Welcome back to this week’s edition of Fan Chat on TEB, my first of the New Year.
We are finally on the other side of a busy schedule and injuries have taken their toll on the significantly weakened squad for the Premier League fixtures against Swansea and Bournemouth. These games were eminently winnable and with Yohan Cabaye and Yannick Bolasie in our side we could well have got six points. Unfortunately, our performance against Chelsea was pretty abject and aside from the first twenty minutes or so, I could not really pick up on any real highlights from our side apart from the fact that we desperately need a goalscorer.
I refuse to look too much into press reports about our supposed bids or interest for players, as they become more and more outlandish and unrealistic as the days pass. I highly doubt, for example, that we have bid $30 million for Algerian international Islam Slimani, as nice as it sounds. I do not think Parish would spend that sort of money on a player.
There are high hopes for a prolific striker in this window though and it is plainly obvious, and has been for some time. That would be the final piece of the Palace jigsaw to hopefully keep us in the top eight and perhaps see us lift some silverware, something I have never seen in my lifetime.
Despite this, to keep two clean sheets over Christmas is good news and our solid defence only faltered at the hands of Chelsea’s renewed threat after the departure of Jose Mourinho. I certainly hope that the long running saga at Chelsea, stays at Chelsea, because if my suspicions about the manager being forced out are correct, then that is a really bad sign for the future of Premier League football.
It is well documented that players have far too much power now, but to be able to get a new manager in by performing deliberately badly is shameful and disappointing. It is reassuring to see through Palace’s excellent media channels, that Alan Pardew has an excellent relationship with the players, and that his man management skills seem to be holding off any players with an ego.
Looking back at the previous two seasons in the Premier League, we have very little to be worried about, as we often perform a lot better in the second half of each season, which means this could be an exciting 2016 for all Palace fans. Europe is definitely a possibility, and you certainly could not picture that five years ago.
The club is a picture of stability now, with the American investment confirmed, players being tied down with contracts and Alan Pardew is now officially the longest serving manager since Dougie Freedman. That was always one concern for me, that we seem to have chopped and changed managers very frequently in the last five years under CPFC2010.
When Tony Pulis came in, and I watched him take us to within a hairs breadth of the top ten in half a season, I thought he could be the manager to stabilise the club. However, after his rather selfishly timed exit, and a less than admirable performance from Neil Warnock (who I still admire as a manager), Alan Pardew has now come in and worked wonders with the club. I would be delighted to see him stay for many years to come.
I also get great confidence in what Alan is doing when he speaks to the media, as he states that he has a great relationship with the chairman, having the freedom to do what he must to develop the club. I am so excited to see what happens in the future with Palace, especially after seeing some rather dazzling performances this past year under Pardew. Where can we go?
There are some exciting prospects coming through the ranks and experiencing time out on loan. Jake Gray is at Hartlepool United and scored a stunning volley in the FA Cup yesterday while Sullay KaiKai has just returned from a loan spell at Shrewbury Town and looks a Yannick Bolasie in the making. With the prospect of signing an excellent striker this transfer window, and the future development of the stadium, this is a moment where we can look at the progress we have made, and look at the bright future we have got, then look at where this all came from. You cannot help but get a little emotional.
There may be some bad times in the future, it simply would not be Palace if there was not! BUT, as a club, we are doing such a good job, and I do not care whether we make Europe or not this year. In fact, as long as we are in the Premier League I do not care what happens.
If we keep making things better for the fans, with quality additions to the squad, and playing attacking football that excites us all then I will continue to be a happy Palace fan, like I always have been. That is all that matters.
Oh and some cheaper tickets for students would be nice Steve, so I can get to a game. Thanks!
