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Crystal Palace: Three hopes, one fear

By Sean Maslin

Crystal Palace's Ivorian-born English striker Wilfried Zaha runs with the ball during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace at White Hart Lane in London, on August 20, 2016. / AFP / Glyn KIRK / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images)
Crystal Palace's Ivorian-born English striker Wilfried Zaha runs with the ball during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace at White Hart Lane in London, on August 20, 2016. / AFP / Glyn KIRK / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images) /
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MIDDLESBROUGH, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 10: Antonio Barragan of Middlesbrough hold off Martin Kelly of Crystal Palace during the Premier League match between Middlesbrough FC and Crystal Palace FC at Riverside Stadium on September 10, 2016 in Middlesbrough, England. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)
MIDDLESBROUGH, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 10: Antonio Barragan of Middlesbrough hold off Martin Kelly of Crystal Palace during the Premier League match between Middlesbrough FC and Crystal Palace FC at Riverside Stadium on September 10, 2016 in Middlesbrough, England. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images) /

If  Premier League campaign is a tale of two seasons then the second half of the book sure did stink for Crystal Palace in 2015-2016.

While Allan Pardew’s side certainly received praise for their excellent FA Cup run their league form was abject. In their final 20 matches The Eagles finished 2-12-6. Palace plummeted through the standings only staying afloat thanks to critical draws against Arsenal and Everton in April and besting Stoke City in the second to last week of the season.

For Palace this season finding an identity is perhaps their biggest task. Is this the side that took the Premier League by storm in the first half and pushed Manchester United to the limit in the FA Cup Final? Or is this the club that struggled for goals in the second half and very nearly got relegated?

With Palace bringing in several interesting new signing things seem to be picking up at Selhurst Park. The hope is that the club will have enough to make a top ten finish and hopefully get another chance at a trophy. But there are plenty of things to afraid of for Palace supporters and that the club simply does not have the resources to stay up.

So with that in mind let’s take a look at the three hopes and one fear of Crystal Palace FC!

Next: Hope #1: That the Benteke brothers can ignite the Palace attack.

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