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Alan Pardew: Crystal Palace at another level after summer signings

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Alan Pardew believes Crystal Palace's summer signings have elevated the club to another level

Alan Pardew believes Crystal Palace's summer signings have elevated the club to "another level" and says the time was right for change after their FA Cup final defeat.

Having lost 2-1 to Manchester United in the cup final, Palace spent £55m in the transfer window, most notably bringing in Christian Benteke from Liverpool and Loic Remy from Chelsea.

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While Remy is yet to feature due to injury, Benteke appears to have settled quickly and has scored twice in his last three Premier League matches.

Speaking to Sky Sports reporter Geoff Shreeves ahead of the Friday Night Football clash with Everton, Pardew said: "As a manager, you sometimes know when's the right time for change and this summer was definitely it.

"With the backing of the chairman and new owner we have done that and have gone up a level I hope. We needed more strings to our bow...We are now more fluid."

Palace were one of the lowest-scoring sides in the Premier League last year, with none of their players managing over five goals.

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This season, they are the joint-highest scorers outside the top six and lead the way when it comes to crosses into the box.

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"The problem was the bit in the middle, but it wasn't just the striker," says Pardew. "You need midfield players arriving and the other wide man in the box too.

"For the two years I have been here, I have been on the case of Yala [Yannick Bolasie, now at Everton] and Wilf [Wilfried Zaha] about getting in the box. It's everything in the modern era.

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"You can't play with two strikers. If you do, your two midfielders have to be outstanding and not many teams can do that all through the season. Leicester did it last year and that was an amazing job.

"But if you are going to have three midfielders then you need to have two widemen and a number nine, they all have to contribute and we weren't doing that.

"The number nine wasn't getting enough goals nor were the widemen, so we changed it, which is why we have had the uplift than we have had."

Palace have won their last three league games in a row to climb up to seventh in the table.

SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 24: Christian Benteke of Crystal Palace celebrates scoring his sides third goal with his team mates during the Premier Leag
Image: Christian Benteke (second left) celebrates his late winner against Sunderland

Asked what would be success this season, Pardew said: "We are all chasing the top 10 positions.

"I think we can chase one of them down, you need momentum, you need to stay injury free, and when you put that combination together you only have to look at Leicester to say anything is achievable.

"We are trying and we have a good squad, good belief, good staff, great chairman, and what doesn't get mentioned is the fans. The stadium provides a terrific atmosphere and away from home they are brilliant.

"We have a lot of things going on that are brilliant, we just need the team to win more."

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