I don’t know about you but I think we Palace fans have just witnessed one of the best transfer windows in our history, but yet there is still a tinge of ‘what might have been.’
It looked like Steve Parish and Alan Pardew had done all their business in the early part of the window as they signed Steve Mandanda, James Tomkins and Andros Townsend. Despite the outcry from supporters saying we need strikers, it was a long painstaking process until we smashed our club record fee to bring Christian Benteke to Selhurst Park. Then Loic Remy arrived on loan, and all of a suddenly optimism returned to SE25 after what has been a difficult start to the season.
So why is there still some disappointment?
When the news broke that Arsenal were looking to loan Jack Wilshere on Deadline Day so that he could get vital game time, all of a sudden Palace’s name became linked, along with plenty of other clubs. It could have been a signing that would have transformed the place even further, but it was not to be as he decided to join Eddie Howe and Bournemouth.
People questioned the move to Bournemouth as he had offers from Roma and AC Milan. Many might think it was a odd move, because for all we know the Cherries could struggle this season and end up going down. I don’t think it will happen as they looked a good outfit when we played them last week.
Nevertheless, I actually think it was a good move for Wilshere. He will develop more as a player under Howe than Pardew. As we know only too well, Pardew’s team blow hot and cold, for one period they can be on fire, and the next they can be pretty poor. Perhaps Pardew’s management style and the way he plays might have restricted Wilshere. In Howe’s system, one that likes to monopolise the ball, he could be one of the players that determine Bournemouth’s Premier League status for another season.
But let us not dwell on those that did not arrive, let us focus on those that have boosted our current squad, and whether we feel we have succeeded or failed.
They have all drastically improved our starting line up, but the fact remains that our squad depth leaves a lot to be desired. If you look at what team we could potentially line up with against Middlesbrough it is one of quality, and one that should certainly excite us.
- Steve Mandanda
- Joel Ward
- Scott Dann
- Damien Delaney
- Pape Souare
- James McArthur
- Yohan Cabaye
- Jason Puncheon
- Wilfried Zaha
- Christian Benteke
- Andros Townsend.
To me that is a strong starting line up but the worry for me is the bench. Every manager, in an ideal world will want players to come on from that the bench that are either better or of similar quality to what they have on the pitch. I do not believe that we have that, for another season running.
Take a look at our options. It is a mixed bag and for any given match day it could potentially resemble something like:
- Wayne Hennessey
- James Tomkins
- Chung-Yong Lee
- Connor Wickham
- Bakary Sako
- Loic Remy
Obviously there are other names such as Joe Ledley, Jordan Mutch, Martin Kelly and Frazier Campbell to add to that list but you never know just who Pardew will opt for.
It is still fairly strong, but not as strong as some of the other clubs in a similar position to our own. At least we now have three striking options (not including Campbell) which will do us no harm, but I still think we missed a trick by not reinforcing our back up options further.
Injuries decimated us in the second half of last season, and if it happens again we will certainly struggle again in this campaign, but let us not focus on the negative.
Both Parish and Pardew got it right in terms of the strikers we bought into the club. Benteke, on paper, suits us down to the ground and I hope he scores many goals for us. In Remy, we have someone who is completely different and when match fit could be a real difference or game changer for us.
I have always liked the Frenchman, he was impressive at Newcastle United and Queens Park Rangers. Admittedly at Chelsea, he never got enough game time but he still carried a threat when called upon. It will be interesting to see how Pardew utilises his attacking options this season.
Overall we can be content with what the club has done this summer window. Perhaps we missed a trick in certain areas, and only time will tell if Pardew and Parish have made one or two mistakes by not getting a couple more players over the line.
2 comments
Buy saying other teams have better players or as good on the bench would surgest they start with a weaker team than they could and I have never seen that happen !
We have good options to come in in all areas and more importantly options to change the way we are playing without going for weaker players. The only part of the team that will struggle is the wings with Lee or Punch as backup who won’t get us forward as quick as the first choices.
I do also agree that with two or three injurys in the same area we will struggle but so would any other side.
All in all we are a better team than we ever have been before let’s hope they click sooner rather than later
What a pointless bit of writing! Every club could have a stronger bench,even those that win the league could improve. Looks to me as he will play a 442 now, can’t see why Remy would have joined if not for a starting role. You’re line up doesn’t start with Tomkin’s??? Surely a new 10mill+ defender will start when fit over a 35year old defender. I think we are weak in full back were martin Kelly has to fill in on either side. Winger wise we have 3 premiere league players. Think we are lacking in center mid, should of kept hold of boatang. Leaving us well stocked. Up to if he play 451 we have more than enough however if we 442 it we could be short, again I would have kept 1 of our young prospects to learn and provide back up
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