Today we look back over the past twelve months with a view of the ups and downs of transfer deadline day and what it has meant for Palace along with a potential view of what the season ahead may have in store for us as a club now that we can all relax a bit more than usual.
Last season, the Eagles went from a very successful day at Wembley on May 27th 2013 into a very busy and silly period that left us very little time to prepare for the new Premiership season ahead.
This year however, we have a little more time on our side as the club knew that it had secured Premiership safety after the West Ham game back on 19th April after an amazing run of five wins on the bounce.
Looking back to last year, Palace went crazy in the market and secured the services of sixteen new players and were perhaps ‘unlucky‘ not to get more with the coming and goings of Bendtner and A.J. This window has been scrutinised to the hilt, was a major factor in what I believe was some kind of breakdown from Holloway and resulted in a proper mess that has taken the best part of the season to un-pick with the odd stragglers still at loose ends.
As a recap, last year we secured the services of Jose Campana, Kevin Phillips, Stephen Dobbie, Jason Puncheon, Jerome Thomas, Dwight Gayle, Florian Marange, Elliot Grandin, Neil Alexander, Marouane Chamakh, Barry Bannan, Jimmy Kebe, Adrian Mariappa, Jack Hunt, Cameron Jerome and Adlene Geudioula.
Moving on swiftly, we then proceeded to the slightly more controlled January window where we saw the arrival of Joe Ledley, Scott Dann, Tom Ince, Wayne Hennessey and of course Jason Puncheon on a more permanent basis. These signings have all been without a doubt key for us this season in preserving our Premier League safety.
With time on our side this year we can look to secure the services of a few of our current players such as Yannick Bolassie, Julian Speroni and Marouane Chamakh for example and build on this in readiness for next season with any new signings that will be able to integrate hopefully before the first ball is kicked. Both Tom Ince and Cameron Jerome are also in a position where their loan contracts expire at the end of the season and therefore need to be addressed one way or another.
With the spectre of relegation off of our backs and games still to play, Parish and co can already turn their attentions to the season ahead and look to build on an excellent platform that will hopefully enable us to push on again on and off the park.
Tony Pulis would surely have already been under consultation with Sporting Director Iain Moody to pick out transfer targets in readiness for the next window opening. Special agent Moody probably has a number of targets in mind already through the use of his knowledge of the market and texts received from other clubs.
Much has been said in the past around ‘second-season syndrome’ and Tony Pulis will need to use his past experience and the acquisition of new players in setting us up in readiness for August 2014 in order that we can get off to a good start. Looking back, the start to the 2013 season could not have been worse especially around the acquisition of points, good luck, goals, perhaps performances, organisation …. you get the drift and the list goes on.
As was the cause of a great deal of angst in January, surely another striker will be a top priority. We have an excellent defensive record under Pulis but have lacked the fire-power to close out games leaving many of us on the edge of our seats and scared to breath until the final whistle. The game against Chelsea at home was a case in point where we had lots of opportunities to secure the game earlier and the same can be said for the away trip to Newcastle where we lost due to not capitalising on our earlier chances.
We now move onto redevelopment (or perhaps transformation) off the pitch.
There are already plans afoot to upgrade the training ground and facilities since its purchase last year and also plans to start work on the ground again in the close season.
At present the only option on the table is development of the current Selhurst Park site with plans to move back to Crystal Palace Park currently on hold and appear un-changed from the situation last year with Parish commenting back in early 2014 – ‘we want to create a lasting legacy for the club. We want to rebuild Selhurst — that is the most expedient thing.’
The club also previously apparently made representations to the powers that be around development at Crystal Palace Park to assist the facility and the area generally with improvements. The view at the time (which is probably un-changed) is that there would be too many objections from local residents and they would rather it fell in disrepair.
Last year reports already suggested that plans were on the table for the development of the Selhurst Park site and the hope and expectation is that this may still be on the cards although it may be slow progress as is the case with planning permission generally let alone something of this magnitude.
Sainsbury’s are apparently supportive with the plans which would probably see a second tier over the top of the current main-stand if we were to increase our capacity.
Reports in the Croydon Advertiser back in early April suggest possible plans for a school to be integrated into the stadia complex (potentially on the car park) following apparent meetings with the club, council and school representatives which would also secure Government funding for the club as an additional revenue stream.
We have already seen some development work through this season with new advertising hoarding around the ground which has basically swept the dust under the carpet to a degree, new electronic advertising boards around the ground, development of the media area, an improved gantry, new seats in the (bus-stop) bench area for players and massive development of the main stand.
Surely next on the cards must be the Arthur Wait stand and hopefully (for many) the facilities that sit behind this area.
As well as a degree of sticking plaster development that we have seen in places, the club must surely be looking at the bigger picture with regards to developing Selhurst Park into a 40,000 seater facility (hopefully with safe-standing too) with an eye on the future.
This must have been slightly on hold until we secured our spot for next season but is bound to be a factor and consideration in our future. The current stadium seats 26,309 without a further reduction due to the cordoned off area between the home and away supporters. Whatever happens around the development of Selhurst Park, massive consideration must be given to preserving the atmosphere that has been excellent and vital this season.
If we stay in our current position to the end of the season, this alone is expected to bring in £73m from the Premier League and television companies in revenue.
Parish and CPFC2010 generally have been breath of fresh air since the troubled times of 2010 and we have come a very long way in a very short time. Parish has previously stated and acknowledged that the club has a long way to go in comparison with other established teams that have been in the Premier League for years.
We will have to see what happens in the coming months but it was pure luxury for us fans to watch Palace v Manchester City at the weekend without any real pressure on us.
We have enjoyed the very last home game of the season against Liverpool where the Eagles could have a massive hand in the destiny of the Premier League title and the lucky fans that have got tickets can go and enjoy the game away at Fulham on the last day. Obviously this game could have a major bearing in the safety of Fulham in the Premiership too.
The players, management and board has been fantastic this season especially and what they have achieved has been beyond our (and probably their) wildest dreams. Let’s hope that a few more people stay in their seats at the Liverpool game to the final whistle in order to show our pride and appreciation to the players and to clap them off the pitch for what they and we have achieved together as a club.
Now let’s relax, enjoy those final games, enjoy the World Cup and the summer ahead and let the club work its magic again in readiness for the 2014/15 season. This Premiership lark is easy, we are in excellent hand and our future is filled with more optimism than hope.
