Aside from those released at the end of the season, the two transfer windows saw many names leave the club for pastures new. Was that pasture any greener? Who flourished and who floundered? Let’s find out!
Kagisho Dikgacoi
Mile Jediank’s often rotund partner in midfield made a huge impact on Palace but chose not to stay and fight for a place in the Palace team once Cardiff came in with a 3 year contract that offered security and, in all probability, more first team football.
It wasn’t to be for KG though, he played just three times for Cardiff before a succession of injuries ruled him out for the season. It remains to be seen what condition he will begin next season in, but he will be hoping to put his injury nightmare behind him and play some games. A match fir KG would be a huge player for Cardiff.
Danny Gabbidon
Another who went to Cardiff and another whose season amounted to very little indeed, although given his age and injury history, as well as the fact he was signed as a player coach, the 1 League cup appearance and one appearance in the league as a sub are perhaps understandable. The most exciting thing in his season was being appointed Interim Manager after the dismissal of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Gabbidon’s deal expired at the end of the season but he has stated he intends to play on.
Dean Moxey
Deano left Palace after 3 ½ seasons to rejoin his old boss Dougie Freedman at Bolton. Whilst Freedman failed to see out the season, Moxey started 17 games and came on as a sub in a further 6 in a difficult season. With 2 years remaining on his deal, Moxey has some work to win over the Bolton support judging by their forums, but will be encourage that Freedman’s replacement used him regularly from January until the end of the season.
Johnny Parr
The former player of the year left Palace to join Mick McCarthy’s Ipswich and made a good impression on his new club. Parr started 27 games and was used as a sub in 5 more. Parr also will have delighted Ipswich and Palace fans alike when he scored his first goal for the club against Brighton in September 2014. Parr has one more year on his Ipswich deal.
Aaron Wilbraham
As many will know, Wilbraham left Palace as a goal-shy 35 year old striker and rolled up at League One Bristol City as “Wilbrahimovic” – taking the division by storm and helping his side win the title and return the Championship.
All in all WIlbs finished the season with 38 starts, 6 sub appearances and 21 goals. Stunning.
Jose Campana
Ah Jose, the man who promised so much yet has delivered nothing. He never settled at Palace and was sold to Sampdoria. The Italians decided that they would loan him to Porto where he made just two appearances all season. Undoubted pedigree but there must be huge question marks over his application and personality.
Stuart O’Keefe
Cult hero and loveable workhorse Stuart O’Keefe was another Palace player to head to Cardiff City. O’Keefe had developed into a tidy and reliable central midfield player but was deemed surplus to requirements in the top division.
Cardiff signed him on a 2 ½ year deal in the January window, but he started just 4 games and appeared as a sub in a further two.
Jimmy Kebe
Sing it with me (to the tune of “Go West”) –
Ou-est, Jimmy Ke-be?
Ou-est, Jimmy Ke-be?
Ou-est, Jimmy Ke-be?
Ou-est, Jimmy Ke-be?
That is all.
Andrew Johnson
Aj was let go in the January window after injury restricted him to a single appearance off the bench in the league cup. He has no club and, in spite of rumours he was heading to Luton, nothing appears on the horizon for the Palace legend.
Alex Wynter
Promising young defender Wynter, once tipped for the top as 16 year old by Neil Warnock will have to work his way back up the leagues now after joining Colchester. Initially intended to spend the season at Portsmouth, Wynter lost his place in the side after playing in 15 games.
At Colchester, where he had once had a short and sweet loan spell, Wynter played regularly and amassed 18 appearances in the 2nd half of the season.
Neil Alexander
The experienced ‘keeper was the number one choice in goal for new club Hearts, who won the Scottish Championship and a return to the top division. A definite flourish from the one-season, one game Palace man.
Ibra Sekajja
In spite of the heroics of scoring in his first, and only, game for the Palace senior side (and what a vital goal it was) Ibra was released from the club and began the season with a 6 month deal at Inverness Caledonian Thistle. 4 games and no goals saw him released and joining Livingston. There he played 10 games and scored twice. As things stand, that is where he will begin next season.
Osman Sow
An odd signing – a player who was signed but never named in the 25 man squad so could never play for the first team. He was “developed” in the, well, development squad and it was Hearts who seemed to prosper as they signed him after a trial and he finished the season with 12 goals in 25 games – and will play in the top division in Scotland next season.
Quade Taylor
A defender who was always comfortable and impressive when I saw him play. Taylor joined Freedman at Bolton wanderers and has spent the season developing into a first team player. He made his debut on the final day of the season against Birmingham. Taylor has spoken of growing up and making the next step at Bolton – and is even being talked about as a future club captain.
Ali Gordon
Former Chelsea full back Gordon has had to drop into the conference with Dover Athletic but seemingly did not play a game before heading out to Sittingbourne FC in the Ryman South. Limited information suggests he played some games but he is not on the list of players signed for the next campaign.
Ross Fitzsimons
Another who followed Freedman to Bolton after release from Palace. Fitzsimmons has not had the impact of Taylor but he has been playing regularly in the development side and remains a Bolton player.
Tom King
Signed from Portsmouth, King’s development at Selhurst faltered in spite of a big reputation and his is now in the Millwall development squad.
Derek Tieku
Tieku is now at Ryman South side Walton casuals and towards the end of the season had started featuring regularly on the scoresheet.
