My final match until the end of the season at Selhurst was not a classic. The A23 Derby last Tuesday ended in stalemate as both sides paid with a penalty in a 1 – 1 draw. Chris Martin relatively anonymous in the League Cup Semi at Cardiff the previous week elevated himself to hero, nay legend status for ten minutes at least by slotting home a penalty skilfully won by deadline day target Wilf Zaha. A mere ten minutes later Palace were pegged back when a relatively inauspicious ball into space behind the defence looked to be being dealt with by three Palace defenders yet the danger became urgent when in dawdling to clear a Brighton player nipped in to exploit the space forcing Nathanial Clyne to give away a penalty. In a rare example of hesitation Palace were guilty of poor defending as a team of a kind certainly not in evidence in Wales the previous week.
Pre match talk was dominated by transfer deadline day dealings and talk of a £7million deal for Zaha that was rejected and a deal for Nathanial Clyne from Manchester United that did not materialise. These players as Crystal Palace academy products are in high demand and in time will play in the top flight and the highest level however John Bostock is a case in point and proves timing is key to any move and get this wrong the consequences can be negative on any career. The reality is though Clyne will move in the summer but United want to get him cheaply as at the moment his agent is encouraging him to run down his contract so although Palace will get compensation as he is under 23yrs old Clyne will probably leave in the summer. The transfer window deadline is a difficult but equally exciting concept and playing a game on the night it passes must make deal completion difficult if not impossible. Despite this two young players, Michael Chambers (Dulwich Hamlet), and Kwesi Appiah (Margate) have joined the club and are real prospects for the future.
The match against Brighton was quite physical and dour as a spectacle. Unsurprisingly there was no love lost either on the pitch between players or off it between the fans. The game itself was open at times and Palace, dominant in possession were never likely to lose the game. Ironically our worst period came after taking the lead and this allowed Brighton back into the match. Instead of killing Brighton off Palace allowed Brighton to steal the draw. After such a season beating Brighton, Millwall, and Manchester United away it seems appropriate that the last home game of my season was against bitter rivals Brighton. It is just a shame we could not have stuffed them and completed the double. – Still we will always have the AMMEX! (FFS Murray).
I do have a valentine day date with Bristol City and my final game before visiting family in Newfoundland is at Upton Park against West Ham United. I look forward to going to the Bowlan Ground as this completes my set of current Championship grounds visited, not in one season though. This will therefore be my last current blog posting for the 2011/12 season. I will write again next season when I am watching Palace regularly again. I have enjoyed writing this blog for you the reader and following Dougie Freedman’s managerial development in this most exciting and enjoyable season. I will continue to follow Palace from the cold North Atlantic!
Up the Palace, EAGLES!!!! Samuel Burch SB
8th February 2012
Online Palace podcasts I recommend;
FYPPodcast http://www.fiveyearplanfanzine.co.uk/
Holmesdale Online Radio http://www.holmesdale.net/
