Give him the proper service I think he would come good. I know your team struggled last season but I can't see you going down this year as so many people seem to be predicting. Pardew's a better fit for your club than hours that's for sure

Hopefully we can repeat what we did in the first half of the season but for the entire season this time. I'm pleased with the business Pardew has been doing so far and that we've got stuck in to the transfer window straight away instead of our usual faffing about and waiting until deadline day.

Despite your relegation you've landed on your feet by keeping Benitez. Could be a very short stay again in that division.

So, we've apparently upped our bid for Benteke. Transfer fee & add-ons taking it to around £31m!

Am I the only one thinking what the hell?! We didn't want to fork out £12m for Charlie Austin, we didn't want to fork out £15m for Loic Remy but we're willing to fork out double that for Benteke?!

If there was any doubt that the new Sky deal would make the transfer market even more insane then that doubt must have been vanquished now.

looks like the James Tomkins deal is done too. so if the Benteke deal happens also we would have just spent around £58m on 4 players since the window opened. Have we all slipped in to some parallel universe!!?

James Tomkins done. Things are going strangely well so far.

http://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/article/2....-3169117.aspx

On to Benteke...

Very pleased with that signing.

How good to see us getting business done early for a change and not the usual last minute panic.

some reports suggesting we have put a £28m price tag on Bolasie. wouldn't surprise me if one or two do come in for him.

and it wouldn't surprise me if we sold him...

lots of reports today saying that we've agreed personal terms with benteke now and that the deal might go through in the next 24-36 hours...

Our first pre-season match tonight on our US tour against Philadelphia Union.

Pardew has already confirmed that Townsend and Kaikai will play.

It's live on the Palace site.

They really go over the top with their match build-ups over there don't they?

0-0.

Glad I didn't stay up for it!

The team used:

Speroni, Ward (Croll 66), Kelly (Delaney 46), Dann (Tomkins 46), Fryers, Boateng, Mutch (Sako 66), Townsend (Lee 60), Puncheon (Wickham 46), Kaikai (Zaha 54), Ladapo (Campbell 60). Subs not used: Perntreou.

Ha, yeah I didn't last 'til the end.

Townsend looked decent. The new kit didn't.

the new home kit is even worse now that i've seen it in action so to speak... one of the worst home kits i can remember.

i gave up at half time last night as i was too tired... biggest surprise for me was fryers getting a full 90 minutes!

Second match of our US tour: FC Cincinnati 0-2 Palace.

Mutch and Zaha with the goals.

Team:
McCarthy (Perntreou 76), Ward (Puncheon 59), Kelly (Dann 45), Delaney (Croll 59), Fryers, Boateng, Mutch, Sako (Townsend 45), Lee (Kaikai 73), Zaha (Berkeley-Agyepong 73), Campbell (Ladapo 45).

Subs not used: Speroni, Jedinak, Bolasie, Wickham.

Final match of our US tour: Vancouver Whitecaps 2-2 Palace

Campbell with both our goals.

Team:
Speroni, Kelly, Delaney (Croll 75), Dann, Mutch, Jedinak (Boateng 46), Puncheon (Kaikai 83), Lee (Bolasie 60), Fryers (Wickham 60), Townsend (Berkeley-Agyepong 83), Ladapo (Campbell 46).

Subs not used: Perntreou.

Looks like we've had a £20m plus add-ons bid for Berahino rejected by West Brom.

Does this mean we've lost interest in Benteke (£27m bid rejected and whom I would prefer)?

Will we now step up our interest in Diafra Sakho (alleged £15m bid already made)?

One thing this proves is how crazy the transfer fees are now especially for strikers.

Pre-season result: Colchester 0-1 Palace

Mutch with the winner in tonights match.

Team:
McCarthy, Ward, Dann (Kelly 70), Delaney (Croll 70), Fryers (Binnom-Williams 78), Boateng (Jedinak 59), Mutch (Ladapo 85), Puncheon (Lee 59), Bolasie (Kaikai 59), Townsend (Berkeley-Agyepong 70), Wickham (Campbell 45).

Subs not used: Perntreou, Wynter.

Fryers still getting a lot of game time in pre-season, i wonder if Pardew has more faith in him now and that he'll be the back up to Souare this coming season?

Southampton are supposedly interested in signing Alex McCarthy? i would have thought we'd be more interested in offloading Hennessey now that we have Mandanda.

Pre-season result: AFC Wimbledon 2-3 Palace.

Wickham, Bolasie and Ladapo with our goals.

Team:
Speroni, Kelly (Binnom-Williams 79), Dann (Wynter 72), Delaney (Croll 67), Fryers (Souare 46), Jedinak (Boateng 72), Puncheon (Mutch 79), Kaikai, Bolasie (Lee 72), Campbell (Ladapo 47), Wickham (Townsend 60). Subs not used: Perntreou, Ward, Berkeley-Agyepong.


The possible McCarthy to Southampton transfer has surprised me, too. Looks like McCarthy is keen for it to happen and you can't blame him.

Fulham 3 Crystal Palace 1

Pretty strong team put out as well

Speroni
Ward
Dann
Delaney
Souare
Jedinak
Puncheon
Zaha
Townsend
Bolasie
Mutch

Got to say I'm pretty nervous about the coming season, Speroni at fault for one goal , according to reports . Mutch playing as a striker sums up our goal scoring problems , we are in big trouble if the striker situation is not sorted out soon .

Sub, Keshi Anderson scored the goal

All goals were shocking from a defensive point of view. The first Jedinak gave the ball away with a hopeless pass and then didn't bother to track back gifting them their opener. Then Speroni spilled a harmless cross for their second. The third was poor defending all round, failing to clear despite a few chances to do so.


Once again we are in a window and the lack of transfer activity where a striker or strikers are concerned is worrying. Two weeks until the big kick-off and it seems we're no closer to rectifying that situation then we were 3 weeks a go.

confirmed now that Alex McCarthy has signed for Southampton. hopefully the money we've got for him goes towards the new striker.

also Jake Gray has signed for Luton.

Reportedly £4m for McCarthy. If true then that's some great business.

Bristol City, Forest, Cardiff & Fulham all apparently interested in signing Frazier Campbell. Not that I wouldn't be glad to see the back of him but if he did depart that would leave us with one senior striker in Wickham and the season only 11 days away!

Hi

I'm hoping to take my boy to his first football match. He is a Crystal Palace fan so I said I take him to the match against Bournemouth. I've never been to Selhurst Park before, so can someone advise which is the best place to to sit?

Many thanks

The Main Stand or Whitehorse Lane Stand (a.k.a Sainsbury's End) would be your best bets. The Main Stand is more family orientated but the Whitehorse would be cheaper although that stand is behind the goal.

Here's a map so you know what I mean. Link.