Crystal Palace summer signings assessed: How has Alan Pardew's £22.5m spree worked out?

NEWS NEWS BLOG SPORT reviews the impact of Crystal Palace’s summer signings and how they’ve fared so far this season.

 

Patrick Bamford, Connor Wickham and Yohan Cabaye all arrived at Selhurst Park this summer

 

Yohan Cabaye

Who else can you start with? A former Paris Saint-Germain player. A France international. A player with Champions League experience. And now donning a red and blue kit in south London. Palace fans do still have to pinch themselves every time they see the little magician take to the Selhurst Park turf.

The 29-year-old has been crucial to Palace’s bright start this season in the heart of their midfield alongside James McArthur.

Cabaye is known for his delightful passing ability, but it’s his defensive actions and work-rate off the ball that has impressed most – Cabaye currently sits second in the table of most interceptions this season (78) behind Leicester’s N’Golo Kante (94).

On paper, Cabaye is up there with the biggest names to ever sign for the Eagles and at 29 years of age the Palace faithful are sure to enjoy many more exciting years watching him in action.

 

Connor Wickham

At last! Wickham finally opened his goal-scoring account for the Eagles with a penalty in their 2-1 victory at Stoke on Saturday.

Questions have been asked over whether he has the capability to lead the line for Palace this season. Injuries have kept him out the side for a large part of the campaign but he has impressed since his return.

A few eyebrows were raised following the announcement of Wickham’s arrival on a five-year deal in August. But the striker had played a vital part in keeping Sunderland up last season before completing a move south.  

Wickham has the ability to score plenty of goals for the Eagles and has recently showed he can hold the ball up well and use Yannick Bolasie and Wilfried Zaha to his strengths. The 22-year-old will be a key member of Alan Pardew’s plans in the coming years.

 



Bakary Sako scored a late winner against Aston Villa this season



 

Bakary Sako

The Mali international completed a free transfer in the summer, signing on a three-year deal. Sako started life well under Pardew, scoring the winner against Aston Villa before following that up with a goal in their 2-1 win over Chelsea a week later.

Sako has struggled for a regular starting role with Zaha, Bolasie and Jason Puncheon keeping him out the side.

He’s yet to show consistency for Palace but is a key asset to bring on from the bench when defenders of the opposition are beginning to tire. His strong, tricky playing style, full of pace, is a nightmare for any defender on their last legs.

 

Patrick Bamford

Signed on a season-long loan from Chelsea, Bamford is yet to really hit the ground running with Palace. Bamford won Championship Player of the Year on loan at Middlesbrough last season, scoring 17 goals as the Teesiders lost out in the play-off final to Norwich.

Bamford has made just eight appearances for the Eagles and is still in search of his first goal. Bamford obviously has the potential to score goals but it remains to be seen if he can prove his ability in the Premier League.  

Bamford obviously hasn’t impressed enough in training to earn a regular spot in Pardew’s side and reports have emerged that Chelsea are considering recalling the 22-year-old.

 

Alex McCarthy completed a move from Loftus Road in the summer

 

Alex McCarthy

With Julian Speroni not getting any younger and beginning the campaign on the treatment table, McCarthy was signed from QPR in the summer to bolster Pardew’s goalkeeper options.

It was unclear if McCarthy or Wayne Hennessey would be Palace’s No 1 this season. McCarthy started the campaign as first choice but following a few shaky performances – and also some good ones – Hennessey has established himself as Pardew's main man between the sticks.

The 26-year-old is unfortunate to be in a side competing with Wales’ No 1 and a man who recently celebrated his testimonial at the club. But should Hennessey or Speroni get injured, the former QPR shot-stopper is more than capable of filling their boots.