Crystal Palace are extending their longest ever spell in the top flight of English football as they prepare for their seventh consecutive season in the Premier League.
The club will be without last year’s Player of the Season Aaron Wan-Bissaka after the promising 21-year-old signed for Manchester United. With Wilfried Zaha’s departure also immanent, can Crystal Palace compete once again amongst the country’s elite?
Last season
Crystal Palace struggled for consistency last term and finished the season 12th in the Premier League table. Despite only managing to secure back-to-back league wins on two occasions, manager Roy Hodgson will ultimately be happy with his side’s campaign.
Luka Milivojevic was the club’s top-scorer with 12 goals to his name however the majority of the Serbian’s goals came from the spot. Palace lacked the presence of a real center-forward last season and whilst they were never in danger of being relegated, they will need to score more goals next season in order to progress.
Next season
Palace play all three of the newly promoted teams within the first two months of the new season and will be looking to pick up maximum points from those matches. With trips to Old Trafford and White Hart Lane also in that time frame – as well as a match against last season’s overachievers Wolves – Palace could find themselves in trouble if they get off to a poor start.
Considering that Crystal Palace have already lost right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka to Manchester United, the club must think fast in order to bring in some new recruits. All the talk in the summer transfer window has been centered around Wilfried Zaha. The Ivory Coast winger has reportedly told the club that he wants to leave, with Arsenal looking like his most probable destination.
The 26-year-old scored ten Premier League goals last season whilst notching up five assists and will leave a gaping hole in the team if a transfer is agreed. Zaha has been the club’s standout performer for a number of years but he will probably feel that the time is right for him to move on in order to further his career.
If Zaha does leave and Palace fail to replace their departed starts, the club could find themselves struggling next season. Roy Hodgson has done well to steady the ship after a turbulent time at the Selhurst Park however he must strengthen the squad in order to continue the club’s progression.
Players in
Players out
Predicted league finish
The predicted league finish of Crystal Palace is 16th place. It’s tough to see how Palace will better last season’s 12th place finish. With Wan-Bissaka gone and Zaha’s departure immanent, Crystal Palace could struggle.