VIEW FROM THE STANDS

Last season was far better than a lot of fans feared. An exciting brand of football and great FA Cup run was brilliant reward from Super Pat Vieira’s first campaign.

The big talking point is if and when Wilfried Zaha will sign a new contract. On the back of his best goalscoring season, he’s got a year left.

This season will be different because the air of mystery surrounding a new manager and group of new players is long gone. There’s an air of expectation now.

Our key player will be Ebere Eze. He showed glimpses during the second half of last season after returning from an awful injury.

I won’t be happy unless Marc Guehi goes to the World Cup. Palace’s £ 18m deal from Chelsea looked better with every minute of Premier League football he played. Wore the armband multiple times last season.

Our most underrated player is Jeffrey Schlupp: diligent and hard working wherever he plays. Perhaps the squad’s best finisher.

The opposition player who grinds my gears is Diogo Jota. Not a fan even before he won a penalty for falling over Vicente Guaita.

I’m least looking forward to playing Liverpool. They’ve battered us constantly over the past few seasons – then they benefited from some very iffy officiating when we were in the game last term.

The fans’ opinion of the gaffer is as high as I can recall for a Palace boss. His lure for younger, talented players is fantastic.

The one change I’d make would be to fast- forward Selhurst’s redevelopment. Years after plans for a new Main Stand were announced, things haven’t progressed.

We’ll finish top 10. More importantly, above Brighton.