The proven pedigree all over the pitch has not been enough to stop Sam Allardyce’s men from struggling this season.
Crystal Palace manager Sam Allardyce
If Crystal Palace were to be relegated this season, they would surely be one of the best groups ever to be relegated from the Premier League.
To start with, any team that is managed by Sam Allardyce does not get relegated. It just doesn’t happen. For them to go down with him at the helm would be almost as big a shock as Leicester winning the title last season.
In the starting line-up for Palace, a frontline of Wilfred Zaha, Andros Townsend and Christian Benteke should be more than capable enough to rip teams to shreds, while in midfield, the presence of Yohan Cabaye makes the Eagles’ under-performing all the more baffling.
Admittedly, some of Palace’s stars have been unavailable for large portions of the season due to injury. Hotly anticipated new goalkeeper Steve Mandanda has been out since November with a knee injury – though, truth be told, his performances had left a lot to be desired anyway.
Similarly, Loic Remy has spent more time on the treatment table than on the pitch, but these names just go to show the wealth of talent that Crystal Palace have at their disposal.
Things have improved lately, with the club’s disappointing defence helping the Eagles to two successive wins and a push out of the relegation zone, just, but if they do fail to stay in the Premier League, it will be one of the bigger shocks in recent English football history.
Crystal Palace’s Yohan Cabaye
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