Eagles Sign Grandin
Crystal Palace are pleased to confirm the signing of free agent Elliot Grandin on a one-year deal, subject to Premier League and FA approval. Eagles manager Ian Holloway, who worked with the French midfielder at Blackpool, moved to snap up the 25-year-old after his Tangerines contract expired earlier this year. His deal in SE25 includes an option for a further 12-month extension.
Grandin played 45 minutes of Palace’s pre-season victory over Dagenham and Redbridge during a trial period and impressed the gaffer enough to earn a permanent deal at Selhurst Park.
The former France under-21 international has spent much of his career in his homeland, after signing his first professional contract with SM Caen in 2004.
He became a key part of the squad that won promotion to Ligue 1 in 2006/07, making 23 appearances and scoring twice. He was limited to 12 games in the French top flight though, before joining Marseille in January 2008.
Grandin helped the club reach the Champions League, making his European debut in the third qualifying round of the competition against Norwegian side, Brann. But following a loan spell at Grenoble Foot, he fell out of favour with manager Eric Gerets and was released from his contract in September 2009.
In January 2010, Grandin left his home country for the first time after signing an 18-month deal with Bulgarian outfit CSKA Sofia, helping them finish second in the 2009/10 season.
He began the 2010/11 campaign in Bulgaria, but was signed by Holloway to strengthen his Blackpool squad for their Premier League push. Grandin made his debut for the seasiders in the club’s 4-0 opening day win over Wigan, scoring his first goal for the club in the 1-1 draw with Aston Villa in February 2011. He made 24 Premier League appearances in total.
Despite the club’s relegation to the Championship, Grandin stayed at Blackpool, scoring the equaliser against Palace as the Tangerines came from behind to win 2-1, in January 2012.
A week later, the Frenchman jetted back to his homeland for a loan spell with Nice, before returning to Blackpool for the start of the 2012/13 campaign.
Grandin appeared 12 times for Blackpool in the Championship last season, scoring three times and laying on three assists. He left the club at the end of June with an overall record of four goals in 42 games.
Speaking to Palace Player after signing a deal to keep him in England, Grandin said: “I’m very excited. I had a very good year in the Premier League with the gaffer, so I’m excited to start the new season.
“We had a very good run [at Blackpool]. I think the team played well, but we were unlucky at the end because we went down. We had a very, very good year though, we enjoyed it and I hope it will be the same with Crystal Palace.”
Grandin added that he is looking forward to testing himself in the Premier League once again. “It’s very nice because every game is a new challenge,” he said.
“It’s like a cup final every game. You play against great players, great teams, so you have to be focused on your football and everyone has to give their best because it’s a difficult league – the best league in the world, I think.
“All the teams are very good. In the French league or in the Spanish league, you have six strong teams, but I think in the Premier League I think all the teams are very strong. Everybody can beat everybody, so it’s hard to say who will stay up, who will go down.
“If we work together and the team is confident, anything is possible.”
http://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/article/eagles-sign-grandin-962025.aspx#EJJP5DhCIrv1c1WL.99 [ 此帖被Ar敬在2013-08-02 21:28重新編輯 ]
