Burchy’s Palace Blog Extract 9 11/11/11 Reality Check;

It has been a great season for Palace so far but at the start of November things have got a little tougher. A goalless draw with Reading was followed on November 1st by a dull and attritional goalless draw with Portsmouth and last Saturday we lost 2 – 0 away at Cardiff City for the first time in eight games. On a positive note though at half time in Wales when it was 0 – 0 Dougie’s boys had gone a club record of over ten hours without conceding a goal so it is not all bad, there are definite signs of improvements from last season with greater defensive resilience running through the side and that confidence been reflected by better results. Although it was certainly disappointing to lose to Cardiff, a defeat was always bound to come eventually and despite we have now not scored in three matches had we not lost it would have been over a month without conceding a goal.

After the luxurious surroundings of the Reading game it was back to the normality of the Arthur Waite stand for the Portsmouth match. To be fair Portsmouth played better and possibly deserved the win, but Palace fought doggedly and were running on empty after a busy run of games (only to get busier) and despite running on empty held on for a battling point. This was a game we would have probably lost last year or in recent seasons so it was good to notice the improvement. Indeed it was enjoyable to go to a match with my friend Phil who was between teaching jobs abroad and was in the UK for four days to witness two goalless draws and state; ‘not much has changed then’ the reality though is things are changing for the better both on and off the pitch.

Last Saturday (to the date of originally writing) I went to the Welsh capital for an away day at the Cardiff City Stadium. Although Palace lost it was an enjoyable day as I had not been to Cardiff’s new stadium and it was a very different experience from the older, less welcoming, somewhat backward experience of Ninian Park. For starters the new ground has disabled toilets – an improvement on the porter cabin loos of the old more antiquated yet strangely missed Ninian Park. The day itself was an interesting test of independence for my new wheelchair as I toured around Cardiff city centre with friends before the game. The match itself could have been different had we been more clinical in the first half, yet to be fair in the second half there was little we could do as both goals were fantastic finishes that changed the game. Indeed Freedman summed it up quite succinctly ‘undone by moments of brilliance, but equited themselves well as a team, also conducting themselves well for a young side.’
After the international break we travel to Leicester and then we have a massive local derby grudge game against Millwall and an exciting League Cup tie away at Old Trafford against Manchester United. In many respects the Millwall game is more important because in my memory I cannot remember the last time we beat Millscum and indeed last time we played at the Den we lost 3 – 0 and it saw the demise of George Burley and the return of club legend and saviour Dougie Freedman on a fulltime basis. It will be a great opportunity for the three Steve’s and 2010 alongside Freedman to show Palace’s exciting progress and by thrashing Millscum the excitement and satisfaction generated among us fans would be an early Christmas present to go with the famous victory over Brighton at the Ammex.

The Manchester United cup tie will be very enjoyable as I am overnighting in Salford Quays and credit to Utd for not charging disabled fans. It will be like a cup final because for fans like us who nearly lost our club completely eighteen months ago it really is a day out deserved by the whole club and the board considering the way the club is been run and the positive fashion in which the team are working hard and moving forward. Indeed a shock victory or even just a good performance will illustrate the progress being made and the stability of the whole operation behind the club, and this can only be recorded positively in the press and wider media. Besides we may get thrashed but a lot of good teams get hammered at Old Trafford but we have such a strong youth in the team that outcome is unlikely. We have shown we have earned our shot at the Champions as a club by quietly working hard so I say bring it on, besides should be fun! SB

Burchy's Palace Blog Extract Eight: Undefeated October Gives Way to Cup Draw Excitement

31/10/11;

Wow how good are Palace! Top performance lads! Unbelievable all the superlatives are not quite enough for what I am feeling towards Crystal Palace, the boys, and of course the Doog at the moment as this incredibly enjoyable but equally unexpected season is developing. Two wins and a draw in a week sets up an unexpectedly high league position and a league cup quarter final place. The only disappointing thing is I was looking forward to Barnsley away on a Tuesday night guess it will wait as Palace are destined for a bigger more high profile game night.

What a week starting against Ipswich at Portman Road I got an insight into the Carling Cup line up as goalkeeper Lewis Price told me he was likely to start. I also had a quick chat after the game with ex Ipswich and current injured Palace midfielder Owen Garvin who was in high spirits about the victory, results and Palace’s current form. The result against Ipswich started a great week that ended for me in an executive box at Selhurst Park watching the League Cup quarter final draw after our 2 – 0 victory in the fourth round against Southampton. I am writing this after the 0 – 0 draw against Reading that completed an undefeated October for the Doog and followed the exciting news of an away tie at Manchester United. Your prayers from now to the football gods would go down well and be appreciated. First however I want to look to where the good week started away to Ipswich.

Our victory at Portman Road was based around a solid central defensive partnership between Paddy McCarthy and Anthony Gardner being protected by David Wright and Mile Jedinak sitting in front the back four in the midfield and playing the ball to the pace of Scannell, Zaha, and Williams to attack beyond them. It worked too as second half pressure led to a rare goal for the accomplished Paddy McCarthy who up from the back for a free kick swept home a Scannell cross who sent in a centre after his free kick had come back off the Ipswich wall. The significance of the Ipswich result is it sent Palace into the Southampton cup tie brimming with confidence but in terms of the league it meant four wins by the end of October away from home surpassed the entire number of wins on the road all last season (a mere single victory!)

And so to the Southampton victory a solid 2 – 0 win over the league leaders seeing Palace advance to the League Cup quarter final. The win was inspired by the industry, majesty, guile and shear class of Palace’s academy prospect Jonathan Williams who won a penalty and set up the first goal for Darren Ambrose with a pin point cross. A well deserved victory set up by a strong young side produced by the Crystal Palace academy hopefully the proposed new EPPP Youth Development Programme will not be too damaging to its future. It is important therefore our fans voices were heard as part of a national fans protest on Saturday against Reading. At least Freedman and Parish know the value of giving young players a chance in the first team and Palace have a history of giving young players a pathway to playing on a regular basis giving the club a chance to point to precedence to make Palace always attractive to young footballers into the future. The future is uncertain but in the meantime the current crop of Palace youngsters have set up a deserved League Cup quarter final with Man Utd at Old Trafford what a prospect. Credit to my Saints following friend Ash who watched the game with me for not being too disappointed even if he could not accept it that yes, Zaha was “just too good for you!”

After the cup draw against Manchester United on Saturday came the 0 – 0 draw at home to Reading. Reading is always a big match for me as I lived in the area around Reading since 1991 and currently live in Wokingham. Saturday’s game was especially exciting and enjoyable though as it formed the prize won by a friend at last seasons fans forum and so courtesy of John Walker I was in an executive box with my friend, carer for the day and Reading fan/club employee Stuart Croucher. We all had a very enjoyable day thanks to the club for the prize and John for including me and Stuart. Despite being goalless it was memorable it was memorable for disallowed goals on both sides, penalties that were not given as well as fouls that could have been red card offences but were not. Eventful enough that even a fox wanted to watch.

Tomorrow Palace faces Portsmouth at home at the start of a November that if it is a month that follows the pattern of an undefeated October could be the lift off to a stable and successful season. If you factor into this a continuing cup run the season could go beyond successful and become historical but let us not get ahead of ourselves there is a long way to go. It will be exciting though! S B

Burchy's Palace Blog Extract Seven; 19/10/11 Its Easter time before Christmas!

Blog Extract Seven:

19/10/11

It is not even Christmas time yet but it was Easter time for Palace at Vicarage Road last Saturday. A cracking injury time strike from substitute Jermaine Easter wrapped up a comfortable 2 – 0 victory. A sunny autumnal Saturday afternoon at struggling Watford began around midday as this is a local away day for me, and a refreshing English breakfast at the Vicarage Road Cafe with a nice cup of tea really set me up for the match. Indeed this was the first match that I had my new manual/joystick wheelchair and although I tried it out more on Tuesday when I used it to get to Selhurst for the Bristol City match, of which more later. Anyhow I tested my new chair at Watford by meeting the players and management off the coach and indeed imagine my delight that while wishing David Wright well my arm was captured by TV cameras to appear on TV later that night. – How good is that!

The game itself was an example of how Palace has improved under Freedman. To be fair to Watford they are obviously struggling but tactically Palace were set up well from the back and without making the best of their chances in the first half Palace were in control and were never really threatened. The building of pressure in the second half eventually told and it was a moment of individual brilliance from Wilfrried Zaha who is fed in off a Scannell through ball and a wonderful first time finish won the game. The result was underlined by an equally good stoppage time goal from Jermaine Easter a player who is always smiling and it was a great way to cap the performance in a professional display, and it shows the great spirit existing around the club at the moment. It is also nice to see the clubs young players playing football with smiles on their faces and enjoying their football.

Following on from Watford I went to Selhurst with my new wheelchair to watch the Bristol City match under lights on Tuesday night. Unfortunately the game was notable for being ruined for both sides by the referee. I do not like criticising referees as we all know they have difficult jobs to do but in all honesty I do not think there are any good referees in the Championship. Yes some referees are better than others, and others produce okay performances but recently I become more resigned to leaving matches thinking about bad refereeing decisions. A 1 – 0 win secured by an 81st minute penalty by the fantastic Glenn Murray was probably the least we deserved thanks to the youthful creativity and pace of Sean Scannell and Wilf Zaha. The fact the penalty was won by the tenacity of Williams, even if it was soft, was an example of the poor refereeing on show as bad decisions had already disallowed two legitimate Palace goals. On the basis of chances created despite its attritional nature this was a match Palace deserved to win.

Our good start is due in no small measure to the creative brilliance and pace of Wilfried Zaha. It will test the resolve and ambition of our new owners both in January and at the end of the season as they deal with big offers from the Premier League for the likes of Zaha, Clyne, Scannell, and Williams. It would show true ambition if they could turn down good money to see the academy products develop at the club. The fact we are financially secure and do not need to sell is a real advantage because if they do decide to take up an offer and sell it will be for proper money, and in Zaha’s case any transfer fee would be in excess of £10 million. My point here is this there will be no knockdown sales like Victor Moses to Wigan in 2009 when Palace were in administration and financially on its knees.

I close by saying good luck to the lads in what is a massive week next week for Palace. A league cup 4th round tie Vs Southampton on Tuesday night, and before that an away trip to Ipswich on Saturday afternoon I always enjoy Ipswich away because as a disabled fan I am sat by the tunnel and you never know which Palace players you can meet, but you usually get to talk to a fair few players. Southampton in the cup is the exciting one for me, the prospect of a league cup quarter final whilst beating Southampton (my university town) at the same time and getting one over on my saints supporting mate who will be watching the match with me should be very exciting. Good Luck Palace! S B.

Burchy's Palace Blog Extract Six 11/10/11; What's the Fuss About Fabio? Lets Look Forward To Watford!

Blog Extract Six:
11/10/11

I do not often write much around international breaks, but I must reflect over the fuss around nothing with England. We qualified after all didn’t we? For that I say credit Fabio, he has after all qualified us for the two tournaments he has been in charge for. Even if the World Cup in South Africa was an unmitigated disaster he qualified in this campaign undefeated and top of the group, a clear improvement which is all you can ask for. Capello is also an intelligent enough coach to improve England’s performance at Euro 2012 compared to the World Cup. It is also worth considering England’s record in getting to tournaments before the millennium and the appointment of Sven Goran Erikson, it was not that good. Anyhow 2 – 2 well done England and good luck next summer!

Anyway Palace play Watford on Saturday before a midweek match at Selhurst vs Bristol City, hopefully a reinvigorated Palace post Brighton should pick up six points, but are things ever that straight forward with Palace? It is worth reflecting what a great job Dougie Freedman is doing at the moment. Playing great football and giving youth a chance, while frustrating managers with the experience of Sam Allardyce before standing up for his footballing beliefs and the clubs development in the press room after the match. I have to say I was unsure what game big Sam was watching when I read his post match comments I did not see either team enjoy the level of dominance or chances he thought the hammers enjoyed, to me it was an even game and a draw was a fair result. Well done to Freedman for standing up for how he saw the game develop, he is clearly showing signs of becoming a quality strong willed manager.

It is a big week prior to Watford as I get a new wheelchair, same size and weight as the old one but a lightweight electrical system opens up the possibility of independent train travel to football again, the kind of which I have not enjoyed in years. It will make a big difference though as to how you shall see me getting to the football in the future because I will not get as tired, and it will also make attending disability forums at the club easier. This is an exciting development that could make a big difference going forward into the future. In an earlier blog (4) I talked about new skiing opportunities and these continue this week as when I pick up my wheelchair from Hemel Hempstead on Thursday, I will enjoy my second lesson. - Should be fun.

A couple of quick Watford experiences I have enjoyed with Palace to close this section. Both relate to different parental reactions to my football. The first was during my illness in the early Millennium and my father, wanting to aid my recovery and despite not liking football in a selfless act he took me to Selhurst to watch Palace beat Watford 1 – 0. Yet this did not stop him being so bored that he read the Times newspaper from cover to cover taking absolutely no notice of the match or what was going on on the pitch. This is a great illustration that my dad just wanted to make me happy and aid my recovery. My second experience was in slightly different circumstances. A cracking 5 – 1 Palace win at Vicarage Road in early 2004 in the promotion season. I had just dropped out of Nottingham University and my parents were probably justifiably less than impressed with me, angry enough anyhow not to drive me to the match – a 40 minute car journey. As a result I embarked on an epic solo rail journey from Reading to Clapham Junction to Watford Junction, which took about two hours. On the way back I went from Watford to Reading via Willesden Junction and Richmond finally getting back to Reading three hours later around 8pm. Epic journey for a wheelchair but with a 5 -1 victory, (a Freedman hat-trick incidentally) I could not regret it, doing the trip on my own in my chair was very satisfying.

My parents need not have worried either I sorted myself out in the meantime. 2010’s survival act also started at Watford so I wonder what to expect on Saturday I am sure it will be exciting, do enjoy! Thanks for reading. S B

Burchy's Palace Blog Extract Five 3/10/11 Oh What A Night Memorable For A Golden 10 Minutes;

Burchy Blog: Extract Five

3/10/11

I have to say I have not stopped buzzing since last Tuesday night. I woke up last Wednesday floating on air with a happy, life is good feeling running through my veins, and I have to say that feeling stays with me as I write on Monday after the West Ham match. It is of course the historical victory over Brighton on Tuesday that gives me, and every other Palace fan the previously described emotional feeling. Not only was it a first ever league defeat for Brighton in their new stadium but it was a defeat emphatically forced upon Brighton by their biggest rivals in a dominant fashion. Especially satisfying for us Eagles followers was that it was former Seagull hit man Glenn Murray who rounded off the scoring in stoppage time, reminding his old employees (who’s fans booed his every touch) where his bread is now buttered and where his loyalties now lie.

Yet clearly the most amazing and satisfying element of such an important result to Palace’s loyal away following was the dominant nature of the performance which writing earlier and against Brighton’s current good form I was not sure was going to come. The pleasing nature of the three goal comeback in the last ten minutes made it the most memorable and exciting ten minute spell Palace have played away from home in years. It made me forget the baron eighteen months previously endured on the road. The desperate away performances seem not to matter as Palace had scored three goals in ten minutes at their bitter rivals new stadium to record a historic away victory. It was certainly the best away day enjoyed by the Palace faithful since Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough in 2010.

I maintain that key to the victory was our fans passion for the occasion, the noise from the away end was immense deafening all night, and Freedman’s greater understanding of this passion for this fixture from the fans compared to Gus Poyet contributed to the emphatic result. This passion was certainly understood by the players and permeated their performance in everything they did on the pitch. The desire for this result came from every part of the club, the fact we also crushed the holier than thou ego of our biggest rivals gives all palace fans an unrivalled sense of satisfaction. (Even if their stadium is quite nice)

On the night and in the week building up to the match no one was under more pressure then Glenn Murray because of his obvious successful previous Brighton association. His performance was all the more impressive and his goal all the more significant and painful to the home fans. He was one of the best players on the pitch, and his commitment to the Palace cause, desire for the fans could never be questioned. He showed a degree of dignity and class in choosing not to celebrate his goal despite the best attentions of Brighton’s boo boys on the night. He is on his way to legendary status at Palace,(like AJ and Dougie in this fixture) if he is not there already. A word also for the youngsters, Jonathon Williams and Wilf Zaha were fantastic making this season memorable and enjoyable for everyone, offering hope and a post administration freshness for the possibility of big things for the future. Again at the Ammex they were the best prospects on the pitch.

What a fantastic buzz, but I end my reflections on the Brighton thrashing with a question; I arrived early at the Ammex to secure a safe secured and disabled parking space to generally observe, stay safe and mind my own business. As part of this I did not where my usual colours and as a precaution I removed my Palace car stickers for anonymity. My question is now we have won should Brighton and Hove Albion pay for new car stickers? Answers on a postcard please.

So briefly to the West Ham United match, ahead twice early in each half as the buzz from the Brighton stuffing was creating an energetic atmosphere carrying the players and crowd through. The Holmesdale Fanatics excelled themselves with a ‘know your place Brighton’ banner but credit to West Ham who pegged us back twice and adjusted their tactics excellently to get back in the match. One of the best teams at Selhurst this season they will be a force in the Championship this year, and in the promotion shakeup. Having said that we were not under huge pressure at any point and in some respects we were unlucky not to hold on for a win. To me Manual Almunia is a poor goalkeeper but for Palace moving forward the significance of Murray and Ambrose going two from two and finding goal scoring form should not be underestimated.
S B

Burchy's Palace Blog Extract Four 26/9/11 - And Now For Something Completely Different

Burchy Blog: Extract Four

26/9/11

Skiing is fun! Yesterday I took a lesson in the sport at the Hemel Hempstead Ski Dome. The reasons behind my decision to take up disabled bucket skiing and throw myself down a 100m hill are numerous and varied. The main reason though is I love the sensation of speed, being close to the snow flying down the hill at what may only be 20-30kph but the adrenaline rush is fantastic but then again I love roller coasters so I guess that is why I choose to do it.

I have to admit it though it is hard work, and despite having done it before on a mountain in Canada it took me a while to get the hang of it! (45 minutes out of the hour lesson to be precise to realise the elbow outriggers are better off pressed into the snow to give you direction and slow you down.) Seriously though I probably spent more time face first crashing into the snow as I struggled to remember my technique from previous lessons and stay upright.

I think my instructor thought I was mad as I began to enjoy my uncontrolled face flops but when I suddenly executed two consecutive turns boy was it satisfying and I think he was a little bit impressed. He certainly laughed when I accidently knocked into a snowboarder and took him out. Anyway after an hour I was certainly tired and now I ache all over but I guess that is exercise for you, but at least it is fun. Hopefully it will lead to skiing opportunities on mountains across the world; anyhow I will let you know how the skiing opportunity develops in future blogs.

Thanks for reading. S B

Burchy's Palace Blog Extract Three 21/9/11; Reflections on a Cup Run In Sight Of Old Rivalries

Burchy Blog Extract Three:

21/9/11

Middlesbrough beat us 1 – 0 on Saturday but I had confidence we would win Tuesdays cup tie. Boro coped better with the second half weather conditions which saw the match take place in a deluge to win the game, but in the last 25 minutes palace’s youth prodigies gave us such pace they ripped boro’s back four to shreds. This led to Middlesbrough being reduced to 10 men as a defender was unlucky to receive a second yellow card, unlucky because had the referee played an advantage Zaha would have set up an equaliser and the ref would have fulfilled his duty to do all he could to keep 22 players on the pitch. There followed an example of the old adage when it is hard to score against 11 men, its impossible to score against 10 however well your team plays.

I am so impressed with the way Dougie Freedman has used the carling cup this season. We have been fortunate to have been drawn at home for three consecutive ties which has undoubtedly given us an advantage but Freedman has used the competition to build confidence and this has been reflected in Palace’s start to the league programme. Zaha and Williams have been fantastic and last night even Calvin Andrew got the winner a rarity in itself. Yet comparisons for me can be drawn between previous young starlets Ben Watson and Victor Moses now at Wigan and Jonny Williams and Wilf Zaha the difference being the club is in a better position to hold on to these players and develop them to the clubs advantage.

Because I am going to Brighton I will not be at Doncaster this weekend but my priority on Saturday lunchtime will be the league cup 4th round draw. I hope we are drawn away to a Premier League side. I think I shall end up in the north west, Liverpool, Bolton, Utd, Blackburn, or Stoke would be nice – watching Zaha or Williams light up the match scoring in a brave defeat as we bow out gracefully, the purpose of an exciting cup run served. Actually no! Sod it lets do it really go all out and you never know maybe our names on the cup!

And so to Brighton (seaweed s**m) yes I hate B******n as much as the next Palace fan but I understand the nature of the rivalries and how rivalries work. At one point in time one rival rises and is on top and at another point in time the second rival rises and challenges to be on top. For this reason I fear this meeting of two foes at the Tampax. At the time of AJ’s hat-trick and the 5 – 0, beautiful 5 – 0! We ended the season in the Premier League and homeless B******n were on their knees and got relegated. Our rivals are clearly on the up and our dangerous, League One Champions and top of the Championship and playing in a brand new stadium. Palace in this period as we know has struggled.

I was at the valley in 2005 when clown town sent us down from the Premier League and how they loved playing Tony Christie’s Amarillo with those mean words ringing in my ears so how sweet it is to laugh at what happened next. We will always enjoy the 5 – 0 it is in the record books and part of Crystal Palace’s history, stoking the rivalry. Yet we have dined out on 5 – 0 for a long time and it would be foolhardy not to respect regenerated B******n and Freedman will make sure the respect for the fixture is there. He scored his 100th Palace goal at the Withdean and understands the fans strength of feeling. Factor in the Glenn Murray effect and the fact he will play the hardest match in his career and his desire alone should guide us to at least a draw. GO PALACE!!!!!!!!!!!!

So what do I do in a rear match free weekend? The answer is skiiiiiiiiiiiiiii down a snow hill in Hemel Hempstead in a disabled ski. I hope to develop this as a new hobby so I can ski more regularly with my folks in Canada. I will let you know how this develops over the next few weeks in future blogs.
Thanks for reading S B