Premier League Preview: Crystal Palace

Three years ago Ian Holloway got relegated with a Blackpool side he took into the Premiership through the Play-offs. This year he will be hoping not to replicate that feat with Crystal Palace, but he facing a daunting task in front of him.

The bookmakers favourites to go down, Palace's transfer activity has hardly showered them in glory. With no marquee signing to boast about and few players with Premier League experience it is no surprise that they are being viewed as relegation certainties. Palace fans will undoubtedly be unhappy with the way summer transactions have been conducted considering Palace pulled in £15 million for starlet Wilfried Zaha.

Despite a successful but unchallenging pre-season, it's going to be a long, hard, slog of a season for Palace and some major activity is needed in the transfer market before the 2 September deadline. The sole reasons for Palace's promotion last season was Wilfried Zaha and Glenn Murray but with Zaha gone and Murray injured until October it's going to be a tough start to the season and sadly I see no other alternative than a one way trip back to the Championship.

Key Man: Julian Speroni - With Murray injured until October and unlikely to return instantly to form it's going to be a rocky start to the campaign and Palace will need their talisman goalkeeper Speroni to be on top form if they are to steer clear of the relegation zone. Three times a winner of Palace's Player of the Season award, Speroni will be vital to Palace's survival chances.

One to Watch: Jonathan Williams - Plenty of players to watch, including Yannick Bolasie and Mile Jedinak but young Jonathan Williams is my pick of the crop. A talented playmaker with international caps under his belt, Palace are going to be looking to him for creativity in midfield and he will certainly be a handful for opposition teams.

Best Summer Season: Dwight Gayle - Bringing youth and energy to the team Gayle will be looking to make a name for himself early whilst Murray is injured. Full of pace and strength Gayle will be a player to keep an eye on and with the veteran Kevin Phillips also at the club he has a tutor full of Premier League experience.

Last Season: 5th (Championship, Playoff Winners)

Pre-Season Prediction: 18th - Despite putting up a good fight, I see too much strength throughout the Premier League for Palace to stay up.