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Crystal Palace: First choice XI for 2016-17

By Tom Bogert

SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - MARCH 01: Connor Wickham (R) of Crystal Palace celebrates scoring his team's second goal with his team mates Yannick Bolasie (L) and Yohan Cabaye (C) during the Barclays Premier League match between Sunderland and Crystal Palace at Stadium of Light on March 1, 2016 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - MARCH 01: Connor Wickham (R) of Crystal Palace celebrates scoring his team's second goal with his team mates Yannick Bolasie (L) and Yohan Cabaye (C) during the Barclays Premier League match between Sunderland and Crystal Palace at Stadium of Light on March 1, 2016 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images) /
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SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 09: (L to R) Damien Delaney, Mile Jedinak and Scott Dann of Crystal Palace celebrate their 2-1 win in the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Southampton and Crystal Palace at St Mary’s Stadium on January 9, 2016 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 09: (L to R) Damien Delaney, Mile Jedinak and Scott Dann of Crystal Palace celebrate their 2-1 win in the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Southampton and Crystal Palace at St Mary’s Stadium on January 9, 2016 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) /

Crystal Palace are making brilliant moves in the transfer market. How will they fit into their strongest XI this season?

Psst. Don’t look now, but Crystal Palace are mobilizing behind the scenes to be a dark horse in the Premier League next season.

After all, they were in fifth place on Boxing Day last season before tobogganing down towards the relegation zone after a horrid run of form saw them without a win in the league for months.

Palace’s fatal flaw happened to reside in the two most basic, primeval and important attributes on the pitch: goal stopping and goal scoring. Their ‘keepers certainly weren’t good enough and their strikers were worse. Dwight Gayle led the club in scoring with seven goals in all competitions. That’s it. Their joint-top scorers in the league had just five goals. Five.

Wayne Hennessey, Julian Speroni and Adam McCarthy coalesced to form one of the worst collective goalkeeping units in the league. It was right up there with Liverpool’s Simon Mignolet and Adam Bogdan. Gayle, Connor Wickham and, hilariously at the end of the season, Emmanuel Adebayor were just as bad up front.

But Alan Pardew has had the temerity to be ambitious and enter the transfer market with a “why not us?” bravado. They’ve been linked with every hot striker on the market, including Michy Batshuayi who nearly joined before Chelsea caught his fancy.

They’ve already brought in a top quality goalkeeper in Steve Mandanda and are certain to bring in another striker. Andros Townsend and James Tomkins are confirmed signings to bolster their squad. Will they start on opening day against West Brom?

Palace have options. Here’s how they could lineup as their strongest XI available, including heavily rumored transfer targets.

Situated in a 4-2-3-1.

Next: GK Steve Mandanda

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