This week sees the return of Donogh Hurley from the Irish Supporters Group who shares his views on what has been a few days of interesting reunions at Selhurst Park which hopefully sees the end of two weeks of chaos. In fact, this article could easily have been named ‘In Bed With Warnock‘ but would have just put people off … Read on to find out why.
If ever the term ‘mixed emotions‘ was relevant, it was never more so than within the Crystal Palace community this week.
After a number of tumultuous weeks that saw drama, scandal, frustration, excitement, disappointment, surprise, defeat, resignation, inevitability and hope it is certainly a relief to have come through the other side with the impending resumption of normal service.
But it is hardly the other side we envisioned, is it? The 65 year old Neil Warnock, a lower league journeyman, albeit with a connection to the club in days of yore, finds himself at the helm of a Premier League club in 2014. If ever a managerial appointment gave hope to the masses that even the most ridiculous of ‘American Dreams‘ could become a possibility, this was it.
There are certainly parallels to be drawn with situations that most readers will have at some point experienced, the perils of going back. We are told by the omnipresent ‘they‘ that you should never go back. No matter how appealing or tempting, we must find it within ourselves to muster up the sort of inner strength that will allow us the peace of mind down the line, knowing we made the correct and logical decision.
Much like a messy relationship break-up, in that sense. We have all experienced the sensational fallout that leads to both parties going their separate ways. You embrace the freedom temporarily, enjoy the fruits of what you have been missing all this time. It feels as if you have been stupid to have ever entertained such long term thoughts. This is the prime of your life, afterall. You should be out there, enjoying it to its absolute fullest. In a couple of years, there will be no time for such fun-loving skulduggery, and then perhaps you can consider settling down.
Then of course, the inevitable sense of emptiness creeps in. The hangovers, the strangers, sometimes the unfortunate afflictions in unfortunate places. This life suddenly is not all that it is cracked up to be. You do need that anchor, that sense of continuity that will help you live a healthy but happy life. Automatically, your mind reverts to a previous anchor. The urge to return kicks in. Invariably, it is exciting. This is ground you know, and ground you know that knows you and what makes you tick.
What typically transpires is that passionate reconnection. Both parties have needs. Needs which each can satisfy and needs which are in desperate need of attention. And so it comes to pass, you resume a sordid series of drunken fumbles that leads on a one way street to inevitable destruction. It will never last, for those old aggravations that so tremendously got the better of you in the past, will come to the fore again. The inevitable taste of, well, inevitability will start to again fester on the tip of your tongue.
I woke up next Neil Warnock this morning and assumed the position of ‘little spoon’, while Neil was happy to play the role of ‘big spoon’, as we spent the morning talking about days of old. Neil felt he had a debt to repay me, for he had left over four years ago for brighter lights. His passion was undeniable. He spoke with fondness about his memories and about what he would have liked to have gotten the chance to finish.
‘One last day in the sun, eh?‘ he whispered in my ear, as he checked his Sportlobster account for any news on transfer targets.
‘Go out to the kitchen, I have made your favourite – Wilfried Zaha”. He was playing on my vulnerabilities.
‘You’ve brought Wilf with you, too? Maybe this just might work!‘
And maybe it will. On the announcement of Warnock earlier this week, I like many others was deflated. Disappointed in what seemed like an opportunity lost with Steve Clarke, who from the off seemed to be the ideal candidate in my eyes. But alas, it was not to be and what is required now, more than ever, is unwavering support to Neil Warnock on his quest to keep us up. Being realistic, it will be a while before we have a season anything close to last year again and Palace are likely to be embroiled in a relegation dogfight this year.
Foresight is much trickier than hindsight and executing foresight to perfection alleviates the need for hindsight. Initially, I was sceptical of Pulis’ appointment last year. Like many others, there was hope that a dynamic and modern coach would take the helm and in hindsight, that sort of appointment would have sent us down. That, I have no doubt of. Given that Palace find themselves in turmoil, rocked by a number of departures, scandals and general upheaval, maybe reverting to that anchor is just what we need.
Warnock certainly is not the guy to provide the long-term Premier League future that we are striving for, but his resolute ways may well be what is needed in the short term. What is clear to me from my time spent with Neil Warnock in bed this morning, is that here we have a man who does hold the club in high regard. A man who, let us face it, cannot be blamed for leaving back when it all hit the fan in 2010. Circumstances decreed that it was best that he left and looking back, it worked out okay, did it not? We stayed up, saved money on his wages, and now find ourselves in a quite remarkable place.
Sure, times move on, and I certainly take on board opinion that it feels like a step back, but be thankful it is not any of a host of undesirables who would have brought us down. (Yes, I am looking at you, Tim). By both Neil and Parish’s admission, this is about short term stability. Maybe this old beaut is just what we need, that old familiar anchor in a time of uncertainty, whose touch and smell will put us at ease. The old flame who will help you pick yourself up off the floor and find some clarity and direction. And as far as I am concerned, an endorsement from Speroni sits well with me.
If youare one of the few who has requested a refund on your season ticket, good riddance. If all you are interested in is negativity in the face of adversity, there are plenty of other enthusiastic Palace fans who will happily take it off your hands. With Wilf back, Warnock at the helm, and a few other additions on the way, who knows what will happen.
One thing is for sure, a little fumbling with an ex is always fun, and Warnock, like Palace, are out to prove that they are good enough to be here.
‘One last dance, Neil? Why not! Just try not to step on my toes. I hate it when you do that.’
