Crystal Palace: Barmy Bristolian Helps Eagles Soar Into Premier League

2012/2013: 5th (Championship)

Transfer(s) In: Marouane Chamakh (Arsenal, Free), Elliot Grandin (Blackpool, Free), Kevin Phillips (Blackpool, Free), Jerome Thomas (West Bromwich Albion, Free), Dwight Gayle (Peterborough, £4 Million), Jose Campana (Sevilla, Undisc), Stephen Dobbie (Brighton, Undisc), Jason Puncheon (Southampton, Loan), Neil Alexander (Rangers, Free), Florian Marange (Bordeaux, Free), Jack Hunt (Huddersfield, £2 Million), Cameron Jerome (Stoke City, Loan), Barry Bannan (Aston Villa, £2 Million), Adrian Mariappa (Reading, £3 Million), Adlene Guediora (Nottingham Forest, £2.5 Million)

Transfer(s) Out: Andre Moritz (Bolton Wanderers, Free), Alex Marrow (Blackburn Rovers, Undisc), Jermaine Easter (Millwall, Undisc), Wilfried Zaha (Manchester United, £15 Million)

Transfers Review:

                                         As with all of the other promoted sides, I did not do a season review blog post, and therefore I cannot compare my transfer predictions with the actual incomings. However, I can review those transfers that have been made, both in and out. Beginning with the incomings, Ian Holloway has added to the strike force considerably over the summer, with Kevin Phillips and Stephen Dobbie signed on permanent deals from Blackpool and Brighton respectively, and new blood in the youngster Dwight Gayle and the more experienced Marouane Chamakh. Both I can see being successes at Selhurst Park, however both are risks. Chamakh has struggled at Arsenal, finding the net only 3 times last year, and Dwight Gayle, whilst a prolific goalscorer at Peterborough, has no experience at the highest level, and it is always difficult to predict how a player will cope with the step-up. David Nugent is testimony to that sentiment. Jerome Thomas and Elliot Grandin both had that top-flight experience at their respective clubs, and both will be valuable additions to Holloway's squad. Thomas, in particular, will need to perform well, in order to replace the side's star player from the last couple of seasons, Wilfried Zaha, on the wing. The only transfers that need to cross the English Channel are Florien Marange and Jose Campana. The 20-year-old central midfielder will add a bit of power in the centre of the park, and will enable the more creative players to work their magic.

                                        Similarly to Cardiff, Crystal Palace have managed to keep the majority of their top players from the previous season. The only exception is Wilfried Zaha, however, with the deal agreed in January, it would be a little unfair to suggest that they have made a poor decision or they have not had time to replace him. Certainly the £15 Million they managed to extort from Manchester United will leave many Crystal Palace fans perfectly happy to let the 20-year-old go, as they have managed to bring in many names for much less than that. Other than Zaha, only a couple of players have left, and none of them would be considered to be critical to their survival this season.

Pre-Season:

                                          The Eagles's pre-season has been undertaken entirely on home soil, travelling around the country to take part in multiple friendly matches against sides from all divisions. I have never been one for huge amount of easily winnable matches, as these do not prepare a squad for the mental and physical toughness of the Premier League. It certainly does give a very good opportunity for the youth players to get some experience, and to get some links between your new new players. This is clearly shown by results like the one away at Waterfront United, which the Eagles won 4-0. However, the marquee friendly was their final one at home to Lazio, in a match that would finally challenge Crystal Palace's ability to cope with the demands of the Premier League.

                                             The Italian-cup holders were always going to be a test for the newly-promoted Crystal Palace, and this proved to be the case. Having dominated the opening stages, the Serie A side took the lead after just 12 minutes, with Miroslav Klose nodding in the rebound after Candreva's shot was parried. The dominance continued to the break, with only a clearance off the line denying Lazio a second. After half-time, Palace began to improve, creating several half-chances, with new boy Dwight Gayle looking particularly impressive. His relationship with Kevin Phillips also looked strong, and the two will be looking to link up more during the opening weeks of the season. However, despite some late pressure, Lazio hung on to condemn the Eagles to a defeat in their last pre-season game.

Key Players:

                                              Whilst many of the signings brought in by Ian Holloway may prove to be integral to the first-team, I feel that they already have a couple of players that looked very impressive last year, and who i believe will be able to transfer comfortably to the Premier League stage. Kagisho Dikgacoi looked an impressive prospect last season. Though he did not get as many of the headlines as Wilfried Zaha, who on his day was unplayable, he was by far the more consistent performer for the Eagles. They will need him to be Mr Consistent for the promoted side this year, in order to help them avoid the drop.

                                               Going forward, Ian Holloway has made several shrewd signings, as he has a couple of strikers that will score you double figures already, and so he can focus more on the youth. One of those strikers, Glenn Murray, is another to watch out for. The experienced Englishman had the season of his life last campaign, hitting 30 goals for the first time. If he can replicate the performances we saw last year, I am certain that he will trouble defences up and down the land.

Key Fixture Dates:

24/08/2013: Stoke vs Crystal Palace
23/11/2013: Hull vs Crystal Palace
30/11/2013: Norwich vs Crystal Palace
07/12/2013: Crystal Palace vs Cardiff
01/01/2014: Crystal Palace vs Norwich
18/01/2014: Crystal Palace vs Stoke
28/01/2014: Crystal Palace vs Hull
05/04/2014: Cardiff vs Crystal Palace

Top Goalscorer:

                                                Glenn Murray is certainly the man that I see grabbing the majority of Crystal Palace's goals this campaign, if allowed by fitness. Kevin Phillips I think has gone past the point where he will score 20 goals a season, and the new recruits are all too inexperienced to challenge Murray for that top goalscorer berth. The Englishman's abilities in the air and on the ground makes him the typical number 9, and I think that is exactly what Crystal Palace needs.

Prediction:

                                                  Crystal Palace's goal for this season will be to avoid relegation by any means possible. Ian Holloway will be all too familiar with this task, having been given that objective by the Blackpool board a couple of seasons ago. Unfortunately for the Bristolian born man, as much as his antics make him a popular choice amongst the public, I fear he will be fighting a losing battle again this time around. The squad just doesn't have enough strength in depth to challenge with the rest of the Premier League, and I think that another couple of seasons in the Championship will prepare them for another tilt at the top flight.

Crystal Palace 2013/2014: 20th

Sunderland: Nutty Professor Helps Mackems Beat The Drop

2012/2013 Season Review:

                Martin O’Neill, after a strong start to his Sunderland career, saw his side tail off towards the latter end of last season. In order to rectify that, he spent big in the summer. A reported £15 million spent on proven goalscorer Steven Fletcher, and a further £12 million on disgruntled Manchester City winger Adam Johnson, for whom Sunderland were his boyhood club. These high-profile signings were intended to push Sunderland up the table, into the top half and potentially even challenging for a European berth. Sunderland started the season well, remaining unbeaten throughout August and September and progressing to the Fourth Round of the Capital One Cup. Steven Fletcher appeared to be an inspired signing, scoring all of Sunderland’s first 5 league goals.

                Their first defeat came at the hands of the champions Manchester City at the Etihad, ironically a game the Mackems drew the previous season, breaking the Citizens 100% home record. Not the ideal preparation for the Tyne-Wear derby, where Sunderland were largely outplayed, but managed to salvage a late draw through Demba Ba’s own goal, a moment Sunderland fans remember with glee. A disappointing exit of the Capital One Cup in a Tees-Wear derby at the Stadium of Light, followed by two defeats in the league, checked Sunderland’s early season good form. The Mackems inconsistent form continued, with a pattern of two defeats and one win recurring several times throughout the early stage of the season. This placed Sunderland in a relatively safe mid-table position, but still some way short of their pre-season expectations.

                Two successive victories either side of Christmas gave Sunderland a bit of momentum going into the New Year, with a particularly positive result and performance at home to Manchester City. January was another month of two tales. Whilst two successive league wins further strengthened Sunderland’s league position, their FA Cup run was cut short by a defeat at home to Championship side Bolton Wanderers, leaving the league as their only source of attention. After the Wigan result, a winless run of 9 Premier League games put the Mackems perilously close to the relegation zone, and ultimately cost manager Martin O’Neill his job, after just over a year in charge.

                Martin O’Neill was replaced by the energetic Italian Paolo di Canio. After a feisty but successful spell with Swindon, in which di Canio took the Robins up from League 2, before leaving in rather acrimonious circumstances. Di Canio was instantly embroiled in considerable controversy, as revelations about his political views landed him in hot water with the press. Reports emerged that di Canio actually tended his resignation to the board just three days after his appointment, in a response to the controversy, which the board rejected. This decision was instantly vindicated as, in di Canio’s first game as Sunderland manager, he made the short journey to Newcastle, where his side comprehensively beat the Geordies 3-0. A game that will live long in the memory of any Sunderland fans, and di Canio’s celebrations on the touchlines caught the attention of the rest of the footballing world.

                 Di Canio’s momentum then saw Sunderland beat Everton at home, to move clear of danger, but a disastrous 6-1 defeat away at Aston Villa dumped the North East side right back into trouble. Two draws in the final three games, coupled with the inability of those around them to capitalise on Sunderland’s slip-ups, ensured that Sunderland’s status as a Premier League club remained secure for another year. As a season, Sunderland fans will consider their achievements this campaign as disappointing, especially considering the money that has been spent. Paolo di Canio, a divisive figure both within and away from the club, has considerable talent as a manager, but needs to reign in the controversies before he can be wholly successful. If he can do that, and show the same passion on the touchlines that endeared him to the Sunderland fans, then there is no reason why he could not lead Sunderland to a top 10 finish next year.

 

Player of the Season: Simon Mignolet – A toss-up between him and Steven Fletcher, though Fletcher’s lack in form towards the back end of the season tips the balance in favour of the Belgian. Another consistent season, in which Mignolet has once again performed exceptionally on a number of occasions, ensured that Sunderland’s predicament did not get any worse.

 

Game of the Season: Newcastle United 0-3 Sunderland – A no-brainer for any Sunderland fan, as di Canio’s opening game saw an absolute demolition of their arch-rivals. Stephane Sessegnon set Sunderland on their way, causing wild celebrations on the sidelines. More celebrations (and a knee slide) followed, as Adam Johnson curled a shot from the edge of the area past Rob Elliot to put the Mackems in control. David Vaughan wrapped things up in the 90^th minute, with a sweet strike from the corner of the box, giving the keeper no chance, and causing di Canio to do a Mourinho-esque run down the touchline to celebrate with his players.

 

Summer Transfer Targets (What I Think They Need): Their big names to perform to expectation would be a start, with both Sessegnon and Adam Johnson being singled out for particular criticism. In terms of signings, with aging defenders like John O’Shea and Wes Brown, younger blood would be handy. Another striker to chip in with a few goals would also be most important, as Connor Wickham has failed to produce the form he promised when he broke onto the scene last year. Players like Wigan’s Maynor Figueroa and Arouna Kone would both be potential targets.

 

Transfer Gossip Links:

In:

Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur, RB), Gary Hooper (Celtic, ST), Valentin Roberge (Maritimo, LB), Charlie Austin (Burnley, ST), Modibo Diakite (Lazio, CB)

Out:

Titus Bramble (Released, CB)