What you start with

Crystal Palace did remarkably well to avoid relegation during their first season back in the Premier League thanks to Tony Pulis, and your job is to match Alan Pardew’s efforts by ensuring the Eagles secure a comfortable mid table finish this time around.

The board explain that your success will mostly be judged in the Premier League, and ensuring you can lead the team to around tenth place is the aim.

To help you do this the board allocate you an initial transfer budget of £7.5m in order to bring in some new faces, while the wage budget is just less than £697,000 per week.

In terms of the domestic cup competitions, the board suggest they would love a cup run and therefore you are required to reach the round of 16 stage in order to achieve this.

The Squad

Who you should build the team around?

Crystal Palace’s biggest threat is undoubtedly their two wingers, with Wilfried Zaha and Yannick Bolasie clearly your main assets when taking over at Selhurst Park. It’s imperative you hang onto these two and begin to build your team around the pair whose pace and skill will ensure your team is always a threat.

Their ability to beat defenders and the speed they possess will give you plenty of success down the flanks, and they are sure to chip in with plenty of goals and assists throughout the season.

Both will continue to develop, however Zaha has more scope for improvement and can surpass the 80 mark later on in his career.

Another important player for Palace is their central midfielder Mile Jedinak who is an important figure in the heart of the team. His physicality and defensive prowess make him useful to have when out of possession, and he will win the ball back numerous times throughout a game, breaking up attacks and winning plenty of tackles.

Three players you should sign

Crystal Palace’s big weakness appears to be in attack, and so improving this should be the primary aim in your first transfer window. The assistant manager suggests signing a new striker, and you’re advised to make this your first point of call.

With this in mind, the signing of Burnley striker Danny Ings is one that is recommended. The 21-year-old is nearing the end of his contract at Turf Moor and can be bought for £6.5m; a decent price given his potential.

With 89 pace; this is a weapon that will really benefit the team, and he’s a good finisher that can go onto reach a rating of around 80 in years to come. From the off you should be looking to make Ings your first choice striker.

The Eagles don’t have too much quality in a central attacking position, with Marouane Chamakh the only real option you have originally. Therefore the fact you can bring in Frenchman Yoann Gourcuff to fill this role is an opportunity you can’t afford to turn down. He costs just £4.75m from Lyon, and represents real quality that can flourish just behind your new striker.

With Ings and Gourcuff using up most of your budget, it’s advisable bringing in a loan signing with preference for another central midfielder to partner Yedinak. Lazio’s Ogenyi Onazi is a great option to do just that, rated at 74 and with impressive physical attributes.

Onazi has the potential to grow into the 80’s and so is a player who you could look to sign on a permanent basis after the first season, but for now he will do a great job in protecting the back four.

Players you should sell

Selling Marouane Chamakh is advisable as he can bring in some much needed funds and is a player you won’t be relying on too much throughout the season. Liverpool arrived with a bid of £2.8m, certainly something you should consider accepting.

Glen Murray was the next to leave Selhurst Park, again another one who is surplus to requirements at Palace. Sunderland offered £1.3m which again is another decent return for a reserve player.

And finally, you should be looking to sell both Jerome Thomas and Owen Garvan; squad players who are entering the final 12 months of their contracts. They won’t be featuring in your team and so recouping £450k and £500k respectively from Championship clubs presents an easy decision.

Youngsters

In terms of youth, Jonathan Williams, Hiram Boateng and Jerome Binnom-Williams are the three to keep an eye on and try to develop into first team squad members.

Williams is a 20-year-old CAM, who can go onto exceed Gourcuff in terms of ability with a potential rating of 83 making him a huge asset for Palace, and one you should be looking to bring into the first team sooner rather than later.

Hiram Boateng is another with potential of making an impression on the first-team somewhere down the line. The defensive midfielder can reach a rating of around 73, and can provide decent cover for the midfield and one you should be looking to use over the coming years.

Binnom-Williams is a 19-year-old left-back, currently on loan at Southend, but has the potential to reach a useful mark of 75 in the future that can see him become an important member of the squad. A successful loan spell will hopefully enable you to gradually push him into the first team over the following few seasons.

Tactics

A 4-2-3-1 formation is probably the best one to use when starting life at Crystal Palace, and should provide you with success in your quest for a mid table finish.

Speroni is the first choice keeper and the best option you have available, while a back four of Kelly, Dann, Delaney, and Souare looks your best bet with decent cover for all those positions.

Jedinak and Onazi will be the two defensive midfielders and provide great cover for the back four allowing those ahead of them to attack freely. McArthur and Ledley also ensure again you have plenty of cover for these two roles during the season.

Ahead of those a front three of Zaha, Gourcuff and Bolasie are a trio to match any in the division in terms of goal threat and will ensure Palace carry a real threat wherever they go.

And the lone striker should be Danny Ings, whose pace will also cause a real problem for defenders. Fraizer Campbell and Dwight Gale are a couple of useful forwards to have in reserve and the three of those should give you enough fire power throughout the season to ensure you achieve a mid table finish.

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