There is an air of contentment around SE25 this past week or so.
Following the departure of Neil Warnock and the madness that surrounds the time right up until a new appointment, there is a real feeling that Palace have got just the right man.
Three games in and all is good in the world, or at least it is in and around South London. Well, I think that needs to be more specific as things are not quite so straight forward for our local rivals.
The timing of such a decision to change managers is very important indeed. Tony Pulis was the first so called managerial casualty of the season before a ball had even been kicked. It is hard to think that he is still referred to in that way considering that it was his decision to leave. Many opposition fans still refer it now as a sacking.
Timing in football is everything. In the tackle, in the shot and in the save. Off the pitch it is just as important. We got it right last season even though it took several weeks to get Pulis in and it was the perfect appointment for us at the time. Holloway had done all he could and looked a broken man after that home defeat to Fulham.
This season it looks very much as though timing may be impeccable once again. The Warnock appointment clearly was not working and the owners had two very clear options. Allow Warnock time and with that, money to spend in the transfer window. Or sack him and appoint a new manager with enough time in the transfer window to spend money.
The latter was the clear choice and Palace were the ones to start a trend. The Baggies followed with the sacking of Alan Irvine in an effort to secure the services of Tony Pulis.
Other clubs in and around the bottom three now face a real dilemma. Stick or twist. Stick and they could face a very long second half of the season or twist and appoint quickly before the end of the window to give a new man a fighting chance. Both choices could reap rewards or end up facing a miserable summer.
The obvious choice for next in line for the sack is Paul Lambert at Aston Villa. They are a side that are really struggling for goals especially when their talisman Christian Benteke is not finding the net. After Lambert, you have to be looking at clubs that have a track record of being impatient with managers.
It seems that Leicester City would have only been interested in removing Nigel Pearson to get Tony Pulis. Now that ship has sailed, they are likely to continue as they are even though they have only managed seven points in the last ten games. There are signs of hope though as those seven points have been won in the last four games after losing the previous six.
Similar could be said for Hull City but their recent form will be a concern and will certainly test the owners resolve. Two wins in the last ten games and a growing injury list could be a recipe for disaster for the Tigers.
Of the other clubs in and around the bottom half of the table are Burnley and Everton. The newly promoted Clarets do not seem the kind of club to get rid of a promising manager however the rest of the season may play out. As for Everton, they are on a terrible run of form but they are another club that do not have a history of getting rid of managers. No win in five games says everything you need to know about their predicament.
The one that stands out behind Lambert at Villa is Gus Poyet at Sunderland. The signing of Jermaine Defoe on what is reported to be a massive salary looks a real sign of desperation. Yes, he can score goals but usually in teams that create chances for him. They are an odd team. They only seem to win the games that you just do not want them to but certainly not enough of them.
The board are renowned for making a swift decision where a manager is concerned. If results do not improve soon from their current run of one win in ten games then our old foe Gus Poyet could well be receiving his P45 sooner than he thinks.
The next board that decides to pull the trigger will certainly be doing so in a fit of panic. They may well look back with hindsight at Palace and think they could and should have acted sooner.
