Today the football season comes to a close.
It has absolutely flown by. It seems like only yesterday I was walking out of the Emirates feeling bitterly disappointed on the opening day of the season.
It is amazing to think that having never before completed back to back seasons in the Premier League we finish the season reasonably comfortably looking forward to a third consecutive campaign of top flight football.
The fact that this has happened is even more gob-smacking considering the utter madness that ensued at various stages of the season. But hey we are Palace fans, we are used to roller-coasters and things being a bit bonkers.
Who would want to support a boring club that never has any drama? I think we secretly love high blood pressure and constant heart palpitations. Makes you feel alive!
For my last edition of Fan Chat of the season, I have been asked to put my spin on the season ‘My Season Review‘ if you will. My memory is pretty rubbish though. I find it difficult to remember specific score-lines or who scored. I am not really a statistics man, so what shall I talk about?
We need to talk about Tony Pulis … but do we really?
Big Tony came in and did a sterling job last season, I cannot deny. No Palace fan can but that is where it ends. No matter what happened behind the scenes, I am sure we will never know the whole truth, Mr Pulis walked out on us as the worst possible time, leaving us firmly in the brown stuff. He is not a part of this season, he is just a footnote, something to be forgotten. In the words of Forrest Gump, ‘that is all I have to say about that’.
We need to talk about Keith Millen … yes we do.
Keith Millen I cannot speak highly enough of this man. Again stepping into the abyss when all the chips were down, picks up the pieces and makes do. He kept the squad galvanised until a replacement manager could be found. He did that TWICE this season. He should be given some kind of award and maximum plaudits by all Palace fans.
We need to talk about Neil Warnock … oh do we have to?
Neil’s turbulent second spell in charge was not exactly the stuff of dreams, our previously galvanised squad looked like strangers. My wife always says if you cannot say anything nice do not say anything at all. So Neil, that is your lot.
We need to talk about Alan Pardew … YES, YES we do!
Super Al strutted in like a cunning silver fox to try and repair the mess that Mr Warnock had put us in. He Instantly turned our fortunes around and got us playing arguably the best football we have played in years. He has brought excitement and confidence back to the club. I feel with Pardew in charge next season we can hopefully look forward to a less turbulent time. Maybe aim for something other than a relegation battle. That could happen right?
We need to talk about the players.
Although I could, I am not going to single anybody out. Words cannot describe how proud I am of our squad. We have an honest hard working bunch of lads who put in a shift every week. No big time Charlies. They all look like friends having the time of their life playing together. As fans, all you can ask is for your team to be dedicated to the cause, to know the most important thing is the red and blue and I feel we have that with our current squad.
It has been a seriously crazy ten months. It has had highs and terrible lows but the good times have most definitely outshone the bad times.
Today’s game against Swansea should be a celebration of all we have achieved this season. On Tuesday, Julian Speroni’s Testimonial will be a chance to appreciate a club legend. The ground should be rocking. Let us hope we can finish the season on a high.
Oh my word, what are we going to do until August?
C’MON YOU PALACE!
