End-of-season Crystal Palace review

PLAYER OF THE YEARGM: Julian Speroni emerged from the shadow of Gabor Kiraly and played with the confidence of a number one keeper. Conceded less goals than any other Championship stopper and pulled off some superb saves to help Palace into the play-offs.

NM: Julian Speroni had a tremendous campaign, increasing his authority and presence alongside his already technically excellent game. Time after time, Speroni has kept us in matches with some fine saves and it was a relief when he sorted out his contract.

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER

GM: Mark Hudson cut the errors out of his game and became an accomplished and reliable centre-back. Led by example once promoted to captain, but it looks like he has played his last game for the club after a contract dispute.

NM: Palace have had an abundance of promising, but raw, youngsters breaking through this season, but it is Victor Moses who has grown the most. Quick and dangerous, Moses is now utilising his talent better than ever before with his direct and fearless running.

GOAL OF THE SEASON

GM: James Scowcroft's strike against Wolves at Molineux was a once in a lifetime effort. Speroni's long kick was headed out by a Wolves defender and fell kindly for Scowcroft to volley first time over the keeper from more than 30 yards.

NM: Lashing in that volley at Wolves from out of nowhere, Scowcroft gave a lesson in finishing to everyone in the 22,650 crowd. Lee Hills' goal at Bristol City and Scott Sinclair's individual effort against Burnley on the last day of the season deserve a mention.

BEST PERFORMANCE

GM: Stoke City (away). Palace went and attacked that day and found themselves 2-0 up by half-time. A tough rearguard action in the second half preserved their lead and maintained their play-off push.

NM: Burnley (home). Two games stand out for me, the first being the 3-0 win at Wolves in mid-January. But it was the 5-0 thrashing of Burnley on the last day of the season, in front of a packed Selhurst Park, to secure a top-six finish, that takes the overall prize.

WORST PERFORMANCE

GM: Ipswich Town (home). Palace were booed off at the end and never looked like scoring in this dire home game. It was during their mid-season dip in form and though they lost to a freak goal, Palace were outclassed and Warnock told the players as much in the dressing room afterwards.

NM: Bristol Rovers (away). Under Peter Taylor, crashing out of the Carling Cup at the first hurdle away at Bristol Rovers and the 1-1 draw at home to the then-struggling Hull were both pretty dire. Warnock's worst fortunately came in his early days, with the 2-0 home defeat to Watford in front of the Sky cameras.

BIGGEST FLOP

GM: Jeff Hughes. The left-back came with big expectations after being tracked by Peter Taylor for a long time, but failed to live up to his billing. Too lightweight and nervous for the division and just not good enough.

NM: Shefki Kuqi. Scott Flinders didn't do enough to put Speroni under renewed competition for the starting keeper's spot. But, for the second year running I have to say Kuqi. The Big Finn is capable of scoring 15 goals in a season, but has always flattered to deceive in SE25.

TIP FOR NEXT SEASON

GM: Sean Scannell. The youngster has impressed this term and if he can get a pre-season under his belt and play in his preferred position up front then he could take the Championship by storm with his pace and trickery.

NM: Palace to gain plaudits for being a footballing side. Warnock himself has admitted that with Scowcroft in the starting line-up, some of the players would look for the easy option of lumping it up to the big man rather than searching for the shorter pass, yet when Sinclair and Moses made the team the balls had to be to feet to be effective. Expect Warnock to try and play more of Palace's game on the deck, and only go direct when required.

BEST SIGNING

GM: Neil Warnock. I must admit to having been one of those who raised a few eyebrows when Simon Jordan unveiled the Yorkshireman as Peter Taylor's replacement in October but it has proved a very good acquisition and I am sure I'm not the only Eagle to have become a Warnock fan.

NM: Shaun Derry. Generally speaking, Neil Warnock has a good record with the players he has bought in. Clint Hill has added steel to the back four, while Scott Sinclair offers pace going forward. But Shaun Derry can be held up as the signing that turned our season around. Dezza broke up opposition attacks and allowed the likes of Ben Watson and Tom Soares a chance to shine.

PLAYER NEIL WARNOCK SHOULD SIGN

GM: Freddy Eastwood. The striker was close to joining the Eagles before choosing Wolves last summer and would provide pace and skill to scare defenders, something Palace have lacked all year. He could be picked up on the cheap too as Wolves want to get rid of him, but Palace will face competition for his signature.

NM: Andy Robinson. Neil Warnock needs a ball-playing, pacey, attacking midfielder who can score goals as one of the final pieces of his promotion jigsaw. Warnock would do well to make a move for 28-year-old Swansea City midfielder Robinson. A former Swans player of the year, the lively Robinson bagged 10 goals for the League One Champions and is currently stalling on his contract talks.

BEST AWAY GROUND

GM: KC Stadium (Hull City) - The crowd supplied a fantastic atmosphere and although the ground looked smaller than expected for a new build, it was in the middle of a park and had a fantastic design with a good view over the city to boot.

NM: St Mary's (Southampton) - St Mary's is modern stadium full of noisy, partisan fans yet crucially it is within walking distance of Southampton city centre. Add in the fact that we were visiting the South Coast in the August sunshine enabling us to settle down for a few al-fresco lemonades over looking the English Channel, together with Scowcroft's lesser spotted hat-trick, then this was one away day to remember.

WORST AWAY GROUND

GM: Vicarage Road (Watford) - For a former Premiership ground it was small and rickety, with the press box hidden in one corner of the stand with a horrible view. It was cold as well.

NM: Glanford Park (Scunthorpe) - I won't be missing Glanford Park, home of Scunthorpe United. Miles from the station, and hidden behind a pizza restaurant on a retail park, I enjoyed the "action" of our insipid 0-0 draw perched on a bar stool at the back of their main stand. The Valley also goes down in my estimation when a) Palace lose there and b) you have to play there on a Friday night getting there by packed commuter train.

BEST PRESS BOX GRUB

GM: Watford: Spaghetti Bolognese before the game was a welcome addition in the cold, although it was run close by the stew at Stoke City and the fabulous half-time spread at Wolves.

NM: Watford: One of the benefits of reporting on Palace is that most of the time you get a spot of food in the press box. Sometimes it's just some stale biscuits and a cup of grey liquid referred to as "tea". Occasionally, you get a spread that wouldn't look out of place at a wedding reception. Step forward Watford, who know how to stuff the journos full of all sorts of wraps, rolls and roast chicken wings in some vain attempt to divert the local hacks from reporting on how awful the football is at Vicarage Road.