They got "lucky", loads of contracts expired and they had money in the kitty.Got to take encouragement from the fact it only really took one window for them to really reshape the look of their squad.
Loan of Gallagher, Guehi and Andersen at the back, Olise on a bargain (that we should have absolutely been all over as a James replacement) plus two decent attacking options in Edouard and Mateta.
Now of course it wasnt lucky, just good planning.
But even after shedding 5 or 6 players this Summer we still have a 24 player squad and "no money".
But I think Palace are massively overblown on here, sure they might be prettier on the eye and the players they signed are "likely" to get better or at least move on for more money, but they havent "improved" as such, still finishing in the same place they always do.
Proof is of course in the pudding next season or 2, but at the very least, its a solid plan.