Sam Allardyce will not be a content man right now even though he has wrapped up two big money signings in Jeffrey Schlupp and Patrick Van Aanholt for a combined fee of around £26m. Palace desperately needed fullbacks, especially a left-back, as they were without a recognised player in that position. While the signing of two left-backs, that too for a hefty amount, took people by surprise, there is a notion Sam Allardyce might have planned a more advanced role for one of the two, which we will get to know in due course.
But he is not done yet in the market and has admitted that Palace have tried to sign around 30 players, which although might be an exaggeration, stresses on the need to sign more players. They are still winless in the league this year and after a horrendous run throughout last year, where under Pardew they had won just 6 games in all, the form has shown no sign of improving. They are winless in their last 8 matches in the league with 6 losses during that time.
While under Pardew, it was more of issues in defence but Allardyce’s arrival has seen the goals dry up. They have scored 4 goals in the last 7 games and despite the Eagles boasting of fairly talented attackers, they haven’t been able to come up with the end product. Even though they boast of the likes of Benteke and Remy up front, the combination doesn’t seem to be right.
It is no secret that Big Sam wanted Defoe back with him but with that deal out of the question now, reports are stating that Crystal Palace are planning on gatecrashing West Ham United’s long saga which they have been having in their pursuit of star Brentford striker Scott Hogan.
The forward has been the subject of West Ham’s keen eye for quite a while now and with the club reluctant to match the asking price, Palace are looking to take advantage of that situation.
A rocky journey saw Hogan struggle to make an impact at Halifax, where a striker called Jamie Vardy was grabbing all the attention In December 2011 he was signed by Stocksbridge Park Steels, another former club of Vardy’s.
Spells with Ashton United and Hyde followed before Hogan was given another chance by League Two side Rochdale for the 2013/14 season. He came into his own with them and repaid the faith by scoring 17 goals in 33 appearances thus securing a £750,000 move to Brentford. Though his time has been marred by injuries, he has been spot on this season and has scored 14 goals in 24 appearances.
At a shade below 6 feet, he packs a punch despite not being the conventionally tall Premier League striker. He has a determined attitude about him and although he looks like being a physical striker, he is more adept at making clever runs beyond the defenders and plays more facing the goal which will help him in his link-up play with the creative players at Selhurst Park.
