Crystal Palace supporters in the Transfer Tavern are eagerly anticipating the 2018/19 Premier League season, what with their team seeking to build upon their solid 11th place finish last time round.
The Eagles were in disarray in losing each of their opening seven games last season to become instant favourites for relegation, with defeat in his first four bringing to an end Frank de Boer’s short stint in charge. And while Roy Hodgson then lost three matches on the spin, the former England chief led Palace to 44 points from their final 31 games of the campaign to eventually finish 11th in the division, 11 points clear of the bottom three.
Thus, there are many expectant Palace supporters around the country at present, several of whom believe that a better start to the 2018/19 campaign could see their side challenging for the European spots this term.
And while Hodgson has yet to really delve into the transfer market in a bid for reinforcements, there is plenty of quality already at Selhurst Park, with some players in particular they simply have to keep beyond the early August 9 deadline.
Thus, Palace would be challenging for Europe if they indeed retain these TWO stars this summer…
It goes without saying that Wilfried Zaha is absolutely crucial to Palace, as without him they are a significantly inferior team.
The Ivory Coast international may well have struggled for consistency in the past but the last two seasons have seen the 25-year-old really come of age and produce the goods, goods which have helped keep the Eagles in the top-flight.
Zaha netted seven goals and laid on 11 assists in the 2016/17 campaign to help inspire Sam Allardyce’s side to beat the drop, before backing that up with nine goals and five assists last term to power Hodgson’s men to an 11th place finish.
Take him out of the side, and Palace are hugely inferior and a team destined to struggle. But keep him beyond the August 9 deadline, and the Eagles could well be knocking on the door of the European spots this term.
Many players from Scott Dann and Patrick van Aanholt at the back to Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend up top earned much praise from fans and pundits alike last term, yet midfielder Luka Milivojevic was without doubt one of Palace’s most integral players over the course of the season.
The 27-year-old only moved to Selhurst Park back in January 2017 and began life in England reasonably well in netting twice in his 14 Premier League games, only to take it to another level last season in bagging ten goals in 36 appearances for Hodgson’s men.
In fact, the Serbia international finished the season as the club’s top-scorer to underline his importance to the Eagles, with his ability from free kicks and indeed the penalty spot of huge significance to Hodgson’s side over the course of the season.
Thus, it’s imperative that he is lining up for the London-based side come the start of the new season.
