January transfer window has now finished and every team tried hard to secure some of its favored players, while some succeeded others could not. Overall, it was not as busy window as it was expected and reason could be clubs financial position and UEFA’s firmness over FFP guidelines. Many high profile clubs could not restrict their expenditure within the framed limit hence they were not so active this time, while others, who believe their financial planners are smarter to manager every new buying in accounts, were active throughout January and English clubs, as always, were among them. Last day of any transfer window has ever been the most active day of the month and this time too it was the same and one team who edged every other team in signing a maximum number of players is Crystal Palace who secured as many as five players on the last day. These players include Ince who joined the club on loan until the end of the season, Hennessey who brought into Selhurst Park on a three and a half year contract, Ledley, and Puncheon.
As far Eagles’ show in this season is concerned, they could not impress anyone and residing on the fifteenth place with a negative 16 goals difference, in fact, they fired their manager for not providing the wanted results in the league. Looking at their last year show, this is nothing new coz they were also struggling in 2012-13 as well. Ince, who joined Tony Pulis club, said over his one season stay over here, “It’s never nice to leave a club like Blackpool, who have done ever so well for me. I had three fantastic years there, but when an opportunity like this comes around… as soon as I met Tony Pulis and Steve Parish at Palace it felt like the right thing for me. It’s amazing how well Tony has done there since he came in. He said to me I was someone he needs, someone who can run at people and create some magic in the final third.”
This is not the first time for another entrant Puncheon with the club as he has been with them in the past, though on loan. He alleged he was confident that this deal will take place and said, “I thought it might happen at the end of the season but it’s come quicker and that’s good for both me and the football club.”
Next few matches will decide whether Glaziers have done anything smarter or just copied others to bring more manpower into their army.