As any supporter of a low-to-mid tier club in the Premier League can tell you, the transfer window is an anxious time. The Big Six delight their faithful with glitzy headline-grabbing transfers, outlying a small nation’s GDP for the Next Big Thing. Meanwhile, clubs like Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and Brighton generally get asset stripped to feed the big club’s insatiable hunger, and then scramble to fill the holes.
After two straight seasons of getting gutted, filleted and served up with a side of chips, I had little hope that any remnant of the Crystal Palace squad that won three trophies in the span of a year would survive. So this year’s window actually surprised me, in a good way.
We Bid Adieu to…
Right-back Danny Imray came to Palace when he was 18, a highly regarded prospect who would spend some time at the academy as the coaches monitored his development. He’s actually never worn a first-team kit, and spent five seasons bouncing from club to club on loan: Chelmsford City, Bromley, Blackpool, West Bromwich Albion. As you can see, every season saw him moving up the pyramid, but he wasn’t exactly progressing in leaps and bounds. His late July sale to Wrexham for $6.7M (for nearly seven times his valuation) was a shrewd piece of business. We wish him success, and maybe we’ll see him in the Premier League next year?
The Brennan Johnson swap for Dwight McNeil with Everton was a blessing. I never liked the move for Johnson, and it was clear the Welshman just didn’t fit the mold of a Palace player in the limited playing time he had. Yes, the club took a $16M hit but good riddance to bad rubbish in my opinion.
These Transfers Sucked
Maxence Lacroix heading to Chelsea was a real nut punch. Throughout the World Cup, I saw him perform for France and became more and more concerned that someone else was taking notice. His play last season was a huge factor in Palace’s success, effortlessly replacing Marc Guéhi in that central defense. He was one month shy of his two-year anniversary, and two games shy of a century… so it goes. But Chelsea? Really? It breaks your heart.
There’s little reason for any Palace fan to like Nottingham Forest, given the history between the clubs in the past two years. I don’t begrudge Oliver Glasner’s move there, though I question the wisdom of working for Marinakis. But that Daniel Muñoz transfer really chaps my ass. It’s one thing to leave Selhurst for the glamor of a Big Six, and entirely another to shift laterally. It might have hurt less had he gone to Brighton.Â
Happy to Hold On to…
When I saw Daichi Kamada on the release waivers July 1, my heart skipped a beat. As it turns out, he was a free agent for only a few days before re-signing. I’m still not sure exactly why it played out that way, but the Japanese midfielder remains an Eagle for this season.
The great news from the window is the talent the club retained. Constructing an impenetrable wall around Adam Wharton was essential. We all know he’s GOING to leave, but let’s at least make sure we can pocket a nine-figure largesse at that moment. Ismaïla Sarr’s injury might have kept him in blue-and-red for another season, or at least until the winter window opens. Honestly, after his World Cup showing I was sure he was out the door.
Poor Jean-Philippe Mateta. He’s like that awkward kid at the party standing around waiting for someone to ask him to dance. To his credit, he never let the disappointment of Roma’s rejection impact his effort for the Eagles, and I’m still happy he’s in the rotation (even I wish he was more accurate in his shooting).
I’m not sure he was a credible departure threat, but all the same I’m pleased as punch that Dean Henderson will be between the sticks agains.
New Blood
The club picked some veteran defensive depth with two free transfers early on. Óscar Mingueza arrived from Celta Vigo where he logged nearly 3,000 minutes over 47 games. Best hope for the 27 year-old right back is he becomes another Muñoz-lite. It will probably take him some time to transition, however. Japanese international Takehiro Tomiyasu arrived from Ajax; a welcome and experienced addition to the center defensive core. Visiting on loan from Chelsea is center-back Axel Disasi, who is but a pale shadow of Lacroix. He spent last season at West Ham, featuring in 14 games. Enough said.
Dwight McNeil already has two starts, so he’s already doing better than his replacement in that category.
Anyone who’s watched Real Salt Lake of MLS in the past two years will know why the signing of Zavier Gozo was very smart. Only 19 years old, His 10 contributions (6g/4a) over 16 games for RSL doubtless caught Palace scout’s eyes, but his maturity and confidence on the ball is his most impressive trick. Palace will need to ease him into the intensity of Premier League ball, but this 19 year-old could turn out to be a blockbuster trade.
Israeli wing-back Anan Khalaili was one of the few bright spots in last week’s defeat to Manchester City. He had 90% pass completion, won 69% of his duels and completed 80% of his dribbles. Defensively, he had 14 tackles and 23 contributions. Tip top.
So yeah, the transfer window wasn’t great. But on the flip side, it wasn’t all that bad either. Now they just have to win a match and make everyone breathe a deep sign of relief!
