With what seems to be alarming regularity, I am predicting the complete opposite of what Palace end up doing.
Once again I am writing this on the back of a superb performance by the boys to pick up three points from a seemingly impossible position after being 2-0 down away at Sunderland.
Unless you’ve been hiding away you’ll know that the winner was courtesy of a 94th minute Christian Benteke header, a man that seems to be a really astute signing by us.
I predicted that the good form we saw after the Bournemouth game wouldn’t last, however, we’ve seemed to play excellently each game since that draw against Eddie Howe’s side.
Saturday’s match was no different, and had it not been for some suicidal defending we certainly would not have been two goals down, we were in control for the majority of the game. Sunderland were seemingly asking for us to ruin their day because no sooner had they scored the second, Joe Ledley was in the right place to atone for his earlier error to put us back in the game.
We were chipping away at the Sunderland defence for the remainder of the game, and got our just deserves when that third went in. Amidst a familiar chorus of boos and jeers round the Stadium of Light, Palace look to be a team on the rise again, although I choose my words with caution as much was made of our rise at the beginning of last season, just for us to fall catastrophically back down to Earth. That is my worry, how long will this good form last?
The pundits on Sky Sports made the point in the build up to the three o’ clockers, when Pardews teams are on a good run, it’s great and the teams play brilliantly, however when that run ends, there seems to be an unpreventable period of bad form. It happened at West Ham, Newcastle and at Palace, and as a manager, that surely has to be his biggest weakness. The ability of a manager to turn around a period of bad form is vital to any team, so it’s worrying Pardew still hasn’t quite got it yet.
However, on recent performances, you have to say we look good. Our defending still leaves a lot to be desired, but unlike last year, this is a team that can score goals to make up for any defensive mishap. When Loic Remy comes back from injury, this is a team that can challenge the big teams for a top eight finish.
It’s all sounding unusually positive so far, and I continue…
The spirit of the team seems to be returning, the Palace of old, with happy players, happy fans and happy management is what makes the club tick, and it feels like it is falling into place once again. We as fans, including myself very often, are all too quick to criticise after a few poor results, however our support is what makes the team continue to play well. There is a genuine correlation between teams that support their players and clubs, no matter what, and a higher league position.
Look at Southampton, Swansea City, Bournemouth and Watford. Teams that you rarely see in the headlines for criticising or openly jeering their clubs at games, with pretty average squads, similar in talent to Palace’s, and they are regularly in mid table, or performing well. Then look at the likes of Sunderland, Aston Villa and Newcastle United for example. Clubs with excellent squads, but with fans who rarely offer any support during periods of bad form, and that has left two relegated, one, I imagine on Saturday’s basis, soon to follow.
There is a lot of happiness and good feeling amongst Palace fans, whether we are playing well or not, and on the most part, there is always a sense of optimism and positivity amongst our supporters which is great to see. Our voracious and lively support is regularly praised and compared with that of Liverpool and Manchester United, which must make the players proud of the club, and want to continue playing well.
There is yet more positivity too, surrounding one young man who played a pivotal role in Saturday’s game. A player who is often not considered ‘good enough’ for us, someone who regularly is the butt of social media jokes, and is often ridiculed with sarcastic humour about his ability.
That man is Zeki Fryers, and truth be told, we wouldn’t be talking about another win without him. He showed some great form in pre-season, but nobody predicted the absolutely inch-perfect ball that he put in the box for our second goal on Saturday. It was outstanding. Then there was the darting runs, the important defensive work carried out, this is a player who really is proving a point, that he really is more than good enough for consideration for the starting eleven.
I think, instead of berating him, and laughing if he makes a mistake, we should be the support, that pushes him on, to help him prove to himself that he is good enough, because I think his only issue is confidence. Once he believes in himself, the performances will come, much like they did on Saturday.
So a good overall team performance then, but an outstanding, brave and determined performance from Zeki. Well in, I’m sure there is much more to come from him.
