Loic Remy joins Crystal Palace on loan looking to recoup past form
Crystal Palace have successfully tied up a season-long loan deal to bring in Chelsea striker Loic Remy.
Alan Pardew is linking up with Loic Remy once again after Crystal Palace signed the Chelsea striker on loan for the season, the club have announced. Remy has struggled during his two-year stay at Stamford Bridge, but is now set for a fresh challenge at Selhurst Park.
Remy performed well when he initially burst on to the Premier League scene. The striker scored six goals in 14 games for Queens Park Rangers in 2013. The season after, Remy was even better, scoring 14 goals in 26 games for Newcastle United.
That Newcastle team was managed by Pardew at the time. The now-Crystal Palace boss will be hoping to get similar results once again from the Frenchman. After Newcastle, a move to Chelsea followed and Remy’s career effectively stalled. The real Loic Remy hasn’t been seen since.
Like any player, Remy needs to play regularly for him to be at his best. The fact he hasn’t been playing means he has fell off the radar somewhat. The signing will likely be underrated by most, but if Remy hasn’t declined in the time he has spent in the shadows, then Palace will be getting a nice addition.
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Remy needs this move to save his career, in many ways. But Pardew needs it just as much, too. Palace have struggled to score goals for a few years now, and without an increase this season, the Eagles could be surprise relegation candidates.
On paper they shouldn’t be, but you have to score goals to win games. Palace just don’t put the ball in the net anywhere near enough. Christian Benteke was signed for £32 million to boost the team’s firepower and should be a major threat once fully fit and acclimatized.
Pardew likes to play two strikers at times and a pairing of Benteke and Remy could prove a fruitful recipe. Benteke is big and strong and can hold the ball upfront, whilst Remy is quick and likes to run in behind opposition defenses. The duo could dovetail well together as the season progresses.
Palace have players like Yohan Cabaye in midfield who can thread passes through for the runs of Remy. But long balls could be effective also, with Benteke winning headers for the speedy Remy to latch onto. Remy can also play in a wide position in a 4-3-3.
Overall the 29-year-old gives Pardew another attacking option and good versatility. Previously, the likes of Connor Wickham and Emmanuel Adebayor were signed to try and solve Palace’s lack of goal scoring, but to no avail.
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Wickham has been a disaster since arriving, scoring just five Premier League goals in 24 games. Whilst Adebayor scored one goal in seven appearances last season. Pardew got those calls wrong.
The Palace boss should have better luck this time with Remy.