After a disappointing and lack lustre display from England at the European Championships in France this summer, it is finally time to welcome back the Premier League with open arms.
The opening game for these two teams will be considered winnable by both in an effort to get off to the best start possible for the new season. Visiting manager Tony Pulis returns to his former stamping ground after a frustrating lack of action in the transfer market. In contrast, Palace have done business early with one notable absence. A striker.
TEAM NEWS
CRYSTAL PALACE – Alan Pardew will have a handful of injury concerns going into the new season with James Tomkins, Bakary Sako and Frazier Campbell all unavailable to be involved in this one. Pape Souare, James McArthur, Jonny Williams and Zeki Fryers are also doubts. Andros Townsend is expected to make his full debut for Palace while it willbe very interesting to see if new signing Steve Mandanda makes his debut in the Palace goal or whether Wayne Hennessey retains his place.
WEST BROMWICH ALBION – Chris Brunt is the only injury concern for Tony Pulis who is still recovering from the injury that he suffered last term which put him our of the Euros. The only new addition to the West Brom squad is Matt Phillips from Queens Park rangers who could make his debut.
ACTION REPLAY
Last time out Palace experienced a reality check with West Bromwich Albion turning on the style and putting three past the Eagles at the Hawthorns in what appeared to be the hosts best performance of the season. Goals from Craig Gardner, Craig Dawson and Saido Berahino gave the Baggies a well deserved three goal lead. However, Connor Wickham switched on and produced a fantastic solo performance up front for Palace and pulled two goals back but the match ended 3-2 to the hosts.
FORM GUIDE
The last five meetings between the two;
- Premier League: 8th February 2014 – Palace 3-1 West Brom
- Premier League: 25th October 2014 – West Brom 2-2 Palace
- Premier League: 18th April 2015 – Palace 0-2 West Brom
- Premier League: 3rd October 2015 – Palace 2-0 West Brom
- Premier League: 27th February 2016 – West Brom 3-2 Palace
Both clubs clocked up the miles during pre-season. It is difficult to know what to make of results but here is how the two sides have done heading into the new season;
CRYSTAL PALACE
- Philadelphia Union 0-0 Palace
- FC Cincinnati 0-2 Palace
- Vancouver Whitecaps 2-2 Palace.
- Colchester United 0-1 Palace
- AFC Wimbledon 2-3 Palace
- Fulham 3-1 Palace
- Bromley 1-2 Palace
- Palace 3-1 Valencia
WEST BROMWICH ALBION
- Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 West Brom
- Kidderminster Harriers 1-2 West Brom
- Vitesse Arnhem 1-2 West Brom
- Plymouth Argyle 0-0 West Brom
- Torquay United 2-1 West Brom
- Real Mallorca 1-0 West Brom
FORM PLAYERS (courtesy of Who Scored)
Highest rated players from each side at the end of 2015/16 season;
- Yohan Cabaye 7.23
- Johnny Evans 7.20
- Yannick Bolasie 7.14
- Craig Dawson 7.02
WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY
“I do not want to give my opponents too much information, but we have one or two we are trying to get up to speed from the Euros. The first group has had a good pre-season and look strong. There is only one way for us and that is to improve and get better. Change is good. This is going to be a team in transition this season. The competition in the league means that teams like West Brom and ourselves will be looking at that forty points for our first target.” – ALAN PARDEW
“The last twenty-two months at the club have been difficult because of the ownership situation. It is not a case of walking out on the club for me. My aim is to try and get five players in over the next two weeks. Those players will make a huge difference to the team.” – TONY PULIS
ONE TO WATCH
Andros Townsend arrived last month with a strong, positive reputation after almost single handedly keeping Newcastle United in the Premier League for another season. With Dwight Gayle leaving Palace for Newcastle in the same month, the two transfers almost cancel each other out which looks to be fantastic business. Townsend has a point to prove having not featured in the England squad for a lengthy amount of time and with the arrival of Sam Allardyce, the twenty-five year old will be as keen as ever to show what he can do.
PREDICTION
Final league position – 16th
West Brom had a similar problem to Palace last season which was scoring goals. The new season will be even tougher especially due to the majority of clubs making excellent signings. The Baggies have not exactly been active in the transfer window and have seen only one new face in Matt Phillips join the squad. This may be due to the sale of the club of course but nevertheless, the Premier League is unforgiving if teams are not up to their highest standard. If Pulis makes the right signings then the club should avoid a relegation scrap but their poor efforts in finding the net could cost them this year unless things change.
- TEB prediction – home win
- Dan Watts prediction (see link below) – home win
- Who Scored prediction – home win
BETTING ODDS (courtesy of Paddy Power)
- Home – evens
- Draw – 11/5
- Away – 16/5
- Both teams to score – 11/10
