Crystal Palace

Season preview: Crystal Palace

By Liam Apicella, Features Editor | 12 August 2013

Sports Mole looks ahead to Crystal Palace's chance of staying in the Premier League.

With the new Premier League season beginning this weekend, Sports Mole has cast its eye over Crystal Palace's summer and their prospects for the 2013-14 campaign.

In:

Elliot Grandin (Blackpool, Free), Stephen Dobbie (Brighton & Hove Albion, Undisclosed), Dwight Gayle (Peterborough United, Undisclosed), Jerome Thomas (Free), Jose Campana (Sevilla, Undisclosed), Kevin Phillips (Blackpool, Free), Marouane Chamakh (Arsenal, Undisclosed), Osman Sow (Syrianska FC, Free)

Out:

Jermaine Easter (Millwal, Free), Alex Marrow (Blackburn, Undisclosed), Jason Banton (MK Dons, Loan), Andre Moritz (Bolton Wanderers, Free)

Last Season: 5th, Championship

Manager: Ian Holloway

Three key players:

Julian Speroni - The Argentine is somewhat of hero among the Palace faithful thanks to the fact that he has been with the club since 2004, despite numerous reports down the years that he was due to depart. He actually kept goal six times when the Eagles were last in the Premier League. The 34-year-old is going to have to be at his very best throughout the campaign if Palace are to have any chance of surviving in the top flight. He's bound to be busy, especially away from home. If Speroni has a positive campaign, the outlook will be much brighter for his club.

Mile Jedinak - While the likes of Wilfried Zaha grabbed the headlines last season for his attacking play, the work of Jedinak should not have gone unnoticed. The Australian is never going to score many goals, but he breaks up attacks and then has the awareness to pass the ball to a more creative teammate. The 29-year-old also has plenty of a stamina, which allows him to keep going for 90 minutes. He was also a virtual ever present during the promotion campaign and Holloway will be hoping for a similar return of appearances this time around.

Marouane Chamakh celebrates scoring Arsenal's fifth

Marouane Chamakh - The Moroccan started his career in England with Arsenal brightly, but after the initial first few months, things have stalled. He was even loaned out to West Ham United last season, but that failed to reignite his goalscoring spark. The switch to Palace has provided the 29-year-old with an ideal chance to prove his worth. If can get into double figures in terms of goals, it will do Palace's chance of retaining their status the power of good.

First game: Tottenham Hotspur (H), Complete fixture list

Sports Mole says: If entertainment value was worth points, there is a fair chance that Palace would survive this season. Holloway's team will look to attack, particularly in front of their own supporters at Selhurst Park. It wasn't enough for Blackpool when the Bristolian was in charge though and it looks to be a difficult task for the Eagles. Zaha, who has joined champions Manchester United, will be a big loss. As it stands, they have not replaced the England international. Holloway has recently bemoaned the transfer window, but he needs to use it even more than he already has done if his side are to stay in the top flight.

Predicted finish: 20th