is such a tough question. With the signings we have made, and the assumption a couple more will be arriving, I am looking at amid table finish, maybe around 12th but we should be looking to improve on a couple of seasons ago when we finished 10th.
The Football Lab’s Verdict
The signings Crystal Palace have made provide quality. However, dismal post-Christmas form is concerning and top half hopes could suffer from the slow pursuit of a striker. 14th