It is hard to exactly pinpoint what is going on at Selhurst Park at the moment.
We are flying in the FA Cup stuttering in the Premier League to such an extent that we are now starting to look over our shoulder.
The loss last weekend at West Bromwich Albion was really poor. The opening half hour was absolutely diabolical, but thankfully we did improve after the break and with Connor Wickham grabbing two, it was pleasing to see the former Sunderland striker get himself back on the score-sheet for Palace.
Then came the important game at the Stadium of Light. It was imperative we did not lose and we did not but after being in the position to take all three points only to be denied at the death by a wonderful goal by all accounts, even though a lot of Palace fans felt Wayne Hennessey should have saved it. Plenty may disagree, but not many goalkeepers would have saved that.
We welcome the point and now we move on to the visit of Liverpool this Sunday which is another crucial game. They are all big games for us now but contrary to what people say, I firmly believe we will be safe from relegation.
There is plenty I would love to discuss, but I would not be able to fit it all into this article so I want to take some of the more serious matters and elaborate on them.
The goal-scoring form of Wickham is something which has naturally delighted the supporters and I am one of them as admit being a bit hesitant in believing whether he could score goals for us. The former Ipswich Town man is turning into a pivotal player for us at the moment, and now hopefully barring any injuries or suspensions we will see the best of him.
His first goal at Sunderland was superb, as was his second against the Baggies and with the formation we play he really is suited to it. With Yannick Bolasie on one side and Wilfried Zaha on the other hopefully, he should thrive on the service.
The next thing I want to talk about is something that I have been banging on for a couple of weeks now. This week it has irritated me to the point where I need to vent some anger, but also constructive criticism.
A change of attitude is needed on social media from Palace fans, and Twitter in particular.
This fabled world of Twitter just surprises me week in week out. Since Palace have been on a bit of a downward spiral we are really beginning the see the armchair supporters come out in force. It only struck me last week, but when Palace were doing so well at the end of last season and the beginning of this, I never saw tweets I have witnessed of late. Of course, we are going through a bit of a lull, but seriously people what is going on?
As you know, Palace have quite a fanzine following, there are plenty of credible hard-working sites out there, which use social media platforms to promote their work and to also interact with fans. Here at TEB, Jay has worked hard to get that aspect into our work, but some of the comments I saw from users on Twitter beggar’s belief.
I would love to name and shame in order to have a nice, friendly conversation but I think it is probably better I do not rise to it. I am all for a chat about what is happening at Palace at the moment, so if you are a regular visitor to TEB, come and say hello to me on Twitter (click on the Twitter icon at the bottom of this page).
Comments such as ‘Pardew out’, and ‘Pardew has lost the dressing room’ are absolute nonsense. Firstly, I believe it is utter garbage, and secondly, it just annoys me.
I have got to the point where I have to switch off Twitter for the evening after a poor result, it can get that mind-numbing.
On the other hand, there are a lot of Palace fans are a delight to interact with because either they have been following Palace all their lives and understand the nature of the club and how quickly the club can yo-yo up and down, or they are just people that get football and understand the struggles a side will go through during a season.
Regardless, please can we just try to be a little savvier on social media. I do not want to stop interacting with people after games just because I see stupid comments pop up on my timeline by what is a minority. I respect people can post what they like, but when they are ill-informed and quite frankly wrong, it frustrates the hell out of me.
Anyway rant over. We look forward to a game against Liverpool as we tend to do quite well against the red half of Merseyside. Let us hope we can get a positive result this weekend.
3 comments
Hiya, good and interesting article. I think it’s too easy to attack so called ‘armchair’ fans or ‘plastic’ fans and would argue that we are all guilty.
The premier league now encourages extreme views. Every year self interested media outlets tell us that it’s the best league and most exciting season ever, and each each year the drop to championship abyss appears more and more grave.
I love the fact that we can read about our team every day in the national press, and watch every single home and away game on streams or at local pubs, and lots of fans, plastic or real, do. As a result the continued involvement in the premiership means increasingly more to us as the habit intensifies. This is irrespective of whether they’ve supported palace for fifty years or just the last decade.
Fans are, perhaps, too desperate for palace to win and in particularl avoid relegation. As a result we become predictably irrational on social media outlets. do I agree that we need to temper our views after defeats whether it be plastic fans or podcasters, ‘fake’ fans or fanzine contributors.
If we want this club to grow, improve and stay in the premiership then we need to attract new fans and respect their views as much as our own irrational and ignorant views.
Your talking like we’ve lost a couple of games, saying we are going throught a bit of a lull and and whats this going to the stadium of light looking not to lose!!!!!. We are the worst team in Europe this year, if we can’t vent our anger now, I don’t know when we can. The mistakes that are being made are like Sunday league players. Playing like we are we’ll be lucky to survive by a point, and god knows what we’re in for next season.
Hi David and Gordon,
Interesting views from both of you – I do agree at the moment Palace fans are craving for a victory in the league, but I still feel some fans come out with some nonsense on social media!
Having played footy for a vast period of time, when a team goes on a run like Palace are at the moment, the Sunderland game was important we didn’t lose. Obviously we are disappointed with how it ended, and also against Liverpool yesterday, but we had to stop the rot against Sunderland and we did that – so I think it was a good point gained Gordon.
There is no hiding from the fact that we are poor at the moment, but I have faith we will pull it around; and frankly I believe we are too good to go down, but I accept we need to put a few wins together
Comments are closed.