Following the first half of the 2014-15 Premier League season, Crystal Palace looked to be heading in one direction - down.
Having lost Tony Pulis on the eve of the campaign, the team won just three of the matches that his replacement Neil Warnock took charge of before former player Alan Pardew arrived in January to save the day.
Twelve victories from 21 outings from that point saw the Eagles ease away from relegation danger and they also threw some eye-catching performances into the bargain.
It means that much is expected of Pardew and his players this time around, but can they deliver? Here, Sports Mole assesses how the Selhurst Park-based outfit may fare in 2015-16.
In
Yohan Cabaye (Paris Saint Germain), Patrick Bamford (Chelsea, season-long loan), Connor Wickham (Sunderland)
Out
Lewis Price (Released), Owen Garvan (Released), Peter Ramage (Released), Stephen Dobbie (Released), Jerome Thomas (Released)
Last season - 10th
Manager - Alan Pardew
© Getty Images
Having endured more drama than a soap opera during his four years in charge of Newcastle United, few could have blamed Pardew for wanting to jump ship when Palace came calling. Granted, the 54-year-old caused some of his own problems on Tyneside, but he was still forced to contend with a number of issues, one of which was the fact that his best players were often sold - sometimes behind his back.
One of those was Yohan Cabaye, who ironically Pardew has been reunited with at Palace. That deal, worth around £12m, goes to show that the Palace board have full trust in their manager, largely because of the job that he did last term. Not only were the results positive, Pardew also won many admirers with the brand of football that his side played. They have pace in wide areas with the likes of Yannick Bolasie and Wilfried Zaha and Pardew exploited that, particularly away from home, which is where eight of his 12 wins come.
Key Player - Yohan Cabaye
As far as coups go, this is a big one for Palace. Having shone in the Premier League under Pardew at Newcastle, Cabaye returned home in the winter of 2014 with Paris Saint-Germain. It didn't work out in the French capital, though, which is nothing to be ashamed of when you consider that the 29-year-old midfielder was jostling for a place in the team with the likes of Marco Verratti, Thiago Motta, Blaise Matuidi and Javier Pastore.
It was a surprise that he has rocked up at SE25 given the size of the clubs that had been linked with Cabaye's signature, but it just goes to show the strength of his relationship with Pardew, who is bound to give the Frenchman the freedom of the midfield. In his two-and-a-half seasons on Tyneside, Cabaye scored 17 goals and was also a threat from set-piece situations. Palace scored a division-high 19 goals from dead-balls last term, so it could well be a match made in heaven.
© Getty Images
Possible starting lineup
Speroni; Kelly, Dann, Delaney, Ward; Jedinak, Cabaye, Zaha, Bolasie, Puncheon; Bamford
First game: Norwich City (A), Full fixture list
Sports Mole says
Having finished 10th last term, the challenge for Pardew now is to build upon that. It's a tough ask, but the signings of Cabaye, the promising Patrick Bamford and Connor Wickham are a good start. Perhaps another striker is required - one that would thrive on Cabaye's vision, although proven goalscorers are hard to come by.
Nevertheless, it would be a major surprise were Palace to ever find themselves in relegation trouble this term, unlike in the previous two seasons. With Scott Dann at the back they have a solid foundation and then further forward they posses a mixture of flair and unpredictability. The home form will need to improve, having won just four times in front of their own supporters under Pardew. As long as that is addressed, another halfway finish shouldn't be beyond them.
Prediction - 10th
Liam Apicella
