After eight consecutive seasons in the Championship, unheralded Crystal Palace defied the critics to win promotion to the English Premier League via the playoff final. The question now is, can they stay there?
What happened last season
The Eagles could hardly have got off to a more curious start to what was expected to be another grinding Championship campaign, as manager Dougie Freedman departed for Bolton in October.
His eventual replacement was mercurial former Blackpool tactician Ian Holloway and the Bristol native helped maintain Palace’s blistering start to the campaign, as the Eagles made their best start to a season in almost four decades.
The wheels appeared to have come off for the south London side in the race to the finish line, as a run of four defeats from five threatened to scupper their promotion chances at the death.
However, after sneaking into the playoffs as the fifth-placed side, the Eagles downed bitter rivals Brighton and Hove Albion in their semi-final.
In the playoff final 39-year-old loan signing Kevin Phillips then scored the extra-time goal Palace fans craved, as he converted a spot-kick at Wembley to send Crystal Palace back into the Premier League.
What happened in the off-season
Off the pitch, Palace made several moves to strengthen their position in one of world football’s most competitive markets.
The club announced a piecemeal renovation of its Archibald Leitch-designed Selhurst Park and, just as crucially, Palace purchased its current Beckenham training ground outright in a bid to maintain its close links to the local community.
Palace made moves on the pitch as well, breaking its transfer record to sign former Peterborough striker Dwight Gayle for a reputed 4.5 million pounds.
Spanish youth international Jose Campana was a surprise signing from Sevilla, while veteran Phillips has pledged to go around again after signing a one-year deal to bolster the attack alongside another new recruit in Arsenal flop Marouane Chamakh.
Perhaps Palace’s most significant transfer is the capture of free agent Jerome Thomas. The hard-working winger has plenty of experience at Premier League level and with top-flight expertise somewhat thin on the ground, his know-how could prove vital.
Why fans should be excited about the 2013/14 season
After an almost decade-long struggle in the second tier, Crystal Palace are finally back in the big time.
In era of brand alignment and global marketing, the Eagles are a throwback to a time when football clubs represented their local community and the 26,000-capacity Selhurst Park will be restlessly sold-out for the visit of the big guns this season.
Palace fans can also look forward to the return of 30-goal top scorer Glenn Murray to the side, after the much-travelled striker suffered a cruciate knee injury in the playoff semi-final win over Brighton.
The main man that can carry 2013/14 hopes
Goalkeeper Julian Speroni, defender Danny Gabbidon, skipper Paddy McCarthy and the aforementioned Phillips all possess plenty of experience, however it’s Socceroos midfielder Mile Jedinak who could prove the key ingredient to the Palace squad.
The former Central Coast Mariners man has developed into a gritty box-to-box midfielder of real class and his steely resolve and relative youth could prove key to a squad which looks somewhat short on talent, if not necessarily leaders.
Much will also rest on how big-money signing Gayle slots in at the highest level, particularly with the free-scoring Murray not expected to return until the campaign is well under way.
Verdict – battling to stay up
It’s hard to see where the goals will come from for a Palace side which last season relied heavily on the contributions of Murray and winger Wilfried Zaha – now of Manchester United.
Relying on Gayle for goals is a gamble, not least because this season marks his first taste of Premier League football.
Unless the likes of Thomas, Scottish midfielder Stephen Dobbie, Chamakh and veteran Phillips can fire, it could be a long season indeed for a side which looks likely to be involved in a relegation dogfight from the get-go.
Charismatic Crystal Palace manager Ian Holloway.
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