Can you hear it? That is the sound of optimism! It has been missing for a while now – but it seems to back!
Palace are fully ready to embrace Glas-ball and welcome it’s first victims in the form of Burnley to Selhurst this weekend. To see how scared Burnley fans are, I caught up with Clarets supporter and Fantasy Premier League Guru, Jimmy the Claret.
TEB – You’re currently seven points off safety, do you still have a chance to stay up?
JC – It’s looking very unlikely but if it was going to happen it’d have to be now. We have eight games remaining that aren’t against ‘top 7’ teams (and Brighton) and to win more games than we’ve drawn or won so far PUT TOGETHER is a big ask! I’d bet my house on us going down if I hadn’t already lost it by betting on us staying up last summer.
TEB – Tricky, do you think Vincent Kompany is safe regardless?
JC – Seems to be, you’ll know after the next two games though. Pace seems to have him as his Project Man for better or for worse.
TEB – Earlier in the season you said you thought it would come good – just maybe too late – are you starting to see signs of that?
JC – Almost the opposite and I do think it’s Kompany’s responsibility. There are quite frankly baffling man management issues like digging out players in interviews, strange substitutions, refusing certain players game time among other things. He seems dead set that the squad he selects are the best options we have and he must have a reason for that but it seems bizarre that the players that did so well for us last season have been so frozen out for players who don’t seem to be any better.
Everyone is new to this game (the players, the manager, the investors, the owner – MLS doesn’t count) and that naivety is showing. The question isn’t whether we go down, it’s whether we can actually come straight back up again or have bridges been burnt in the dressing room?
TEB – Sounds tough, is there any bright sparks though? Any unsung heroes or bright sparks?
JC – Foster always looks bright when playing and without him we’ve lacked any sense of teeth whatsoever. Fofana seems to put a shift in and Berge has been decent when he’s been allowed to do his role and not be shoved into weirder positions than a well-thumbed copy of the Karma Sutra. But that’s part of the problem, no-one is sung, there are no heroes for the fans this year. People just aren’t bothered about or connected to this team.
TEB – Who’s your current pantomime villain? Still Blackburn or more like Luton these days?
JC – Always Them Lot, I wouldn’t mind Luton staying up (unless it’s at our expense of course) to be honest, you’ve got to respect the grit they’ve been putting up and that team is playing for the badge. My ‘pantomime villain’ is our defence though, ‘To the mid, pass it back now ya’ll, invite pressure, make a panic pass, forget to mark, concede … real smooth.‘
Every time.
TEB – If you go down or stay up – who are the critical players or areas to improve on or hold on to?
JC – I think our strikers are actually pretty good, assuming everyone’s fit and held onto. The midfield is weak, and our defenders can’t consistently keep their heads on for love, money or FPL points. We need a midfielder who can put their foot on the ball and a goalkeeper who the defenders can feel confident in, I think that’s the issue at the back.
TEB – Views on Palace this season?
JC – Not to be cliche but you’ve seemed like a Jekyll and Hyde team, really lacking a plan B when Eze and Olise aren’t available. Hodgson’s decision to rush him which exacerbated his injury reeks of desperation, and, as an outsider, you have to ask whether a new manager can get more out of those lads. Mind you, they may have downed tools for Roy and actually be quite good. I guess we’ll find out this weekend. I’d still rather have your defence than ours though.
TEB – Prediction for the game ?
JC – You’ll spank us. We had an xG of 0.00 against Arsenal and I know that’s Arsenal but still. We literally didn’t exist at either end of the pitch. You’d have to think Selhurst will have a good atmosphere as well and I’d back you to get a couple past us while we struggle to work out which way up the ball is meant to go.
TEB – Anything else? Maybe some FPL advice?
JC – We play in Game Week 29 (when a number of teams are likely to be playing in the FA Cup) and you’ll know by then whether either Foster or Fofana are returning. They’re cheap enough to be an option up front if you need to save cash (if you fancy Salah and Haaland and Saka and Son with double Arsenal defence for example).
TEB – Thanks Jimmy! All the best for GW29 and the season!
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