Moody Making a Difference

The 2013/14 season has seen some interesting faces come into (and out of) Selhurst Park. However, the biggest capture by the board has to be Ian Moody as the club’s sporting director.

Some may disagree, but this off-field appointment has arguably had the biggest impact. Many supporters felt the January transfer window was the most successful window Palace have ever had. For once, targets were identified and then captured, instead of appearing in a photograph holding up the shirt of a rival team. Yes, it took until the last day, but the business was completed.

"Two debut goals on Saturday lend credence to the above mentioned success in the window."

Two debut goals on Saturday lend credence to the above mentioned success in the window. No-one knows who is involved in a transfer deal except for those specific parties. However, Moody was hired for the very reason of identifying potential targets to improve the playing squad. His way of working was lauded by Cardiff before his dismissal for reasons that are unlikely to ever become truly clear. Vincent Tan’s argument of Moody assisting in overspending is the exact opposite from the business Palace undertook last month.

A fee to loan Tom Ince was speculated, and the fees quoted for other signings such as Joe Ledley seem to suggest excellent business by the Eagles. Moody, Parish, and Pulis would have had to work together on these deals, and a number of other factors will have come into play other than just Moody’s presence.

Pulis’ efforts in turning round the clubs fortunes would for a start be attractive. The results that the team has achieved since his arrival speak for themselves. From being a doomed club, Palace have picked up six wins and kept five clean sheets in the league. This would have helped players make decisions.

"The difference would appear to be Moody’s position."

Taking Tom Ince as an example, he had a number of clubs after him. Considering his goal-scoring record and attacking play, many would have felt that Swansea may have been his best option. However, he opted for south London. This would suggest that Palace’s approach must have seemed to be the most attractive to the player, and Moody must receive some of the credit for this. Again, other factors such as Pulis, the board and the club will always be significant in any deal, but when you compare the transfers in the summer window compared to the winter one, the difference would appear to be Moody’s position.

When his appointment was announced, Palace were managerless. It may have seemed strange to announce a sporting director when the board were unable to name a manager, but at the time many remarked that it was a clear indication of intent by the club, of where they want to try and get to. A month into his job, Moody gave an interview to the Guardian. What was clear was that he was prepared to notch up the air miles and put in the legwork in search of new additions, something that it seemed possibly did not happen with the signings during the summer.

"Promising for Eagles fans."

This has only been one transfer window of argued success. As with any transfer, external factors always play a part so it will be interesting to see the business the club does this summer, by which time they will know what league they are in. Of course, it could be a one-off, but the business done by Cardiff in recent years that saw them take the Championship title on their way to promotion is promising for Eagles fans.

As the support waits to see what the last 13 games of the season will bring, the work done during January has given the team a chance to confirm their Premier League status for another season. Whether they do or not is an entirely different thing, but the 25-man squad certainly looks in much better shape than it did when the window shut in August.