Last season we all enjoyed the sight of McJedley across the midfield.
That was a tough midfield which proved very difficult to break down as combative midfielders Mile Jedinak, Joe Ledley and James McArthur proved so often.
It is very likely that we will never see that famous trio play together again as the midfield has taken a completely different form this season. It has evolved into an exciting attacking outfit with room for just one of these three midfielders at any one time.
The impact of the summer signings has been massive and not just on the field of play. It has been more to do with the effect on the personnel and their place in the squad and club.
The arrival of better players has signalled some change. The options from the bench have been boosted as well as creating a stronger squad of players. Before there may have one player on the bench that would be seen as making up the numbers. Not this season. Every seat on the bench is vital and important to the continued evolution of what is an exciting group of players.
It has been needed but it takes time. There has been a lot of sensible acquisitions since that fateful transfer window leading into our first season back in the top flight. Some of those additions have now left the club that have been in and around the squad for some time. The likes of Owen Garvan, Jerome Thomas, Barry Bannan and Adlene Guedioura have all moved on to pastures new.
We almost lost one of the McJedley trio on deadline day. Jedinak was in talks with Stoke City which broke down due to personal terms. What seemed a direct result of that, Ledley was permitted to leave the Welsh training camp for talks with Cardiff City and West Bromwich Albion. While it will not be a popular decision, one of these two may go in January all the while the excellent form of McArthur continues. It makes sense. Just like losing Glenn Murray, the team has evolved into something than no longer requires an aging centre forward and three midfielders with similar styles. The latter particularly as we are only playing a formation that offers one of those a starting place.
While we talk about three midfielders with similar styles, you can add Yohan Cabaye to the mix. Many, including myself, were expecting the touch of class that the French midfielder brings. Few will have predicted the battling qualities he also brings to the team. It has been evident in the few games he has played so far. He is as comfortable getting behind the ball and tackling to win it back as he is using it sensibly and smoothly to create an attack. That leaves our big Aussie and bearded wonder even further down the pecking order if Cabaye can be a consideration that the defensive midfield role.
Last season, Palace were one of very few teams to play with two wingers and that remains the case this time around as a mix of Wilfried Zaha, Yannick Bolasie and Bakary Sako show off their skills on the touchline. When you add the likes of Jason Puncheon and Cabaye to the midfield who can both pull the strings, it is arguably one of the most interesting attack minded teams to watch in the Premier League.
As we have enjoyed what we have seen so far this season, there is likely to be times when that attacking formation will be tested or forced to change. However, when we see Palace playing the exciting football we witnessed at Stamford Bridge, why should we change for anyone?
Finally, this leads me to wonder who will take a penalty this season if Dwight Gayle is not on the pitch. With Mile Jedinak not featuring Murray gone and Puncheon still having nightmares about White Hart Lane, I suspect Cabaye will be the man to take on the duties from the spot or perhaps Sako. We will find out if and when we are awarded one.
With all that being said, I firmly believe that both Jedinak and Ledley will have a part to play this season and I am sure I am not alone in being thankful that they have not moved on just yet. The squad would be a poorer group without them.
