Crystal Palace have suffered from Alan Pardew’s trademark dip in form this season and it looks as though the former-Newcastle manager can never achieve like he does in his first run at a new club.
Pardew has a knack of taking sides towards mediocrity after getting off to a flying start and the manager looks like he is no way of correcting the Crystal Palace train crash of a season. The Eagles were dreaming of a top 6 finish once upon an early season time and they are now left in the mid-table mire.
West Ham have easily eclipsed Palace as the ‘best of the rest’ in London and Alan Pardew is beginning to come under scrutiny for his side’s failings over the last few months.
The addition of Emmanuel Adebayor in the January window has raised a few eyebrows and we could be about to see the most pivotal few games of Pardew’s Palace tenure to date.
But how good could their XI have been…?
Rob Green
QPR were looking to move Green on during the January window and several Premier League clubs were interested in the former England international.
The goalkeeping position at Palace is clearly one of their weaknesses and the experience of Green could have gone a long way to putting that right.
Joel Ward
Ward is still struggling to make an impression on Roy Hodgson, despite another solid season for Palace.
The full-back has shown his capability to effect the game in both halves of the pitch, having contributed a couple of goals this season.
Scott Dann
Dann has, yet again, been one of the best defenders in the league. Many across the media are calling for the centre-back to be taken to the Euros this summer and it is hard to argue a case against taking the ex-Birmingham man.
His form has been exceptional and he has even been linked with big moves.
Damien Delaney
Although Delaney will need replacing within the next 12 months, as he is now 34, the Irishman has formed a solid partnership with Scott Dann this season.
Averaging 7.3 clearances per league game, Delaney has been awarded man of the match on one occasion – as per WhoScored.com.
Pape Souare
Souare has been a source of energy down Palace’s left hand side and the full-back is averaging 2.1 interceptions a game as his mobility is crucial to cover for the lack of pace of Delaney.
Souare’s role in supporting the winger is crucial to how Pardew wants his side to play and he has down a solid job for much of this campaign.
Ki Sung-Yueng
McArthur’s injury, which could keep him out for the remainder of the campaign, has left Palace a little short of central midfield options and Ki would have been a splendid January addition.
Swansea’s relegation peril would have made the move appealing to the South Korean and he regularly features as one of the league’s best passers.
Yohan Cabaye
Cabaye to Palace was one of the coups of the summer transfer window, but the Frenchman’s form has fluctuated during his return season to the Premier League.
Despite leading many of the Palace statistic charts, it has been clear that the former PSG man is used to being in company of players with higher technical ability.
Wilfried Zaha
Zaha is finally making a name for himself, rather than resting on his laurels as a player of potential. The former Manchester United winger has resettled at Palace and been pivotal in many of their best performances this season.
Yannick Bolasie’s injury has placed extra pressure on the youngster but his form has continued to be impressive and his 3.6 completed dribbles per game is a club-high.
Jason Puncheon
Puncheon is another player who must be thinking that he has a chance of making a late charge for the England squad.
Since he has moved into a central role, the journeyman attacking midfielder has flourished at Palace and is often the creator in a fast moving Palace attack.
Bakary Sako
Used as a centre-forward on occasion, Sako adds to the powerful running in the Palace forward line and is, like Bolasie and Zaha, hugely exciting to watch.
Charlie Austin
Charlie Austin being allowed to move to Southampton without much of a fight was the biggest January failing of many Premier League clubs.
Patrick Bamford, Connor Wickham and now, Emmanuel Adebayor, have had opportunities to make the centre forward berth their own at Selhurt Park, but Austin’s game would have perfectly suited Palace’s quick breaking football.
