With Crystal Palace’s 2020/21 season now over we can reflect on what has been a memorable campaign in south London.
Last summer the Eagles started on the backfoot, going through an extensive managerial search while simultaneously releasing 11 ageing first team players at the end of their contracts. When Patrick Vieira was eventually appointed, he was many punters' odds-on favourite to be the first manager in the league to lose his job.
But thanks to excellent recruitment from the transfer department, a new, attractive style of play set in place by the coaching staff and a fair but firm manager with high expectations of his players, Palace have flourished instead of floundered.
