Momentum is building, unbeaten in the Premier League under Neil Warnock currently Palace is going from strength to strength.
The return of Super Kev to Selhurst Park with a resurgent Leicester City side, but even his magical powers could not stop an improving Palace side.
I have to be honest, when the announcement was made that Warnock would be in charge I was concerned. A manager out of the game for around sixteen months, someone who has not cut it at the top level. What were the owners thinking? But thus far, the wily Yorkshireman is proving me wrong and probably a lot of the Crystal Palace faithful wrong too.
It has been a great couple of weeks, we are now up to ninth in the table and long may it continue.
What Is Warnock Doing Differently?
Under Tony Pulis we were rigid, compact and energetic going forward but I felt the attacking play under Pulis was at times structured and possibly one-dimensional.
It looks as though Warnock has allowed his wide players to play with freedom. They seem to have the choice whether to go to the byline or cut in. The unpredictable nature of our attacking play is exciting at the moment. Yannick Bolasie and Jason Puncheon have been in fine form the last couple of weeks, on Saturday both of them terrorised Leicester City.
Bolasie was superb, his trickery paved the way for an excellent second half performance in which we caught the visiting Foxes cold on two occasions early in the second half.
Another aspect of our play Warnock has tightened up is the defence. At the beginning of the season we were conceding goals, the solidity of last season looked to be vanishing. It is back now.
A Premier League veteran in Brede Hangeland cannot get into the team at present. Both Damien Delaney and Scott ‘Zi’ Dann are proving to be Warnock’s first choice pairing at this stage.
Whatever Warnock is doing something is working, it is still a long way to go and we all know how the Premier League ebbs and flows, nothing is certain in this modern age of football. One thing is though, Warnock is proving his doubters wrong.
What About Zaha?
Wilfried Zaha, some player he is, we have witnessed it on more than one occasion.
Some say Zaha disposed of Brighton & Hove Albion on his own in that historic playoff semi final second leg. But the mercurial talents of Yannick Bolasie and Jason Puncheon are keeping him out of the team.
He returned in the summer and has featured in some games, most notably up at Newcastle United where he rattled in a last minute goal and gave us a point, but since then in the Premier League he has not had a look-in.
Why? Quite simply Bolasie and Puncheon have been sensational, on their current form they deserve to be walking into the starting eleven. No player should be guaranteed a spot and Zaha will have to work for it. He will, that is the type of guy is he.
The Formidable Trio
Our marquee signing of the summer was James McArthur from Wigan for £7m, a fee that includes add ons. It does not sound marquee when you compare it to Angel Di Maria and the £59.7m transfer fee Manchester United paid for him.
The Scotland international has settled into life in South London seamlessly, buying a house within two days has helped. His performances on the pitch have been nothing short of marvellous.
His pass completion rate in his three games is 76.8% which is a good return. He is an efficient player who does the simple part of the game so well, but what an engine he has on him. He will prove to be a shrewd acquisition.
As a midfield trio on Saturday Mile Jedinak, Joe Ledley and James McArthur were simply brilliant. At the beginning of the first half a legend of football Esteban Cambiasso started to control the game and it was beginning to look like a long afternoon for Palace fans.
Gradually the formidable trio got to grips with the truly world class player and stifled him and that was the platform on which we built our game. The partnership is blossoming and we just need to keep the three of them together. Barring any injuries in the long term this could well be the basis on which we cement our place in the Premier League once again.
Our next assignment is an away trip to Hull City. We should travel with no fear as we are a team in great form capable of giving any opposition a run for their money. Besides, we took all three points at the KC Stadium last season. Let us go and do it again.
