Championship Season Preview 2006/07 - Crystal Palace

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