As a club Palace have always had something to aim for.
The big question is, what do we do now? Achieving safety in the Premier League is one thing. Doing it with three games left to play is another.
Fans like me will know only too well that Palace have rarely done things the easy way. This is no mean feat. The first time that we have survived our first season in the top division since it’s all singing all dancing rebrand.
That is the all too often quoted statistic as it the top tier of English football did not exist before the Premier League was introduced.
Truth is, we have always been striving for the top division for as long as I can remember. The odd stint here and there when finally getting there but all too often ending in the drop back down to the second tier.
This season is different, very different. If you discount the 1989/90 season as everyone seems to do. We have not had the usual fear ahead of the final game by having the audacity to be well clear of the bottom three and looking at mid-table obsurity.
Not many would have said that before the season started. A lot of this is down to Tony Pulis which I have touched on in a previous article – Arise Sir Pulis. With two games left to play there does not seem a lot at stake but is one of the most foolish statements you can read.
Chairman Steve Parish is well aware of difference in winnings for each position a team finishes in the Premier League. There is also no doubt that Pulis would enjoy finishing above former club Stoke City.
Now back to the question. So what now?
Well, the right man is in charge if we are looking to progress. Second season syndrome is something to be extremely wary of but not all teams have suffered it. Look at the likes of Southampton. They have pushed on to be a very accomplished Premier League outfit, who, with a few more results during the season could have been challenging the current top five.
Welshman Pulis steered his former club Stoke City to an FA Cup Final appearance and qualififcation for the Europa League. He made them into a strong, consistant Premier League side and he has the tools available to him to build something similar.
But let’s not get too ahead our ourselves here. While we revel in the achievement and come to terms with what has taken place at Selhurst this season we look ahead with excitement but caution.
Pulis has a whole summer at the club to do what he needs to do. The squad needs to be trimmed and he has a handful of free agents to deal with.
His approach in building a squad for next season will be extremely interesting but he has a strong nucleus of players to build on. He will no doubt upset some fans with his decisions but he has more than earnt our backing.
With the final game to go, we are likely to finish 11th in the Premier League. Yes, 11th place when all we had set our sights on at the beginning of the season was finishing above 18th.
We are a club that has over achieved in many experts eyes and surprised many more in and around the game. Long may that continue with Pulis to guide us.
We can now sit back and look back on a great season and enjoy a summer of World Cup football with another season in the top flight to follow.
