Puncheon’s a Permanent Eagle
Posted: January 31, 2014 Filed under: News Leave a commentJason Puncheon has signed permanently for Crystal Palace after a successful 6-month loan spell with the Eagles.
The 27-year-old winger has been in fantastic form since the start of the new year, scoring in 3 of his last 4 matched in a run that has seen the South Londoners climb to 14th in the Barclays Premier League table.
The former Millwall, QPR, and Southampton player has arrives for an undisclosed fee and has signed a four and a half year deal.
He told the official Crystal Palace website: “It’s great to sign a permanent deal, it’s something I dreamt about when I was a kid so I’m pleased to get it done. I was here when I was eight years old when the likes of Dean Gordon and Chris Armstrong were here so that makes its special.”
“The massive factor in this was the chairman and the manager, the gaffer has shown great faith in me since he’s been here and that’s been unbelievable for me. “
“It’s a boost for me mentally – I thought it might happen at the end of the season but it’s come quicker and obviously that’s good for both me and the football club.”
Hennessey Becomes Palaces First Deadline Day Signing
Posted: January 31, 2014 Filed under: News Leave a commentWelsh international goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey has signed for Crystal Palace for an undisclosed fee believed to be on the region of £3 million.
The six foot six keeper has signed from League One Wolves and has put pen to paper on a three and a half year contract at Selhurst Park, that will see the Welshman stay at the club until 2017.
He has represented his country on 41 occasions, as well as amassing 166 games for his club, including three seasons competing in the Premier League. He will look to provide first choice goalkeeper Julian Speroni with some much needed cover, and will in all likelihood succeed the Argentine stopper when he hangs up his gloves.
Speaking to the official Crystal Palace website Hennessey said: “I’m delighted to be here, I’ve met some of the lads and the staff already so I’m just looking forward to getting out onto the training pitch now.”
“I know Danny Gabbidon well and he’s been telling me what the place is all about. He said it’s a fantastic club and that I should get down here so I’m over the moon it’s happened”
Palace in Pole Position in Race for Ince
Posted: January 30, 2014 Filed under: News Leave a commentCrystal Palace are now firm favourites to land the much coveted England Under-21 and Blackpool player Thomas Ince after the two clubs reached an agreement earlier today.
The winger will join the Eagles, who currently sit 14th in the Premier League table, on a loan deal until the end of season reportedly costing £1 million. Ince who has already discussed personal terms with the club will have a medical and complete the deal on deadline day tomorrow, and could go straight into the match day squad for the game against Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday.
Ince, who has netted seven times in the league this season for the Seasiders, has been linked to a host of Premier League clubs during the window, including former club Liverpool, as Blackpool look to make some money before his contract expires in the summer. Palace though look to have won the race for his signature, much to the delight of the fans who in a recent Eating the Burger poll voted unanimously in favour of the winger joining their team.
Gerry Francis, Palace’s first team coach, has also sung Ince’s praises, saying: “He’s an exciting player, scores goals, which is really important and very pleased to see him on board.”
“Very pleased obviously. We’ve got to dot the Is and cross the Ts a little bit at the moment, but obviously very pleased that Tom’s able to come into the club.”
Grandin Released and Hunt Joins Barnsley On-Loan
Posted: January 30, 2014 Filed under: News Leave a commentWith deadline day looming large Crystal Palace have seen two fringe players depart Selhurst Park within the last twenty-four hours.
First to go is French winger Elliot Grandin, who has been released on a free transfer having amassed just one Carling Cup appearance for the Eagles since signing in the summer. Grandin was brought in by former Palace boss Ian Holloway, who he also played for whilst both were at Blackpool. But with the form of wingers Jason Puncheon and Yannick Bolasie in recent weeks it was clear that the Frenchman did not fit in with new manager Tony Pulis’s long term plans.
The other player to depart is young full-back Jack Hunt,22, who joins his fellow Eagle Peter Ramage on-loan at Oakwell. Championship strugglers Barnsley are hoping the defender can help sure up what has been a leaky defence this season, whilst Palace will hope Hunt can get some regular game time under his belt after missing much of the season through injury.
Hunt, who signed for Palace in the summer from Huddersfield, will complete a three month stay with the Tykes, before returning to SE25 with a view to challenging once again for that coveted starting birth at right-back.
Crystal Palace 1-0 Hull City
Posted: January 29, 2014 Filed under: News, Previews/Reviews Leave a commentCrystal Palace’s impressive revival under Tony Pulis continued last night as the Eagles defended their way to a second 1-0 victory of the season over Hull City. Jason Puncheons seventeenth minute strike was enough to secure all three points for the home side and saw them climb to 14th place in the Premier League standings, five points clear of the drop zone.
The position that the Eagles now find themselves was unthinkable just 2 months earlier, but the arrival of Pulis has heralded six wins and six clean sheets in the South Londoners last 11 matches, and once again this victory was built on solid defensive foundations.
The game began at a frantic pace with both sides carving out good early opportunities. The first fell for Hull Cities new front man Nikica Jelavic who just failed to get onto the end of a floated Shane Long cross. The diminutive Irishman was in the thick of it again not long afterwards as his burst into the box resulted in what appeared to be a clumsy challenge from behind from Palace defender Danny Gabbidon. The referee was unmoved however and gave a goal kick, much to the frustration of Tigers boss Steve Bruce on the side line. This was to be the turning point in the match, as not long afterwards Palace pounced to score the only goal of the game.
The rejuvenated Puncheon lashed in his third goal in four matches, and with it continued his mini-revival since the shambolic penalty miss away to Tottenham a few weeks ago. Good build up play down the right hand side for the Eagles saw Yannick Bolasie create a half yard for a cross which picked out Puncheon in the area. His initial header was weak, but fortunately came off the back of Palace striker Chamakh, and fell kindly onto Puncheons favoured left foot, and he duly lashed it high into the top corner to give the Eagles the lead.
Palace looked to capitalise on taking the lead and twice went close before the interval through captain Mile Jedinak. The big Australian first headed wide from a Bolasie corner, and then hit a stinging 25-yard free kick that forced McGregor into a sprawling save.
Hull came out stronger in the second half, but failed to break down a resolute Palace defence lead by the herculean efforts of Damien Delaney. Jelavic found himself on the end of two crosses whipped in from the left hand side, but both times failed to make a telling contact on the ball. Their best chance however came when full-back Rosenior got on the end of Jake Livermore’s pull back only to miss the target from all of two yards, and in one moment summing up Hull and Bruce’s evening.
And it was only to get worse for the travelling fans, as goalkeeper McGregor was shown a straight red card after kicking out at Palace substitute Stuart O’Keefe late on. The Scottish goalkeeper took exception to the Palace midfielder’s late challenge, and lashed out leaving the referee with little option but to send him off.
Man of the Match: Damien Delaney
Match Rating
Speroni – 6
Mariappa – 6 Gabbidon – 7 Delaney – 10 Moxey – 7
Ward – 7 Jedinak – 5
Bolasie – 7 Chamakh – 8 Puncheon – 9
Jerome – 8
Tom Ince or not Tom Ince? That is the question
Posted: January 28, 2014 Filed under: Opinion Leave a commentIf the rumours and reports are to be believed, and let’s face it they’re not, Blackpool and England under-21 star Tom Ince is in discussions with Crystal Palace over a potential loan switch to Selhurst Park. Of course there are other suitors, and why wouldn’t there be, with the likes of Swansea and even former club Liverpool rumoured to be interested in the young winger, and if we’re honest they offer a far more attractive proposition to a player of his calibre. However, as good as Ince has been for a struggling Blackpool outfit in the Championship, he is yet to prove himself on the big stage, and as such represents a gamble for any club looking to bring him in in the window. Especially for those clubs like Palace and Swansea who may see him as their saviour in their battle against relegation.
Sky Sports News today reported that Ince was to travel to London for discussions with Pulis and the Palace board, only for it then to emerge that the Seasiders top scorer was up in the Potteries talking to Stoke City. Whatever the case may be, Ince is certainly a player a lot of fans would like to see at the club, and certainly one Pulis and the board would be interested in signing. Yet despite all the optimism surrounding Ince, does he in fact need Palace more than Palace really needs his services at this moment in time? Now a lot of you reading this might think I’m mad to not want this transfer to go through, but that is not entirely what it is I’m getting at here.
The purpose for Ince to go out on loan in this manner, and half way through a season, is surely to see him get regular games at the very highest level. This will allow him to showcase his talents on the global stage and put himself firmly in the shop window come the summer when he inevitably forces a permanent move away from Bloomfield Road. Also a string of consistently top performances could see him make a late charge for Roy Hodgson’s World Cup squad given the lack of quality England possess currently on the wings. With all this in mind, it would make sense for Ince to select a club like Palace for his move, and perhaps gives the Eagles the edge in the race for his signature. A guaranteed starting birth every week in the Premier League would be on offer, something that he might not get at the likes of Liverpool or Swansea, and for this reason I would suggest that Ince needs a club such as Palace to take the gamble and provide the springboard for his career, as many of the top clubs are clearly yet to be sold on the lads ability.
In here lies the problem as I see it for Palace. Do they really need him? Is he the kind of player that is going to be the difference maker come the end of the season? Maybe. But to pin our hopes on an untried Championship, who may purely be using the club to further his own career, just seems foolish. Yannick Bolasie and Jason Puncheon for all their deficiencies have been in exceptional form since Pulis arrived; with both 100% committed to the cause and on their days both can be match winners. Unless we were given a first option on buying Ince after the conclusion of the loan for a reasonable fee, how likely is it that he will play for the club and not just for himself? I feel that if we pushed through this deal it would represent the only major piece of business for the club in the window, with time quickly running out before the Friday deadline, and as such the fans would expect him to start each week, and Pulis could feel obliged to play him regardless of his performance levels.
This could all turn out fantastically well for the Eagles. We could acquire a tremendous prospect for next to nothing who could seriously further our survival push, bringing a hunger to succeed that matches his undoubted talent. However a big part of me feels that if we were to sign him it would be detrimental to our survival hopes, as we would be obliged to field a player who’s own needs don’t match that of the club. The time and resources that will go towards completing this deal would surely be better spent bringing in a true proven Premier League goal scorer as well as a top quality centre half to provide back up for the ageing back-line.
Match Preview – Crystal Palace Vs. Hull City
Posted: January 27, 2014 Filed under: News, Previews/Reviews Leave a commentTony Pulis’s risk in naming a strong side for Saturdays FA Cup defeat to Wigan backfired as Norwegian full-back Jonathan Parr picked up an injury that will keep him out of Tuesdays clash with Hull, with Dean Moxey likely to deputise for the injured defender.
Other than Parr, the Eagles have no new injury concerns, so will be without long term absentees Glenn Murray and Jack Hunt; and will be waiting on late fitness tests to decide whether midfield duo Kagisho Dikgacoi and Jerome Thomas will be able to participate.
Captain Mile Jedinak, winger Yannick Bolasie and centre-half Danny Gabbidon are all likely to come back into the starting eleven after all three were rested on Saturday. Paddy McCarthy is also likely to make the bench after completing his first 90 minutes for the Eagles in over a year in the defeat to Wigan.
Steve Bruce will be able to call on his new striking pair, Nikica Jelavic and Shane Long, for the first time as both are now available for selection after being cup tied for Saturdays FA Cup tie. The Tigers are still without Sone Aluko, James Chester and Joe Dudgeon, but have no fresh injury concerns ahead of the midweek trip to Selhurst.
Matty Fryatt will be hoping to push for a starting birth after his brace downed Southend on Saturday. Whilst former spurs pair Jake Livermore and Tom Huddleston are likely to come back into the centre of midfield after playing just a minor role from the bench last Saturday.
It was the Eagles who won the away leg 1-0 in the first game since Pulis’s appointment back in November, which gave them just their second victory of the season. Another victory tomorrow would see Palace go level on points with their visitors and potentially move the South Londoners into 12th in the table.
The last time these sides met at Selhust Park Kevin Phillips scored a hat-trick in a 4-2 victory for the hosts. The veteran striker has moved onto to pastures new since then, and it will be up to the lively attack of Jerome and Chamakh to score the necessary goals for the team with the second meanest premier league defence in the last 10 games (5 clean sheets).
Score prediction: Crystal Palace 2-0 Hull City
Potential Line-up
Speroni
Mariappa Gabbidon Delaney Moxey
Ward Jedinak
Bolasie Chamakh Puncheon
Jerome
Pulis Dismisses ‘quit’ Claims
Posted: January 27, 2014 Filed under: News Leave a commentTony Pulis today quashed rumours that he was on the brink of walking away from Selhurst Park after a torrid transfer window in which the Eagles have failed to bring in a single player. Murmurs of a breakdown in communication between Steve Parish, the Palace co-chairman, and manager Pulis were said to be behind the Welshman wanting to quit SE25, especially regarding disagreements over transfer policy.
After taking charge of the south Londoners just two months ago in November, he has guided the relegation favourites away from the drop zone, amassing 4 wins from his first 10 league games in the process. Despite this fantastic start, Pulis has struggled in the window to secure any of his first choice transfer targets that he says are needed to bolster the team’s survival chances going into the final 17 games of the season.
However, Pulis today has attempted to silence the rumours of unrest as he looks to steady the ship in the run up to the crucial home game with Hull City on Tuesday evening.
He said, when asked about quitting the side: “I’m not one of those people. I spent 10 years at Stoke.”
“I’ll say this now, the supporters have been absolutely wonderful, absolutely fantastic. There would have to be a massive reason to leave and let them down. I’d find that very difficult to do.”
Despite this he still understands the importance of completing some transfers in the final week of the window. He said: “We’ve been working very, very hard to identify players and I’m sure it will be busy come the end of the week.
“I think we need to bring in four or five players, and I’m not talking about spending money on one of them that is extortionate, I’m talking about trying to bring players in who have a little bit of experience in the Premier League but also have something to prove.”
“Hopefully, by the end of the week, we’ll bring some players in.”
Wigan Athletic 2-1 Crystal Palace
Posted: January 27, 2014 Filed under: News, Previews/Reviews Leave a commentThe FA Cup holders Wigan had their Oman international goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi to thank for this victory that took Uwe Rosler’s Latics through to the fifth round of the competition. Crystal Palace boss Tony Pulis named a surprisingly strong squad for the tie despite crucial Premier League matches on the horizon, but despite this they still fell to their Championship opponents.
The Eagles started the brighter with on-loan Stoke City striker Cameron Jerome attempting a curling right footed effort from the edge of the area, after fine build up play down the right between Jason Puncheon and Chamakh. Al-Habsi in the Wigan goal though came to the rescue with a fine stop to turn it round the post, and it wasn’t to be the first time today that the Latics number one would foil the Palace attack.
A short while later, again after neat work down the right from Chamakh, Stuart O’Keefe found himself with a similar chance to Jerome, only to miss-hit his shot straight at the keeper. Then came the sucker punch for the visitors, as the home side broke away down the left with James McClean who made it all the way to the by-line before pulling it back for the onrushing former Eagle Ben Watson to side foot home to give the home side a 1-0 lead going into the break.
Shortly after the restart Pulis’s men continued their onslaught on the Latics goal with Al-Habsi again being forced into a sublime double save. Firstly the Wigan stopper scooped out Barry Bannans direct corner, before acrobatically turning over Puncheon subsequent volley. It was from a similar corner however that Palace would level it up. Bannan’s whipped in near post delivery eluded two Palace players before finding its way to Aaron Wilbraham who prodded home, from all of four yards, for just his second ever goal for the South Londoners.
Palace continued to push for the winner as full time approached. Substitute Dwight Gayle broke after a Wigan corner and ran fully 70 yards only to be denied by another fine Al-Habsi save down low to his left. It was to be a crucial stop, as late on the home side scored what would turn out to be the winning goal. Roger Espinoza played in the dangerous McClean who this time cut inside palace full-back Mariappa and slotted a left footed shot past Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni to send Rosler’s men into the fifth round.
Match Preview – Wigan Athletic Vs. Crystal Palace
Posted: January 24, 2014 Filed under: News, Previews/Reviews Leave a commentThe Eagles come into Saturdays FA Cup fourth round tie with current champions Wigan Athletic off the back of a moral boosting 1-0 victory at home to stoke last Saturday, however with another crucial relegation tussle to come Tuesday evening against Hull City, it is likely Tony Pulis may feel the need to rest several key players.
Pulis has no fresh injury concerns, so with the exception of long term absentees Glenn Murray and Jack Hunt he has a full squad to select from. Club captain Paddy McCarthy could be in line for his first Palace start in over a year, after successfully completing 90 minutes for the development side midweek. Stuart O’Keefe, Johnny Williams and Dwight Gayle are also like candidates to get a rare start as Pulis looks to rest some of his key men ahead of the aforementioned Hull game.
Another youngster who performed well in the previous round, Hiram Boateng, seems likely to miss out this time around, as the 18-year-old academy starlet looks set to complete a loan move to League Two outfit Hartlepool United.
Wigan Athletic under new boss Uwe Rosler have been in sensational form of late, however last weeks 3-0 defeat at the hands of Doncaster Rovers may see the boss ring the changes for this cup clash. New signing Josh McEachran, who arrived on-loan from Chelsea this week is in line to make his Latics debut, whilst Palace old boys Ben Watson and Emerson Boyce could also feature.
These two sides are relative strangers having only met on three previous occasions in the clubs history. Last time out it was Palace who came out on top in a 2-1 home win in the 2011 League Cup, courtesy of goals from Johnny Williams and Darren Ambrose.
Likely Line -Up
Speroni
Marriapa McCarthy Delaney Moxey
O’Keefe Jedinak
Bolasie Bannan Williams
Gayle
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