Have Crystal Palace added enough quality to survive this season?

Crystal Palace boss Ian Holloway has admitted that he got caught up in the transfer madness on deadline day

Crystal Palace boss Ian Holloway has admitted that he was caught up in transfer madness on transfer deadline day.

The Palace boss has brought in a whole host of players into his squad this summer, as the former-Blackpool boss looks to help his club survive in the top-flight.

Tough

Everybody has already written Palace off as relegation favourites and it will be tough for the Eagles to survive in the top-flight this season.

Their next Premier League game is a trip to Manchester United next Saturday, which is probably one of the toughest games of the Premier League season.

Start

It may be tough for Palace to survive this season, but they have not made a terrible start to the season. The Eagles have suffered narrow defeats against Tottenham and Stoke, but in their last Premier League game defeated Sunderland 3-1 at Selhurst Park.

Palace certainly has not disgraced themselves in either of those two defeats and could have gained points from both the clashes.

Signings

Palace will be looking to build on the Sunderland victory and added four new faces to their squad on deadline day. The Eagles brought in Cameron Jerome, Barry Bannan, Jack Hunt and Jimmy Kebe in a hectic day of transfer activity.

They were also believed to have missed out on signing striking pair Nicklas Bendtner and Andy Johnson, who were both at the club with views to completing deals. Neither signed, but Holloway was still very active in transfer market.

Mediocre

I have to admit that the signings that Palace have made this summer have struck me as mediocre. They are players that have failed to make the grade at other top-flight clubs and are looking for another chance in the top-flight.

One of better quality players that have arrived at Selhurst Park this summer is former-Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh, who has already scored for his new club after failing to make the grade with the Gunners.

A move could be just what the Moroccan international striker needs to re-ignite his career. He scored goals in French Ligue One with Bordeaux, but could not replicate the same form with the Gunners.

He showed in his time in France that he does have talent though. The other signing that could excite Palace fans is the signing of winger Jason Puncheon. Puncheon has now had two very decent spells in the top-flight, first with Blackpool and then last season with Southampton.

He was deemed surplus to requirements by Saints boss Mauricio Pochettino, so Palace were able to sign him on a season-long deal. Both players arrived without a fee attached to their signing, so make good financial sense. The Eagles have spent within their means, which is good to see in a modern day football club.

Striker Cameron Jerome and midfielder Barry Bannan have also joined Palace. Both players have failed to prove themselves in the top-flight in the past. However, the pair has shown flashes of their ability, but never on a consistent basis.

Unlucky

Two of Palace’s early summer signings Stephen Dobbie and Florian Marange have been left out of Palace’s 25-man Premier League squad, largely due to deadline day arrivals. Boss Holloway has admitted that he did expect to bring in so many players towards the end of the transfer window.

Both should consider themselves highly unlucky not to have been included in the squad. The decision has left the pair in limbo, as they will now not be able to play in Premier League games until at least January. Their only likely action would be in cups matches, but loan moves away look more likely for the pair.

Spirit

What the Crystal Palace squad lack in quality I am sure they will make up in fighting spirit. Ian Holloway teams in recent years are famous for their team spirit and character. The Palace players will give everything they have got for the cause.

They will not go down without a fight and I cannot see the Eagles being cut adrift at the bottom of the table like teams have been in the past. However, I just do not think they have enough quality to survive in the top-flight this season and will probably return to the Championship.

Have Crystal Palace added enough quality to survive this season?