The heralding of May in football terms is usually bittersweet, and with particular focus on Palace over the last few seasons this has very much been the case.
It has become a ritual in the past three seasons to reflect on a season that surpassed expectations with continued optimism for the direction the club is going.
In May 2013, we had overcome a late dip in form to celebrate Jedinak’s late header against Peterborough that secured our play-off berth by the skin of our teeth. Given the depths that Palace had come from in the years before the 2012/13 season, a fifth place finish left us with much to look forward to. A clash with bitter rivals Brighton and a play-off final were all that stood between Palace and an unthinkable promotion. The sound of Kevin Phillip’s penalty rippling the net at Wembley still echoes today.
That led to a summer of immense excitement. Chatter on social media about signings, opportunities and dreams were rife as there was new ground to look forward to.
In May the following year, we were again embracing an unlikely success story. Having been rubbished by most before the season started, Palace were languishing at the bottom of the table upon Tony Pulis’ arrival, which kickstarted a run up the table that saw everyone’s relegation favourites secure survival in April and comfortably see the season out.
Celebrating safety and a herculean effort from the manager and his players, May treated the Palace faithful to one of Selhurst’s most memorable nights, coming from 3-0 down to finish Liverpool’s slim hopes of title success at Crystanbul.
Swapping Pardew for Pulis, a similar pattern emerged the following season. The less said about Neil Warnock the better.
The summer that followed those May realisations was generally one of excitement at what lay ahead, but despair at the void in our lives while we anticipated continued growth and progression.
This season has been somewhat different. While the obvious attraction of an FA Cup Final in May is a cataclysmic event to look forward to, it is increasingly hard to get rid of the taste the poor league campaign has left on our tongues. This wasn’t the script we have come to expect nor is it the narrative we are so accustomed to.
Many will liken it to a failing relationship, standing on its weathered legs convincing itself everything is okay.
‘You’ve weathered bigger storms than this.’
‘This will pass.’
‘Everything will be okay.’
With the cup final looming, it’s as if Palace are a spouse who have to wait for their partner’s birthday in two weeks before delivering the crushing news that all is not well.
‘I couldn’t possibly rattle the cage before then, could I?’
As TEB writer Jamie Lawrence opined recently, the cup run is masking the poor league form and our success this season will be measured entirely by the outcome of the clash with Manchester United in two weeks time.
The worry is that once the excitement of the cup final has faded (the result will have a big bearing on this), it brings about a foreboding summer knowing a significant overhaul is required in order to get Palace firing again.
The inquisition will no doubt come, and with the knowledge that the Premier League will be without the likes of feeble Aston Villa, perhaps a trickier test of Palace’s Premier League credentials lies ahead.
Without raining on the cup parade, the last six months display nothing to suggest that Palace can turn the tide. Granted, it is foolish to speculate on how the season may take shape but, barring wide players, Palace need reinforcements in every area.
You get the sense it may be a long, hard summer.
