It has been nearly two weeks since the last Red And Blue Report was published, but since then Palace have beaten Stoke City and drawn two games against Bournemouth and Swansea City to end 2015 in fifth place.
A hectic Christmas as ever for Premier League clubs, playing on Boxing Day and then the following Monday, but Palace probably came out worst in terms of injuries.
At the moment we are without Connor Wickham, Yannick Bolasie, Bakary Sako, Dwight Gayle and also miss Yohan Cabaye for the visit of Chelsea this Sunday through suspension. If I am being honest, that does not worry me too much, as we all know how much fight this Palace side has. I am confident of a positive result.
Now that we are into the very early stages of a new year, I thought I would share my top five favourite moments from this year.
Being a Palace is an utterly unique experience. You just never quite know what is going to happen at our marvellous club, this year more than others has been an absolute corker!
Well, here goes with my best moments from 2015:
- Beating Liverpool in Steven Gerrard last game in front of Anfield
After starting the season as prime contenders to go down thanks to Tony Pulis departing the club on the eve of our first game against Arsenal to finishing the season in the top ten. One of our final games of last season against Liverpool was where we produced arguably one of our best displays. The victory had more significance because it was the departing Steven Gerrard’s last home game for his boyhood club Liverpool. Palace have a knack of thriving on the big occasions, and that day certainly was a big one for the English game.
Jason Puncheon, Yannick Bolasie and Wilfried Zaha are immense that day, and we fully deserved the three points. The only downside was that I could not be there in person to witness such a huge result.
- Julian Speroni’s Testimonial
Fourth has to be recognition of one of our most influential players over the last ten years – Julian Speroni. His testimonial game was just reward for a player that is the ultimate professional. Dundee were the chosen team along with some special guest appearances from the likes of Clinton Morrison, Aki Riihilathi, and even Alan Pardew. It was a truly great evening for a very special player.
He has been with the club through thick and thin, he was there when we almost went out of business in 2010 and he was with us when we beat Watford at Wembley to secure our passage into where we now find ourselves. When stepping up a division the Argentine did not look out of place, as he has made countless vital saves to keep Palace in games.
Now we are witnessing the end of Speroni as the Palace number one as Wayne Hennessey is turning in some very impressive performances. If it is to be his last season as a player I hope we will see the popular figure join the backroom staff.
- That Yohan Cabaye signing
Last summer following Palace was a weird one. We had just come off the back of a superb campaign finishing in the top ten and Selhurst was buzzing with hope and optimism that Palace could finally banish the ‘yo-yo’ tag. We had a steady financial situation, superb and tactically astute owners, and not to mention a club legend in charge of the side, and more importantly we had arguably one of the best squads since the Wright and Bright era.
Things were taken up a notch in July after weeks of speculation as a certain French maestro stepped through the doors at Selhurst Park. Pardew was hoping Yohan Cabaye would take the side to the next level and judging by his performances so far this season he has been spot on. Of course, Cabaye and Pardew have a connection from his Newcastle days, but this year we have seen many facets of Cabaye’s game. If we do get into (whispering quietly) Europe, a large part of it will be because of the ‘Cabaye factor’.
- Alan Pardew’s first Premier League win as Palace boss
For me the Tottenham game sticks out to me, maybe it was because I was in attendance but nonetheless, that was the game in which the Pardew era well and truly begun.
The week before we successfully navigated a tricky looking FA Cup tie against non-league Dover Athletic, but it was in the league where we were in a precarious position;. That Spurs game was a sign of things to come.
Puncheon grabbed the winner with a well taken half volley from the edge of the box after Harry Kane gave Spurs the lead. One thing I remember most from that game was the atmosphere when Puncheon scored. It was deafening and the whole place was jumping. I was not there for ‘Crystanbul‘ but imagine the atmosphere was similar to that famous night.
- Beating the Champions in their own backyard
Now, my favourite moment from 2015 comes from this season when we travelled to Stamford Bridge to face the Champions in what everyone expected to be a routine victory for then manager Jose Mourinho. As we know it did not turn out like that.
Goals from Joel Ward and Bakary Sako helped Palace to a famous victory and one that has seen us climb to fifth in the league. As for Chelsea, they are still languishing in the lower reaches of the division.
It has been a turbulent year for the Blues, Mourinho has gone, and Guus Hiddink is now in temporary charge until the end of the season. Whatever people say about Chelsea and how bad they have been this year, it was still a superb victory for Palace. Chelsea are still a classy outfit, and top players do not become rubbish overnight so it made the win even sweeter.
Well, there you have it. My top five moments from 2015. I hope readers of TEB have a very Happy New Year.
