Well, what a season. And I obviously talk firstly from a Palace perspective.
The obvious favourites to be relegated back to the Championship just as soon as Kevin Phillips has cooly scored the penalty against Watford at Wembley in the play off final back in May 2013. Or so the bookies and all the so called pundits said.
Not a chance they said. We are Palace we said. The underdog tag was well and truly applied and that is something we thrive on.
From the opening game defeat to a flailing Moxey arm on to the phantom penalty at Old Trafford. From the first three points at Selhurst beating Sunderland to the defeat to Fulham. From the fine and ban for Holloway to his jig on the touchline and his untimely demise as boss. From the Millen passion and pride handing over to the established knowhow of Welshman Pulis. The rest, as they say, is history.
It was much more than that. It took a month to appoint Tony Pulis and it was an inspried choice. Outgoing manager Ian Holloway was at the heart of encouraging both the club and Pulis to join forces and drag the club out of it’s predicament.
An opening game defeat away to Norwich City was all Pulis needed to see after watching the win at Hull City from the stands. It was game on in his eyes and the aim was to get to the January transfer window with a chance of survival.
The first task was accomplished and reinforcements were drafted in – enter stage right Hennessey, Ledley, Ince and Dann. Two of those were inspired while the loan signing of Ince had more of an impact that some expected. His loan signed meant that Puncheon had to sign a permanent deal and while it took him a few games to get going (namely Spurs away!) both hos and the form of Bolasie kept Ince out of the team.
This proved that competition is healthy and similar could be said of the Hennessey signing. Before then Speroni did not have a lot of real competition for the jersey. His form, particularly in the second half of the season was incredible.
Along with the solid centre back Scott Dann slotting into the back line as if he had been there all season, created a force to be reckoned with which led to a fantastic run of form – beating Chelsea, Cardiff, Villa, Everton and West Ham in a row. This effectively sealed our survival but more than that, it saw Palace reach mid-table obscurity and a mid-table finish.
But that home game against Liverpool. Nothing more can be said that has not already has been but night games at Selhurst Park have always had a special edge. This was no different and arguably the game of our season.
As for the rest of the Premier League, I don’t mind repeating myself as at the start of the season I mentioned that this could be one season that it would be good to be a newly promoted team. The best chance of survival because of the number of mediocre teams in the division. And so it proved.
For long periods of the season the bottom half of the Premier League table was the closest it has been for years. The top promised to be as exciting with Arsenal bouncing back from an early defeat at home to Villa to look like potential title contenders before falling away.
Then Chelsea and Manchester City trading blows at the top until dark horses Liverpool showed some pace to gallop ahead of the pack. They were making the most of having no European comeptition to be concerned about but ultimately it was a step too far. The openly attack minded philosphy was ultimately their downfall and while Chelsea faltered it was a second title in three season for City.
At the other end the madness of Vincent Tan pretty much condemned his club Cardiff City to a quick return to the Championship. It was anyone’s guess as to who would be joining them. Two good cup runs could have effected Sunderland but it did in the right way as they found some form to pull clear late on.
Fulham had been inconsistent for months while the run in for Norwich City was perhaps the worst you could ask for in the circumstances. Ultimately, it was those two that joined Cardiff City in the bottom three but it could have just as easily been West Brom or Aston Villa.
So while we bid a fond farewell to yet another football season we, as Palace fans, can sit down and look back fondly of what our club has achieved. And pretty much against all odds for the second season running.
Always be loud, be proud, be PALACE!
