2015-16 Premier League Season Preview: Crystal Palace
Welcome to theScore's 2015-16 preview of Crystal Palace. Transfer dealings, lineup projections, and everything else you need to know about the club's upcoming campaign.
Crystal Palace
Seizing its moment in the Premier League, Crystal Palace is writing a new chapter in its history, complete with a balance of optimism and apprehension.
The euphoric times represent a dramatic turnaround from an era - not too long ago - in which Palace simply couldn't catch a break. The club fell victim to two spells in administration, the second of which occurred in 2010.
Palace will enter the season with what many are regarding as its healthiest position ever, established in the top flight of English football and aligned to compete for a place in the upper half of the table. They'll be playing under Alan Pardew, who returned at the beginning of the calendar year to the club with which he spent four years as a player.
There appears to be no ceiling on Palace's rise. The club has gone from the basement of the Championship to the promotion play-offs to 11th in the Premier League to 10th last season, inching toward its ultimate goal of European football.
Could this be the season Palace qualifies for Europe?
2014-15 Season
| Record (Points) | Finish | Goals For | Goals Against | Top Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13-9-16 (48) | 10th | 47 | 51 | Glenn Murray (7) |
Tony Pulis' departure from Palace just two days before the season kicked off was an all-too-familiar scenario for a club whose managerial position has operated like a rotating door.
Neil Warnock filled the void after Malky Mackay was ruled out of the running for racist, homophobic, and sexist text messages uncovered during his time at Cardiff City. But Palace failed to thrive under Warnock and found itself sitting in the relegation zone on New Year's Day.
Enter Pardew.
By season's end, the white-haired manager had guided Palace to the top half of the table, a position that seemed unthinkable only months earlier.
Key Arrivals
- Patrick Bamford (season-long loan from Chelsea)
- Yohan Cabaye (from Paris Saint-Germain)
- Lee Chung-Yong (from Bolton Wanderers)
- Alex McCarthy (from Queens Park Rangers)
Cabaye will be linking up with Pardew for a second time after joining Palace for a club-record fee reportedly valued at £10 million.
The duo worked together at Newcastle United before Cabaye departed for the Parc des Princes in early 2014. His return to Palace, however, is what may allow the club to compete for a European place, particularly if he can find the form he demonstrated under Pardew at St. James' Park.
Key Departures
- Shola Ameobi (released)
- Stuart O'Keefe (released)
- Jerome Thomas (released)
There were no notable exits from Selhurst Park this summer.
There were questions about Brede Hangeland's future after he was released in June, but he subsequently signed a one-year contract with Palace, meaning O'Keefe, who only made two Premier League appearances last season, is arguably the biggest name leaving leaving the club.
Projected Starting Lineup (4-3-3)
Julian Speroni; Joel Ward, Scott Dann, Damien Delaney, Pape Souare; Jason Puncheon, Mile Jedinak, Yohan Cabaye; Wilfried Zaha, Glenn Murray, Yannick Bolasie
Having retained the core of its starting XI, Palace is set to take the pitch with the 4-3-3 formation that the club traditionally deployed under Pardew last season.
Its backline should remain identical, as Joel Ward and Pape Souare control the flanks while the centre-back pairing of Scott Dann and Damien Delaney holds it down in the middle.
The one question surrounding Palace's starting lineup involves Cabaye, whose inevitable inclusion will in some way affect Mile Jedinak, the defensive anchor of the club's midfield.
Mile Jedinak has ONE JOB. Unlike all those other idiots, he does that job really well. Huge defensive stopper #cpfc pic.twitter.com/9KZ1Oe68yE
— Ted Knutson (@mixedknuts) April 14, 2014
Player To Watch: Yannick Bolasie
Yannick Bolasie needs no introduction after the damage he inflicted on countless right-backs last season.
Just ask Christian Eriksen.
Bolasie's phenomenal blend of speed and dribbling skills robbed opposing defenders of their dignity, leading Pardew to declare in April: "I'll sell Yannick, if someone wants to give me £40 million to £60 million, somewhere in there, that would be good."
Brace yourself, Premier League. Bolasie is prepared to take on anyone who stands between him and the goal.
Keep One Eye On: Wilfried Zaha
Three Questions
- Can Cabaye step back into the Premier League and assert himself as one of its best midfielders?
- How long will the love affair with Alan Pardew last?
- Who will be the next player to have his dignity stolen by the human highlight reel that is Yannick Bolasie?
Trivial Matters
- Manager: Alan Pardew
- Nickname: The Eagles
- Stadium: Selhurst Park (Capacity: 26,309)