Since winning the play off in May reports in many quarters of the media have suggested that as a newly promoted team to the Premier League we will have to bring in a brand new squad.
In response to that, I would firstly add that was the approach QPR adopted last season and look how that turned out. Then there is the small matter of team spirit that undoubtedly had a huge influence on us being promoted. Yes, there were better teams in the Championship but I doubt any had a better feeling in the dressing than Palace had.
It was always going to be difficult for a team that is promoted through the play offs. Effectively three weeks behind everyone else in the Premier League in terms of planning for a new season. Some would call it unfair but who are we to argue as we look forward to an unexpected season in the top division in England.
Regardless, this summer has been a long hard slog. The transfer policy has been more about the owners of Palace conducting themselves in the right manner which I had no doubt that they would do. The obvious early moves were to secure permanent deals for Stephen Dobbie and Kevin Phillips who were on loan from Brighton and Blackpool respectively.
It was suggested that the latter had other offers but appearing on the Sky Sports Sunday Supplement programme, Kevin explained there was no doubt;
“I went on holiday after the play off final as I was extremely tired from seasons of travelling catching up with me, but I had a phone conversation with Holloway when I got back and he said that he wanted me to stay on a one year deal. I agreed verbally but it took a while for the paperwork to go through. It was never in doubt.”
So the first two signings were over the line but more needed. No offence to the squad that got us up into the Premier League, we need much more than we already had. Then came Dwight Gayle from Peterborough. The young striker that was remembered for being the player to give away the free kick that led to Palace’s winner and Peterborough’s relegation at Selhurst on the final day of last season. A bright prospect and an area of the team that needed it with Glenn Murray out until what looks like later on in the year. The fee for Gayle has been rumoured to be around £6 to £8 million but realistically it is around £4.5 million with add-ons as his Palace career progresses.
Perhaps the coup of the summer so far was Spanish under 21 captain Jose Campana which we didn’t really see coming until it was all but confirmed. A skillful midfielder who takes his fair share of set pieces and looks likely to add some flair to a team that has lost Zaha to United. It is suggested that he does not speak any English but luckily we have Julian Speroni at hand. It will be interesting to see if he settles quickly as he could be the buy of the summer and take the Premier League by storm.
Then we have free transfers Jerome Thomas and Elliot Grandin. Both looking for clubs and both midfielders with Premier League experience. Clearly Thomas is a poor relation when comparing him to Zaha but in saying that he is an older head so it may work for us. In Grandin we have nothing more than a squad player however he has shown plenty about him in pre-season and with Thomas going down injured in the friendly against Lazio we may see the Frenchman in the starting line-up sooner than we expected.
The rumours persisted about Marouane Chamakh. But there was truth in the rumours as he is the latest player to sign for us. After watching the Lazio game at Selhurst it was clear that we needed a striker, a front man to lead the line in the absence of Murray. We could have that in Chamakh even if he didn’t pull up any trees at Arsenal and a short stint at West Ham last season. The deal is shrewd, one year with an option of a second should we stay up.
The rumours will persist until the transfer window closes in just under three weeks. It is more likely that we will see a few loanees come in however we do not seem to be linked to many defenders which is perhaps an area where many were expecting more of an overhaul. We are constantly linked with Darren Bent which, again, would be a sensible move and perhaps complete our strike force for the season. But any deal for him has to be right for Palace and if it’s as shrewd at the Chamakh one then he is more than welcome at Selhurst.
