After around a month without a manager at Palace the club finally announced the appointment of Tony Pulis just after midday on Saturday. The appointment may not be every fans cup of tea but we can now take a deep breath and get on with the rest of the season.
At the time of writing the majority of fans seemed pleased with the appointment or have commented that they stand by the decision and will support him as our new manager which is surely the correct thing to do. Hopefully he will be given a chance before the boo-boys and moaners come out of the closet again since retiring into it after Holloway’s reign.
Whatever is said, Tony Pulis has an excellent record in this division and has never been relegated in over 20 odd years across his career.
If Tony is to continue with this record then he has his work cut out in the next few months and certainly up until the transfer window in January where he has to put out a team that was constructed (some say cobbled together) by his predecessor (and his predecessor too!).
Tony Pulis has claimed that the new job is a very good opportunity for him and said that he is pleased to be in charge of a “smashing” Premier League club with great history.
Further quotes from his interview on Monday were as follows;
“It’s going to be a tough job, I know that. I’ve not come into this club with any illusions that it’s not going to be a tough job.”
“It’s an opportunity and a chance to try and achieve something that Palace haven’t achieved, which is to get promoted into the Premier League and then stay there, and then go forward.”
“I’m still very, very ambitious, I like climbing hills. This is going to be a tough job but one that I’ll relish.”
“Looking at what has happened over the last few years at the football club, I think it’s been a remarkable turnaround.”
“I think the board of directors and the chairman (Steve Parish) have to be applauded, not only for looking after the club financially, but for pushing it on.”
Tony Pulis’ track record speaks for itself as in addition to never being relegated, he has been promoted out of every division in English football and been to an FA Cup final (as a manager and not a fan!)
The positives from the press conference are that he appears to understand the magnitude of the task ahead, is realistic and appears to be properly up for it too based on his comments.
On the day of the announcement, Palace had the away trip to Hull City of Cultured Tigers to contend with. Hull have had a pretty good start this season and have probably exceeded expectations. Every Palace fan must have surely hoped in their hearts to put another one over the ever increasing width and frame of Steve “pie-munching Judas” Bruce and his club. The odds were against Palace as we had not won away (or anywhere much) and Hull’s defence had been pretty solid with a five-game unbeaten home run.
Despite the game and obvious relationship issues with Steve Bruce and Palace fans, we have to wish the Hull fans the best of luck in fighting and opposing their potential name change. As a football fan it is simply not right and we all know how a similar action would go down at Selhurst Park if it were us.
Tony Pulis watched on from the stands as caretaker manager Keith Millen took charge of the team for the last time and Pulis commented on Monday that he was pleased with what he saw from the lads with the words “watching them on Saturday, I thought the attitude was absolutely fantastic.”
The game itself was a little scrappy and Hull had much of the possession, shots and set plays during the game.
The game hinged on the moment when Yannick Bolasie (known for his bad temper, negative attitude and dirty play !?!) was shown red ten minutes from the end due to a perceived dangerous challenge. Watching it back it appears that he slipped more than anything else due to momentum so the decision appears harsh (as usual for Palace!) and he was sent for an early bath. Palace are said to be challenging the decision with the FA.
Instead of Palace crumbling, the decision spurred on the boys with some great work from Jerome who had caused problems on the pitch since his appearance on ten minutes before the end of the first half. His play and strength on the ball set-up a goal for Palace with ten minutes to go in the game from Barry Bannan who slotted home low and hard into the middle of the net.
The remaining minutes (plus stoppage time) felt like an eternity and similar to that feeling at Wembley in May. Many Palace fans trembled, hid, fidgeted nervously and walked on the spot like an expectant father. Palace had scored late but managed to fight like warriors until the bitter end thus securing our first away victory this term.
Highlights from the game were Gabbidon’s man of the match performance, a great display from Cameron Jerome and the fighting performance from Chamakh who challenged for everything going (as did Chamakh’s bandage itself!). The off the line clearance in the dying moments from Moxey ultimately preserved the slender lead which allowed Bannan’s goal to seal the away victory. So that four points from four games with two clean sheets under the leadership of Keith Millen. Post-match highlights were Millen’s interview and Barry Bannan’s attempt at Movember which reminded me of Butler from On the Buses!
Keith Millen certainly deserves the plaudits for consolidating the team and getting the spirit and fight back in the dressing room. He later commented after the game –
“I’m so proud of the players, there is a belief there and they are working so hard for one another. I’d love to stay here, hopefully I’ll be in Tony Pulis’s plans. I’m sure we’ll sit down together and have a lot of discussions about a lot of things over the next few days.”
His (and our) dreams came true on Monday when Pulis confirmed that Millen is staying at the club and Parish added that “Keith has done a fantastic job and any manager needs to have people around them that they trust.” A great result for the fans, Tony Pulis, the players and the club generally in my opinion.
We now have to sit and wonder what it will be like under the leadership of Tony Pulis and what the next transfer window will bring with it. The next one will hopefully be a little less hectic and crazy for Palace as the last with a few well selected players that can do a job in whatever style we adopt going forward.
No disrespect to the current boys who have been outstanding recently but a couple of centre backs would not go amiss to give us more depth and competition, maybe one more in midfield (poss a few out on loan too) and definitely a real quality striker to contend for places with the likes of Jerome, Gayle, Murray and Chamakh.
Jermaine Easter and Aaron Wilbraham spring to mind …
Article written by Paul Price
