Can Palace now progress under the guidance of returning manager Neil Warnock?
Palace fans must be very happy with how the past week has gone. Crystal Palace never ceases to surprise you.
Firstly, out of the blue Neil Warnock was appointed manager and then the following day the ‘prodigal son’ Wilfried Zaha returned home looking to get his career back on track after a shaky start to life at Old Trafford.
To cap it all off Palace were involved in a thriller at St James’ Park where Zaha stole a last gasp point with a sublime volley. Now it is my privilege to relive and analyse the events that have taken place at this fantastic club.
Neil Warnock
I do not know what the other Palace fans thought of the appointment of Neil Warnock but personally, it surprised me immensely. It happened all of a sudden. Completely from left field. But the question is can he now produce the goods in the Premier League?
This is what worries me. I do not think he has enough Premier League experience. He is a fantastic Championship manager. He has proved it on multiple occasions. But the Premier League is a whole different kettle of fish. At Sheffield United it did not work out as they were relegated and who says the same thing will not happen to Palace this season?
It is a big deal for Warnock to return, he has said it is ‘unfinished business’ as he left just before we entered our second round of administration. He knows, and most importantly, loves the club which can only bode well for us this year.
One thing Warnock is good at is getting his teams organised. Under Pulis we were rock solid. Early season performances have shown we have lost that. We need it back and we need a foundation on which to build. Warnock is the man for that.
For me, the jury is still out. Warnock has to prove he can manage at the top level, Palace need him to end this hoodoo of not delivering in the Premier League.
Thriller at St James’ Park
Before the Newcastle United game, Palace recorded their first win of the season in the Capital One Cup against Walsall courtsey of a Dwight Gayle hat-trick.
Is Dwight the man to score the goals we desperately lacked last season?
He was given his chance against Newcastle and he wasted little time to impress as Palace flew out of the blocks. Neat build up play allowed Chamakh to get off a snap shot which hit the post, the goal poacher that is Gayle gobbled up the rebound and fired the Eagles in front.
The game was frenetic from start to finish. Newcastle’s new look team needs time to gel but their route back into the game was from Jaryl Janmaat. Well, the goal, scruffy. Lucky. That is probably the best I can do. It bounced and ricocheted, eventually squirming past Speroni.
With the arrival of Zaha we are back with the two wingers that endlessly tormented Championship full backs. Now we get the pleasure of watching them torment some of the best full backs in the Premier League.
Bolasie started at Newcastle and his direct approach paved the way for a goal from Jason Puncheon. It was good volley which took a slight deflection and evaded the Newcastle keeper Krul. The hosts responded after the break, bringing on Rolando Aarons. What a player he looks might I add. Direct, composed, another young English player that we are so desperately lacking.
He changed the game for Newcastle, firstly by scoring from a header. But Campbell’s defending was a lot to be desired. It was a preventable goal but the old motto prevails – strikers just cannot defend.
Very similar to Zaha and Bolasie his dribbling ability bamboozled Kelly and his cross come shot hit the post but Mike Williamson was on hand to convert the rebound.
After the first half promise it looked as though Palace were going to head back to Selhurst with no points once again. But we had a secret weapon of our own. Newcastle had Rolando Aarons. We had Wilfried Zaha.
With twenty minutes remaining he came on and added that extra dimension to our game, pace, power and creativity. He did score, twice. But one was disallowed although the one that counted was fantastic and securing the point that we needed. Zaha is back and looks as good as ever. He can be the difference this season.
Wilfried Zaha
Cue the Palace faithful – ‘he’s just too good for you, he’s just too good for you’. The chant will be once again reverberating around Selhurst Park this season. He is back, at his spiritual home.
It has not worked out at United. Maybe it was just too early to make such a big step up and Zaha needed a couple more years at Palace. We cannot dwell on the past, Zaha has come home and can be the linchpin of our side this season hopefully allowing pushing us on to new heights.
