If you’re not already in love with Crystal Palace manager Ian Holloway, keep note of his soundbites over the course of this season and you soon will be.
Today the plucky 50 year old was waxing poetic about how hard a time he’s having bringing new players to Selhurst Park this summer.
“I am watching players and players and players and players and players until I get that balance in the group that I want,” Holloway said.
The problem is two-fold: neophyte chairmen (Jeremy Hosking and his consortium rescued the club from administration in August 2010) and the competition is positively flush.
“The chairman is learning, I am finding out how even more difficult it is compared to last time because of the zillions of extra quid that everybody’s got,” Holloway explained. “Everybody’s asking for all sorts of things and it is almost ridiculous to get a deal done.”
Even with those constraints, Holloway remains ever the optimist, noting “my chairman is a bright fella and learning very, very quickly.” Holloway expects a bunch of deals to get done over the next four weeks.
And wouldn’t you know it Palace got a deal done today, signing legend of legends Kevin Phillips to a one year deal. The 39 year old striker spent the second half of last season on loan at Palace (from Blackpool) and scored the penalty against Watford in the Championship Play-Off Final that earned the Eagles a place in the Premier League.
The grizzled vet was tickled pink over the contract. “I am absolutely delighted, I loved my time here at the end of last season and was always hoping to have another chance to play in the top flight,” Phillips said.
Some of the other “players and players and players and players and players” that Holloway is rumored to be checking out include Inter Zapresic attacking midfielder Mislav Orsic and West Bromwich Albion striker Peter Odemwingie.
You can find Mike on Twitter @mprindi