Croydon Guardian’s review of the season

Player of the year?
SP: Emmerson Boyce He's been the Eagles' most consistent player for the past two seasons and is now starting to receive the acclaim his performances deserve.

Dowie's best ever buy for Palace, Boyce never let his manager down playing on either flank as a full back and it amazes me why he has not been linked with any Premiership clubs. Let's hope Dowie doesn't prise him away if the ex-Palace boss gets a top flight job.

NM: Emmerson Boyce The amiable Boyce may not play in the most glamorous of positions but in the unsettled and nervous arena that was the Palace back four this season, the former Luton Town player brought a level-head, and, most importantly, a consistency to proceedings.

Most improved player?
SP: Wayne Andrews The ex-Colchester man has been converted from a misfiring striker to arguably Palace's most effective winger behind Jobi McAnuff.

A great tool to use from the bench to come on and change games and attack tiring full backs, Andrews was criminally under-used in the Championship run-in after some fine performances, notably against Hull away. Sadly it was not enough to earn the winger a new deal.

NM: Jobi McAnuff The majority of our team faced such a steep learning curve when Palace sneaked into the Premiership ahead of schedule. A season in the Championship has, in some ways, had a detrimental effect on the form, but not the skill, of some of our players. Championship football simply doesn't offer the same opportunity for advancement as the Premiership.

But McAnuff is one player who has visibly improved since the start of the season. Having managed to steer clear of injury, he is now up there with Dougie Freedman in challenging to be the single most creative player at Palace.

Goal of the season?
SP: Wayne Andrews against Coventry If ever the Selhurst Park crowd wanted someone to score it was Andrews and the moment his fierce strike hit the back of the net the place erupted. It was a great finish by the frontman but the jubilation that followed from the Palace players was a picture. At least his only goal for Palace was a memorable one.

NM: Marco Reich against Coventry (Carling Cup) Just over 5,000 turned up last September for a nothing game against the Sky Blues in a cup competition no one really cares about. But Reich, who had signed on a short-term contract that day, came on as a late sub and took just 10 minutes to open his Palace account with a cracking strike, lashing the ball into the top right hand corner.

Unsung hero?
SP: Michael Hughes It seems at the start of every season Hughes is tipped to play a low-key role in Palace's season and his retirement is surely imminent. He didn't even start the season as captain but Dowie rightly put the armband back on the right man and the Palace captain showed the only real leadership in the Eagles' locker.

He may be in his mid-30s, but the Ulsterman covers the most inches in the midfield and sets the best example to his teammates. This season he was irreplaceable.

NM: Ben Watson Our England U21 international may have saved his worst game of the season for the home leg of the play-off semi final against Watford, but don't let that detract from the impact he has had this season. Does the ugly work well, and a lot of the time it goes unnoticed.

Some of the Selhurst Park faithful have had the audacity to boo the boy from Bermondsey over the past eight months which in my mind is disgraceful. Partnered with a midfield enforcer in the shape of a fit Michael Hughes, Watson is often freed to pick out the pass that leads to a goal. Plus he's guaranteed to score against Millwall.

Best signing?
SP: Jobi McAnuff Last season Dowie lamented his side's lack of goals from midfield and the acquisition of the ex-Cardiff winger did much to plug that gap.

Fitted in right away as a replacement for Wayne Routledge and immediately became a big hit with Palace fans. May not get as many assists as the former Eagles youngster, but certainly out weighs Routledge in terms of goals.

NM: Clinton Morrison Darren Ward promised much at the start of the season, but problems with form and alleged run-ins with Iain Dowie hampered his progress and Jon Macken hasn't been at the races all season. Andrew Johnson re-signing can be seen as the perfect transfer coup, but for me it's Clinton Morrison who pips Jobi McAnuff to the post.

We haven't seen the best from Morrison due to the lack of games he has been given, but Clinton is Mr Crystal Palace. He love this club and when AJ leaves us it'll be the partnership of Morrison and Freedman who will be firing us back into the Premiership.

Most disappointing player?
SP: Darren Ward By no means am I saying that Ward had a poor season, but I feel the defender did not live up to the imposing centre back presence many thought he would be this term. Good in the air but lacks positional sense and cost the Eagles a number of important goals.

NM: Jon Macken Injury reduced the former Preston and Man City man to just one league start and 12 substitute appearances. The return of two league goals was adequate but you felt the big man could bash up some of the fragile defences we came up against. Hopefully there is a lot more to come from the Irishman.

Best performance?
SP: Norwich at home It was a day where everything went right for the Eagles and a rare moment in the season where Palace showed the potential in the side. They left Norwich shell-shocked with an all-action performance full of pace, clinical finishing and defensive solidarity.

Pity it was not reproduced when the Eagles really needed it to be.

NM: Reading at home Norwich at home in late February was particularly sweet, 4-1 against a team in their best form of the season had most Palace fans thinking second place was a mere formality. But overall, I'm going to pick Reading at home.

Yes, it was a draw, but it was under the floodlights, on Sky and we should have beaten Steve Coppell's runaway Royals. It is a clich, but the game had everything and was a great advert for second tier football.

Worst performance?
SP: Cardiff away This beat the play-off first leg against Watford because at least Palace played well for 45 minutes in that game. But at Ninian Park, Palace were awful from the start and never looked threatening in a game totally dominated by Cardiff and Jason Koumas who'll I'll come back to later.

NM: Luton away This game was horrible. It was a real low in every conceivable way everything that could go wrong did. Tactics, passion, pride, belief, commitment and application were all missing in front of a sold out away end. Watford at home in the play-offs was arguably worst for a lot of people, but the eventual winners at Cardiff got lucky that day.

Best player to play against Palace?
SP: Ibrahima Sonko (Reading) The Senegalese defender was the best centre back in the Championship by a mile last season and is sure to be a hit in the Premiership next term. Strong, powerful and quick, Sonko has all the assets of a top defender and reads the game well. Gave Andrew Johnson a real battle at Selhurst Park and denied the striker scoring in open play during the 1-1 draw.

NM: Adriano (Inter Milan) The man had an incredible hype preceding him, hence the sold out Selhurst, but it was all justified. Big, strong and powerful, the Brazilian is blessed with attributes not normally associated with South Americans. Coupled with the skill he undoubtedly possesses, he was sublime against Palace. Imagine what he'll do at the World Cup.

Player you'd most like to sign?
SP: Jason Koumas Palace severely lack a creative source in the side and someone who can unlock defences. If the next Palace boss can get his head right, the Welshman could be a major asset to Palace and also help increase the goals from midfield. He can also take threatening free-kicks something the current Palace crop seem unable to do!

NM: Barry Ferguson (Rangers) Palace need an experienced midfielder to play alongside either Ben Watson or Tom Soares in the centre of the park. Michael Hughes was once that player but we cannot expect the great man to play anywhere near the level of games we want him to.

Rangers captain Ferguson may be on his way out of Ibrox following the appointment of Paul Le Guen. The hard tackling Scotsman would be perfect in our midfield.

Tip for next season (already on the books)?
SP: Victor Moses Providing Simon Jordan stops top clubs from luring the striker to pastures new, next season could be the year this Palace youngster comes to the fore.

If the emergence of Theo Walcott was the story of young English players this season, Moses will surely be in line for some headlines next campaign.

NM: Aaron Fray Beckenham-based Aaron Fray was thrust into action as an emergency left-back in Palace's pre-season friendlies after injuries to Danny Granville and Gary Borrowdale.

But with doubts over Granville's fitness and future at Palace, Borrowdale's form and Boyce being better deployed elsewhere expect Fray, having just signed his pro forms, to break into the starting 11 and make left back his own. Usefully, Fray can also play on the right.