Seven games in, no points, no goals, the season was destined to end in disappointment. Seven games to go and there is everything to play for.
With Frank de Boer being relieved of his duties so early in the season for the more experienced Roy Hodgson to take control at Selhurst Park, that may prove to be one of the shrewdest decisions made in the best interests of the club.
There is simply no knowing where Palace would be right now had the Dutchman remained at the helm but the gentleman that has taken his place has gone about his business with dignity and integrity. Whether the former England boss completes his mission as the final whistle blows to signal the end of the season, only time will tell but it will not be for the want of trying.
In what was a similar position to that of Sam Allardyce when he was appointed manager of the Eagles, Hodgson joined the club with something to prove, at least where the sports media in particular were concerned, after his stint in charge of the national team leaving a rather sour taste in the mouth.
It is unlikely that the 70-year-old will have the same view however, his record and experience across Europe speaks for itself and for many, it was only a matter of time before he ‘returned’ to South London to manage the club where it all started.
With such a handicap at the start of the season overcome in good time, it was believed to be a matter of full steam ahead for Palace but for a quite horrendous run of injuries which really has been difficult to cope with.
At one point, the club had up to thirteen players out injured which is difficult for any club to cope with let alone one like Palace. This is not the first time while in the Premier League, there was a long injury list during the tenure of Alan Pardew but the difference was that the majority of those were fatigue type injuries. Most of the injury list this season have been impact based with Connor Wickham still working his was back after a bad knee injury, the likes of Scott Dann, Jason Puncheon and Bakary Sako have all joined him on the side-lines with season ending damage.
The bad run of form that the club could ill afford expectedly arrived which ensured a return to the bottom three but it was a batch of results that fans had to take on the chin. Coming out the other side, Palace have picked up three very good points on the road to Huddersfield which is no coincidence that it is at a time when players are returning to the side after spells out.
Many have viewed the squad depth not good enough and that has been severely tested this season and to be fair, most of the fringe players have put in a valiant effort even it has been clear that Hodgson has been dubious about the options from the bench.
Fans could point the figure in a number of directions as to the failings this season and have done so quite freely with Steve Parrish, Christian Benteke and Wayne Hennessey being particular favourites across social media. While there is a very short attention span on much of social media with everything needed instantly, it is easy to forget that the season is made up of thirty-eight league games.
After a break to make way for international friendlies in World Cup year, Palace head into a run of seven games with only Liverpool left to play from the top six. That is not to say that the other six games are easy, far from it, but you have to think that if the Eagles are to secure another season dining at the top table, there are points to be had from the maximum of twenty-one available.
Three wins from those seven games are likely to be enough. That will haul Palace to thirty-nine points. It could be that thirty-six or thirty-seven will be enough but that might make for a nerve jangling end to the season.
Why would we expect anything else? Perhaps we expected the club to push on, but there is rarely a dull season being a Palace fan. This one just goes up against many of those that have gone before. Mid-table obscurity just isn’t our thing, however attractive that may seem at times.
There may have been some poor decision making by the club and players which have all contributed to where we find ourselves this season, not to mention that injury list, but let’s just leave the why’s the where’s and the what for’s to discuss over the summer when our fate is known.
COME ON PALACE!
