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20 teams in 20 days – Crystal Palace

By on July 31, 2014

Manager: Tony Pulis
Stadium: Selhurst Park
Nickname: The Eagles
Finish Last Season: 11th

When a manager takes over a club struggling in the relegation zone of any league late on in the season, his job is simple – to keep that club from going down. The manager’s job is immediate, so not often do the managers look past the end of the season. Tony Pulis might not have taken over Crystal Palace with the different goals than any other manager would have, but has, either inadvertently or intentionally, set his club up for a season in which they may not be in the relegation battle at all.

Unlike his predecessor, Ian Holloway, or the likes of Paolo Di Canio at Sunderland, he has remained calm this summer. Instead of undergoing a complete overhaul or spending spree, Pulis has done a good job on holding onto his crucial players at the end of the season and only spending where he needs to. The Welshman brought in Fraizer Campbell, Cardiff City’s main man up front last season with thirteen goals, for a relatively good deal of what is believed to be under £1 million, while letting go most of the fringe players Holloway brought in last summer. Granted, there are still small holes Pulis must fill this summer, namely that to replace the released Danny Gabbidon at center-back to pair with the recently signed Scott Dann.

But nothing massive – in midfield they are set, with Joe Ledley haven found his form at the end of last season and Mile Jedinak as well as Barry Bannan providing service alongside the midfielder. If anything, only another creative attacking midfielder would be wanted. Jason Puncheon was brilliant on the wing and occasionally up front last season, and Jerome Thomas as well as Yala Bolasie can provide adequate service down the left; perhaps Palace’s best position is down the wings – key for their workmanlike counter-attacking style. Up front Campbell will have both Dwight Gayle and Marouane Chamakh to partner with, and at the other end of the pitch Julian Speroni carries a lot more than his own weight in goal, and even he has Wayne Hennessey as competition for his starting spot.

Not necessarily will Palace be an entertaining team to watch next season; Pulis’ tactics are counter-attacking and even he has said that though they might be “boring” will win Palace matches. Especially boring as Palace are no longer really fighting against relegation, but for a mid-table finish of the likes of their surprise 11th placed finish last season. Especially if the club can invest in one or two more creative attacking players or defensive rocks next season Pulis may once again have to look at more than just this season. As long as they secure safety early on and find their form early on, unlike last season, then their tough run in to the season will not be as consequential.

Full Fixture List:
August 16: Arsenal (A)
August 23: West Ham (H)
August 30: Newcastle (A)
September 13: Burnley (H)
September 20: Everton (A)
September 27: Leicester (H)
October 4: Hull (A)
October 18: Chelsea (H)
October 25: West Bromwich Albion (A)
November 1: Sunderland (H)
November 8: Manchester United (A)
November 22: Liverpool (H)
November 29: Swansea (A)
December 2: Aston Villa (H)
December 6: Tottenham (A)
December 13: Stoke (H)
December 20: Manchester City (A)
December 26: Southampton (H)
December 28: Queens Park Rangers (A)
January 1: Aston Villa (A)
January 10: Tottenham (H)
January 17: Burnley (A)
January 31: Everton (H)
February 7: Leicester (A)
February 10: Newcastle (H)
February 21: Arsenal (H)
February 28: West Ham (A)
March 3: Southampton (A)
March 14: Queens Park Rangers (H)
March 21: Stoke (A)
April 4: Manchester City (H)
April 11: Sunderland (A)
April 18: West Bromwich Albion (H)
April 25: Hull (H)
May 2: Chelsea (A)
May 9: Manchester United (H)
May 16: Liverpool (A)
May 24: Swansea (H)

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.