Crystal Palace are now firmly part of the furniture in the Premier League, as an 11th-placed finish last season sealed their top-flight status for a 10th successive year.
However, 2023 has ended in similar fashion to how it started, with a lengthy winless run that has put their manager on the brink of the sack.
Here, Sports Mole looks back on Palace's fortunes in 2023 and their possible targets heading into the new year.
League Form:
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After a fine win at Bournemouth on New Year's Eve, Palace would then fail to win any of their first 13 games in 2023 - 12 of which were in the Premier League - and that run of form ultimately cost Patrick Vieira his job with the club sliding towards the relegation places.
Roy Hodgson took over in late March, winning his first game thanks to Jean-Philippe Mateta's injury-time strike against Leicester City, before then thrashing Leeds United 5-1 at Elland Road put them on their way to a comfortable 11th-placed finish.
The veteran manager was given a one-year extension after keeping Palace up, and for most of the first half of this season, it looked as though another safe, mid-table finish was on the cards, but the Eagles went eight games without a win towards the end the year, leaving them only six points above the drop zone.
Cup Form:
Despite a semi-final FA Cup appearance two years ago, Palace have suffered many disappointments in the domestic cups in recent years, and that continued in 2023.
Their FA Cup journey ended just as it begun by losing to Southampton at Selhurst Park in the third round, before Manchester United ended their EFL Cup campaign at the same stage, meaning that they have not passed that stage since 2012.
Palace have a home FA Cup third round tie against Premier League opposition again this season, when they welcome Everton to South London at the start of the new year.
Transfer Business:
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Losing Wilfried Zaha was a huge blow for Palace given his talismanic qualities, and the man that Palace opted to sign as his replacement was always going to be under huge pressure to fill those large boots, and Brazilian youngster Matheus Franca has shown he is possibly not quite ready to feature at a Premier League level at present.
Naouirou Ahamada has failed to nail down a regular spot in the spot after his January arrival, but that is partly due to the form of free signing Jefferson Lerma, who has seamlessly fitted in perfectly in the Palace midfield.
However, Albert Sambi Lokonga struggled to make much of an impact in his six-month loan from Arsenal, and the same can be said for two summer recruits, as Dean Henderson and Rob Holding have both been held back by injury since joining the club, as Palace's transfer business has not gone to plan in 2023.
Manager's Position:
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Hodgson now appears to be the manager most likely to be sacked next in the Premier League, given that Palace's poor run to finish the year has seen them drop uncomfortably closer to the relegation zone.
While it already seems certain he will not be kept on when his contract expires at the end of the season, fan discontent means that chairman Steve Parish may pull the trigger even earlier if results do not improve very soon.
A very important win over Brentford to finish 2023 in a game that was billed as do or die for the manager means that he will be in the dugout for the start of 2024, but for how much longer is uncertain.
Best Moment:
Palace fans were not best pleased when Hodgson said the supporters have been spoiled in recent times with the results they have seen, but their two trips to Manchester this season were certainly two standouts.
While a dramatic late comeback at Manchester City extended a remarkable run for Palace at the Etihad Stadium, a third win at Old Trafford since 2019 was the highlight of the year, as Joachim Andersen's stunning strike sealed another famous win in Manchester for the Eagles.
Worst Moment:
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Once last season's Player of the Year Cheick Doucoure went down screaming in agony at Kenilworth Road, Palace supporters would have been dreading the impending bad news.
A pivotal player in the Palace midfield, Doucoure's snapped Achilles will keep him out for the rest of the season, and it is no surprise that their late-year winless run coincided with his absence from the side, as they went on to lose 2-1 at Luton Town following his injury.
Targets for 2024:
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As 2023 has ended with a plummet towards trouble, the club will want to start the new year by gradually moving themselves away from trouble in similar fashion to last season when Hodgson arrived in March.
Given their recent slump, a top-half challenge is unlikely, so another run in the FA Cup would go down well, and despite being handed a tricky third round draw against Everton, a win there could give them confidence of going far.
To remain competitive on the field though, you have to believe that keeping Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise will be crucial, as the duo provide almost all of Palace's attacking threat from midfield and wide areas, but there is heavy interest in both from some of the Premier League's biggest clubs.
January Window Targets:
With Hodgson's future under increasing scrutiny, it is tough to say which options are high on the priority list, as a new manager may go down a different route in terms of style of play.
Rumours state that Palace want a midfielder given the injury to Doucoure, but attacking reinforcements are also likely given their feeble attacking numbers over the past few years.
Considering that Franca has failed to hit the ground running too, another wide option could be brought in after the departure of Zaha over the summer.
Overall Rating: 3/10
Despite some eye-catching results, it has been an ultimately underwhelming year for Crystal Palace which began and ended with worrying runs of form.
With change in the dugout set to take place at some time in 2024, Premier League survival will be the aim again, before hopes of kicking on next season.
Andrew Delaney
