Once again, when charged with the task of gaining promotion, Ian Holloway delivered.
His Crystal Palace side required the nerves of playoffs to make it into the Premier League, but they overcame Watford in the final to secure a massive payday and their status as a top-flight club.
The hard work is now underway for Holloway and his coaching staff as they attempt to recruit the players that will help them stay in the division. Here, Sports Mole has selected five players that we feel will help their cause.
Antolin Alcaraz, Wigan Athletic
Like most of Holloway's teams, Crystal Palace do look like a side that will concede a few goals - it is the way that his players are sent out to perform. However, the tighter that they can be, particularly against those who are likely to be battling against relegation with them, the better.
Wigan may have gone down with him available, but Alcaraz's four-month injury absence didn't help their chances. He is a solid defender who is fully aware of his limits.
What's more, with Wigan now in the Championship, they may be forced to part with the Paraguay international for less than his market value.
© PA Photos
Joey Barton, Queens Park Rangers
Yes, that's right - Joey Barton! The man that controversy follows round like a bad smell. The fact is though that he is not a bad footballer and impressed during his recent loan stint in France with Marseille.
Granted he is bound to be suspended at times, but when he is available he would offer plenty of energy and aggression (sometimes channelled in the right way) to the Palace midfield. Experience is also another thing that he would provide to a primarily young squad at present.
Then there is also his ability from set piece situations, as well as his calmness when taking penalties, which could prove crucial at certain points of the campaign if the Eagles are to stay up.
The majority of managers have tried to curb Barton, but none has succeeded. Perhaps the jovial Holloway could?
QPR would probably be happy to move the 30-year-old off their books on the cheap as well.
© AP Photos
Ben Watson, Wigan Athletic
Supporters at Selhurst Park will know all about the flame-haired Watson, who spent six years with the club up until 2009.
While there are a number of talented footballers in the Palace midfield - Yannick Bolasie to name one - players to protect their rearguard is not something they are exactly packed with.
Watson can offer that with his tireless workrate and could well relish a return to the club where it all started for him.
He also showed during the FA Cup final that he is capable of finding the net at important times.
Scott Sinclair, Manchester City
Wilfried Zaha is a big loss for Palace - there are no two ways about it. He's left a big hole in their attack, which needs filling.
In case you had forgotten him, Scott Sinclair is still around! He spent last season getting splinters in his rear end on the Manchester City bench following a summer switch from Swansea City. It's fair to say that the 24-year-old quickly realised that the grass is not always greener.
While he was not a favourite of Roberto Mancini at the Etihad Stadium, the winger produced the goods in the previous two seasons with the Swans. He scored eight times in the top flight in 2011-12 and added an impressive 19 more in the Championship a campaign earlier.
Wages could prove a stumbling block in this deal - after all, City do not pay their players peanuts. So maybe a loan deal with a view to buy would suit both parties.
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Jozy Altidore, AZ Alkmaar
What Palace wouldn't do to have a Kevin Phillips of 10 years ago! Whether the veteran hangs around remains to be seen, but even if he does, he does not have the legs to play 90 minutes every week.
To add to their goalscoring problems, last season's leading marksman Glenn Murray is out until around Christmas with a knee injury.
To be successful in the Premier League, most centre-forwards rely on pace and power - something that Altidore can boast. He may have flopped at Hull City during the 2009-2010 campaign, but the American is a very different player now.
He's spent the last two years in the Netherlands with AZ and has terrorised defences, scoring 51 times in 93 outings.
While he has a good career going for him in Holland, the 23-year-old frontman may very well be tempted to prove his doubters in England wrong.
Liam Apicella
