Date: 6th September 2016 at 3:26pm
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The transfer window is shut, the summer is behind us and the first month of the Premier League has already been and gone.

For Crystal Palace, it appears to be the same old story in 2016. With just two wins in their last 25 league matches, it really has been an awful league campaign over the last nine months.

But, now with a few new faces around, things might just be finally starting to look up.

With the season’s first international break currently underway, the Eagles lie 17th in the table with a single point after the first three games. Defeats to West Bromwich Albion and Tottenham Hotspur as well as a draw with AFC Bournemouth has not been a convincing start to the new 2016/17 campaign.

Manager Alan Pardew broke the bank this summer to draft in a number of new faces. The signing of Christian Benteke and the season-long loan of Loic Remy from Chelsea appears to have added that ‘glamour’ the club needed in and around the penalty area.

Benteke, who signed for a club record fee of £27m, has a lot of pressure on his hands to deliver the goals for the South London club. The board and the manager clearly have faith in him after smashing their record transfer fee.

He knows all too well how to score goals from his early days playing in his native Belgium and at Aston Villa, although his time at Liverpool is one he will want to forget.

Pardew, said himself, that the club are going to rely on Benteke’s goals. He’s only made one Premier League appearance so far, but a lot of people at the club including the fans – and me – are expecting big things from the 25-year-old Belgium international. When you are the most expensive player in a club’s 111-year history, you know you’ve got to repay something back.

Remy, who worked with Pardew at Newcastle United, blossomed under his management and he’s scored goals at every club he’s played for. It’s safe to say he knows where the goal is. I just hope he’s brought his natural ability with him, the Frenchman scored 14 goals in 26 appearances for the Magpies when he was working with Pardew.

The 29-year-old has played at the highest levels of club football, scoring in the Champions League and winning domestic league titles in both France and England. He’ll provide some experience within the team and perhaps Connor Wickham can learn some tips from him, as he attempts to fight for his starting birth now with the additions of two new forwards.

With only one goal scored in the opening three matches of the season, the same occurring problem from last term hasn’t been resolved. Now, however, with Benteke and Remy in the side it has given a little bit of hope that we do now have goals in the team.

ool - Christian Benteke of Liverpool - Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

Benteke scored 10 goals in all competitions for Liverpool last term – Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

Remy isn’t currently involved with the France national team set up, so he has had some time to settle in and to get to know his new team-mates. I expect both of them to be involved at some stage during this weekend’s trip to Middlesbrough.

The newly promoted side have coped fantastically to the step up of the top-flight and haven’t tasted defeat after a win and two draws. I think it will be a difficult game, but I’m tipping Benteke to open up his account, this game will be the first of a new start at the club. It just feels like everyone has a bit more confidence now the team is all set for the new season, no more additions and no more departures.

Pardew described this season as a transitional period. I’m not quite sure what he means by that, but what I do know is that the club have made some much needed signings in the right areas.

It’s always good to see the manager and the club identify the main problem and find a solution – well, I hope it’s a solution – something which hasn’t always been the case at Selhurst Park.

 
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