| Crystal Palace | | | | key players Andy Johnson, Fitz Hall and |
| Odds: 12/1 | | | | Mikele Leigertwood. Everton smashed |
| Last Five Seasons | | | | their club record transfer fee by |
| 2005/06 - 6 (Championship), 2004/05 - 18 | | | | signing Johnson for £8.6 million, |
| (Premiership, Relegated), 2003/04 - 6 | | | | beating the previous record of £6 |
| (Championship, Promoted), 2002/03 - 14 | | | | million to sign fellow striker James |
| (Championship), 2001/02 - 10 | | | | Beattie from Southampton. Johnson is |
| (Championship). | | | | expected to be Everton's highest paid |
| 2005/06 Cup Progress | | | | player on a reported £40,000 a week and |
| FA Cup Fourth Round (replay) vs Preston | | | | Palace will received more than £5 |
| North End (h) - lost 2-1. | | | | million up front in the deal. |
| Carling Cup Fourth Round vs | | | | Defender Fitz Hall joined Wigan for an |
| Middlesbrough (a) - lost 2-1. | | | | undisclosed fee, reportedly £3 million |
| Top Goal Scorer 2005/06: Andy Johnson | | | | while Leigertwood joined Premiership new |
| (striker) - 17 goals. | | | | boys Sheffield United for £600,000. |
| Players In | | | | Taylor returned to old club Hull City to |
| Leon Cort (Hull City - £1,250,000), | | | | sign defender Leon Cort as a replacement |
| James Scowcroft (£500,000), Scott | | | | for the departed Hall in a deal worth |
| Flinders (Barnsley - Undisclosed), Mark | | | | £1.25 million. Hull had earlier |
| Kennedy (Wolves - Free) | | | | rejected a £750,000 bid for player |
| Players Out | | | | Taylor signed on a free transfer for the |
| Andy Johnson (Everton - £8,600,000), | | | | Tigers in 2004. He also raided Coventry |
| Mikele Leigertwood (Sheffield United - | | | | City for striker James Scowcroft who he |
| £600,000), Fitz Hall (Wigan Athletic - | | | | worked with at Leicester City in a |
| Undisclosed), Sam Togwell (Barnsley - | | | | £500,000 deal. |
| Undisclosed), Wayne Andrews (Coventry | | | | Taylor drafted in winger Mark Kennedy on |
| City - Free), Tony Popovic (Al Arabi - | | | | a free transfer from Wolves and Barnsley |
| Free), Aki Riihilahti (Released), Glenn | | | | goalkeeper Scott Flinders in a deal |
| Wilson (Released). | | | | which could rise to £1 million |
| Peter Taylor is the new man in charge at | | | | depending on appearances. Taylor |
| play off losers Crystal Palace this | | | | selected Flinders for the Football |
| season following Iain Dowie's defection | | | | League XI team that faced Italy last |
| to Charlton Athletic. Palace chairman | | | | season. |
| Simon Jordan launched action against | | | | Verdict |
| Dowie for 'fraudulent misrepresentation' | | | | This could be a transitional season at |
| over his move across South London. | | | | Selhurst Park and the Eagles will miss |
| Jordan claimed Dowie's domestic | | | | the goals Andy Johnson provided them. |
| situation prompted him to waive a clause | | | | Clinton Morrison will be under pressure |
| in his contract which required | | | | to perform following his 13 goal tally |
| compensation of £1 million from any | | | | last season and even though there is |
| club the former West Ham United striker | | | | money to spend, Palace could find |
| would join. | | | | themselves just short of a play off |
| It has been a season of rebuilding at | | | | place in May. |
| Selhurst Park, following the sales of | | | | |