The first half of the 2015-16 Premier League season went about as well as any Crystal Palace fan or pundit could have predicted. The club held their head high in fifth place on New Years Day.Then the bottom fell out.Alan Pardews Eagles collected just two points in January, February and March combined

The first half of the 2015-16 Premier League season went about as well as any Crystal Palace fan or pundit could have predicted. The club held their head high in fifth place on New Years Day.Then the bottom fell out.Alan Pardews Eagles collected just two points in January, February and March combined, and if not for a win and three draws in April, they would have slid into the relegation battle.Pardew will encourage his boys to remember how things went during the first half of that season when they begin this one at Selhurst Park on Saturday against West Bromwich Albion.The winter-into-spring slide did not completely ruin Palaces season -- they made a surprise run to the FA Cup final to offset their 15th place league finish. But the Eagles could not hold off Manchester United after taking a 78th-minute lead following a strike from Jason Puncheon and fell 2-1 to the Red Devils after extra time.Since that Cup defeat, Pardew and his staff have been busy rebuilding the squad in hopes of another solid season in the Premier League.Forward Dwight Gayle was sold to Newcastle United for 10 million pounds, while the club also said goodbye to Emmanuel Adebayor and Marouane Chamakh. A new striker remains a priority and the club have been trying to land Belgian international Christian Benteke from Liverpool, but have so far been rebuffed in their pursuit.If they are unable to land Benteke, they could get an up-close look at another target on Saturday if West Broms Saido Berahino makes an appearance.The club have also reportedly agreed to sell Yannick Bolasie to Everton for 30 million pounds, but Pardew remained coy when asked.Weve got nothing concrete to announce today, other than a lot of rumours. Theres nothing thats going to happen before the weekend, Pardew said at a briefing this week. Yannick is contracted here. Hes a great player and a great person, I love him. Well treat him with the utmost respect in any situation. Bolasie, and my conversations with him, will stay private.On the arrivals side of the ledger, Pardew brought in winger Andros Townsend from Newcastle for 13 million pounds to provide some pace down the flanks, He reinforced the back line with defender James Tomkins, who made the move from West Ham United for 10 million pounds.Goalkeeper Steve Mandanda also arrived in south London on a free transfer from Marseille and should slide right into the No. 1 goalkeeper spot.We want to take the club forward in a manner where we dont lose the spirit and the soul of this football club. This club has grown massively. Were in unprecedented territory -- our fourth year in the top division, Pardew added. Without having a transfer out, I would expect us to add two more players. Ive tried to be transparent because our fans deserve that. When they walk in that stadium they will see a stronger team this year.West Bromwich Albion enter the new season with a new face in the owners suite. After 14 years, club chairman Jeremy Peace has sold the club to Chinese entrepreneur Guochuan Lai, who has purchased an 88 percent stake in the club. West Brom becomes the latest English side to be taken over by investors from the Far East, joining West Midlands rivals Aston Villa and Wolverhampton.Like Roman Abramovics purchase of Chelsea, Quatar Sports Investments purchase of Paris Saint-Germain and City Football Groups acquisition of Manchester City, the right ownership can propel a club to new heights, something Peace sees in the sale of the Baggies.The club can look to the future with excitement about the opportunities ahead, said Peace. This deal will enable Albion to build on the strong, sustainable foundations which have become the cornerstone of the clubs progress.Lai will assume official ownership when his deal with Peace is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Premier League.I am excited and privileged to have the chance to become the new owner of this great club, Lai said.The Baggies new owner was also quick to point out the history between his country and the club.There are already strong links between China and West Bromwich Albion that began in May 1978, becoming the first English club to tour China in modern history. We have a strong squad, loyal fans and a unique culture, states Lai, who is also keen to stress, I have no intention of changing the clubs ethos.I feel as if I have joined a very welcoming family and I am really touched by the warmth of my reception. Everyone has been so friendly and I cannot wait to see my first game.Tony Pulis remains on the touch line after guiding the club to a 14th place finish on 43 points. Fans should expect the same defence-first approach to the game, but injuries to Chris Brunt, James Morrison, Ben Foster and Victor Anichebe stunted the Baggies attack last term.With new ownership just settling in defender Matt Phillips has been the only addition, making the move from Queens Park Rangers, but more ins and outs will certainly be on the way as the transfer window winds down.Pulis agreed that his team still needs strengthening.All over. Every position that you look at, Pulis told the Express and Star. The back players, midfield players and front players, we have to strengthen. The targets have been there, we know what we want. Laurent Duvernay-Tardif Jersey . He just needed to be his best twisting, turning acrobatic self. "I didnt need to be anybody else, I just needed to be myself and be aggressive," said Burks, who scored a career-high 34 points to spark the Utah Jazz to a 118-103 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Monday night. Matt Moore Jersey . If ever they start actually putting pictures beside words in the dictionary, the Blue Jays left-handers mug will appear beside “Consistency. http://www.customchiefsjersey.com/custom-travis-kelce-jersey-large-2246n.html . - Levi Browns tenure at left tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers is over before it even began. Abner Haynes Jersey . Rinne played two periods in his first game since left hip surgery in early May. Gabriel Bourque scored 3:07 into the second period and Austin Watson tallied 5:15 later for Nashville. Ty Law Jersey . Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek defeated Nenad Zimonjic and Ilija Bozoljac 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (4) on the indoor hard-court at Belgrade Arena. The victory improved the Czech pairs impressive cup doubles record to 14-1. OKLAHOMA CITY -- As Russell Westbrook took off, he saw Clint Capela as a mere obstacle to victory rather than an athletic 6-foot-10 shot blocker.In the blink of an eye, Westbrook uncorked a vicious left-handed hammer dunk over Capela in the closing seconds to help the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Houston Rockets 105-103 on Wednesday night.Oklahoma City led by three when the 6-3 Westbrook threw it down with 5.5 seconds left to put the Thunder up five.Westbrook said Capelas reputation -- he had already blocked three shots on the night and ranks among the leagues leaders -- didnt deter him.It dont matter, man, Westbrook said. Game on the line. If you get blocked, or you make a dunk -- its one or the other. Fortunately, it went in and it closed the game for us.Oklahoma City center Steven Adams, who isnt easily impressed, cracked a smile when asked about Westbrooks jam.Just happy its not me, he said. Thats pretty much like the only thing is `Thank goodness hes on my team. That was crazy. Honestly, he did a good job, Capela. Nice little bit of defense, honestly. Verticality, avoided the foul, and obviously, hes (Westbrook) just a really athletic dude. Just caught him.Westbrook finished with 30 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. Victor Oladipo added season highs of 29 points and 10 rebounds for the Thunder, who snapped a four-game losing streak.James Harden, the leagues assist leader and No. 4 scorer heading into the night, finished with 13 points, 13 assists and seven rebounds. He made just 4 of 16 shots while being harassed by Andre Roberson.Dre did an amazing job, like hes been doing all season, Westbrook said. James is a tough player, obviously, and he (Roberson) did a great job of making him shoot over his length. He needs to get credit for what hes been doing defensively all year.Capela added 13 points and 14 rebounds for the Rockets, who went scoreless for more than six minutes in the fourth quarter to help the Thunder position themselves for the win.We didnt play well, Harden said. We didnt shoot the ball well, and we still had an opportunity to win.Oklahoma City led 65-63 at halftime as Westbrook had 20 points and Oladipo 17. Thhe shot 61 percent before the break.dddddddddddd The Rockets offense worked, despite just five points from Harden on 1-for-6 shooting.The Rockets started strong after the break, and a 14-5 binge put Houston up 77-70 and led to an Oklahoma City timeout. The Rockets stretched their lead to 11, but the Thunder pulled to 90-85 by the end of the period.Oladipos 3-pointer with just under three minutes to play tied the score at 100, then Robersons alley-oop dunk on a lob from Westbrook finally put the Thunder ahead.Westbrook made a free throw to extend Oklahoma Citys lead to three with 28 seconds remaining. Houston missed an opportunity when Harden and Trevor Ariza failed to connect while Ariza was open in the corner. That set up Westbrooks game-clinching dunk.I still wasnt able to make a couple of passes, Harden said. Normal game, just didnt make shots, especially down the stretch when we needed to. That was it.TIP-INSRockets: G Patrick Beverley, one of Oklahoma City fans most hated players, was out with a left knee irritation. He hasnt played this season. ... Eric Gordon shot 5 for 20 from the field and scored 13 points.Thunder: It was the second straight home game in which the Thunder faced a core member of its team that reached the 2012 NBA Finals. Serge Ibaka scored 31 points and made the game-winner for Orlando on Sunday. ... The Thunder shot 75 percent in the first quarter to lead 38-32. ... Oklahoma City made 13 of 14 free throws.STAT LINESOklahoma Citys starting guards, Westbrook and Oladipo, combined to make 21 of 38 shots. Houstons starting guards, Harden and Gordon, shot a combined 9 for 36.STAR POWEROklahoma wide receiver Dede Westbrook, who is starting to gain traction as a Heisman candidate, attended the game. He has 68 catches this season for 1,254 yards and 14 touchdowns in 10 games. The eighth-ranked Sooners will play at No. 10 West Virginia on Saturday.UP NEXTRockets: Host Portland on Thursday night.Thunder: Host Brooklyn on Friday night.---Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CliffBruntAP ' ' '