Hey-Ho and
welcome back to my blog covering all things Crystal Palace into our first
consecutive Premier League campaign and our sixth Premier League season in
total. As usual and as of the last three years since 2011, this blog will keep
you updated on Palace’s top flight fortunes! As others such as Brighton and
Charlton struggle to catch up, whilst hopefully arrogantly failing miserably.
Since I
wrote about the Gayle that blew across the Thames at Fulham on the last day of
last season, there has of course been the small matter of a World Cup Quarter
finals in Brazil containing the 8 group winners for the first time since the
tournament was extended to its current eight group thirty two team format. What
followed was a very exciting set of matches that prevailed with Germany winning
the tournament including an efficient 7 – 1 mauling of hosts Brazil on their way
to the trophy.
Meanwhile
Crystal Palace have prepared for Pre Season in Austria which is now under way
in the form of a three game tour of America with games against Columbus Crew
(2-2), Philadelphia Union, Friday evening (25th July) rounding off
with a match against the Richmond Kickers days later. Preparations during Preseason
are being overseen by the Stoney eyed guidance of the excellent never relegated
Tony Pulis; surely a fact to tempt fate with given Crystal Palace’s history but
for now let us hope not! On Palace’s return to UK soil they play Brentford on
August 2 and then travel to Bavaria, Germany to play Augsburg a week before the
season begins at the Emirates Vs Arsenal.
Crystal
Palace’s current tour of the States brings back many happy memories for me
having attended the clubs previous tour of the States in 2010 when Simon Jordan
was still Chairman. Just thinking of that tour brings back so many happy
memories as access to the then first team squad was very open and then gaffer
Neil Warnock was also totally approachable to every Palace fan on the trip and
at that time led the club brilliantly. As a result I will always hold Warnock
in great affection. 2010 was a tough battle to keep Palace in existence which
was fortunately successful. On a personal note it culminated wonderfully with
Palace’s Championship survival and me been given the honour of CPFC fan of the
year 2010.
A good
friend of mine, Richard Bamber who travelled with me on the 2010 Palace tour
has since moved to the States and is based permanently in Denver Colorado.
Hopefully he will deliver some observations on the 2014 tour including some
reports which will be possibly uploaded onto this blog! No doubt he will enjoy
the 2014 version of a Palace tour to his adopted homeland. A key difference
between the 2010 tour and this years’ incarnation is the proliferation of
soccer from east to west with the college system feeding MLS in the men’s game alongside
the continued growth of the Women’s game.
In 2010 the
experience of being able to watch Crystal Palace play football in a country as
culturally diverse as America was immense. Yet it was still definitely a
minority sport in America at that time, with games being played to various back
drops from Athletics fields, to adapted Baseball diamonds. Compare the
difference four years makes and Palace’s 2014 tour is very different as soccer
finds its backbone in American sporting psyche, with every game vs The Crew,
The Union and the Kickers being played in custom built stadiums filled to
capacity most weekends as MLS makes a definitive mark on the American sporting
landscape.
In 2010 we
had a blast but it did appear many of the matches were piggybacking of the
infrastructure of the existing sports such as Baseball. There is no doubt the
2014 tour to America takes place in a very different backdrop. The Success of
the American National Team in Brazil under the control of German maestro Jurgen
Klinsmann with his policy of naturalising German players to represent America,
finally gives soccer/football in America the foothold it needs to be embraced
in the hearts of America’s sporting public. MLS has organised purpose built
stadiums to bring a competitive viewing and pricing policy, competitive with
other sports such as the NHL, MLB, NFL, and NBA.
After the
game against Brentford on 2nd August Preseason wraps up in Germany
against Augsburg and although I will only be attending the Brentford match keep
tuned to my blog as I will bring some of the flavours of all the matches
through friends that will be in attendance. We can confirm today the signing of
Fraizer Campbell as rumours continue surroundings a return to the club of
Palace youth heroes Victor Moses and Wilfried Zaha.
In
concluding this preseason note, a big thank you to those who check my blog
regularly. Although last season was an incredibly difficult one to get through
personally, Palace showed me the way and gave me the strength to come back and
continue this blog process. A big thank you to all my friends and family,
Including my PA Elliot and little nephew Ali Joe, who will hopefully grow up to
love Palace as much as I do.
Enjoy the
new Campaign! Samuel
