I get the impression that some of you don't like us very much, so I can understand if on opening this you might construe this as a piss-take, but I am on here to offer my genuine compliments on how well Palace have done in the Premier League since beating us at Wembley.
And at the risk of sounding someone who is still bitter that you got promoted and we didn't and you stayed up and we still haven't gone up (I assure you this isn't the case), I'm actually amazed that you have adapted so well in the top flight after most of us (probably some of your own fans included) didn't give you a prayer. Because, being honest, given the manner in which you won promotion after being in contention for the first time in five seasons (gaining just 72 points, going into the away leg at Brighton with only one win in 11 and that being courtesy of a last-minute goal against relegated Peterborough, going five games without a league goal including three 3-0 or 4-0 defeats) you must have been odds-on for relegation.
Yet, since Ian Holloway left, under the combined inspired leadership of Tony Pulis and Alan Pardew (leaving aside Neil Warnock of course, whose return was a mistake) in 38 games you have gained 63 points, which over most seasons would be enough for a Europa League spot - that is staggering. What have been the main factors behind your improvement? Did you have better players all along than results and performances suggested under Holloway, have you had a major injection of cash after a few years of struggle in the Championship, is it all just excellent management, or any or all of the above?
I'm hoping we join you of course, but with the form Bournemouth and Norwich are showing, I'm not all that confident. It would just be our luck to end up in the play-offs again with a better team and much higher points total than two years ago, and not even get to the final this time - but that's another story...
And at the risk of sounding someone who is still bitter that you got promoted and we didn't and you stayed up and we still haven't gone up (I assure you this isn't the case), I'm actually amazed that you have adapted so well in the top flight after most of us (probably some of your own fans included) didn't give you a prayer. Because, being honest, given the manner in which you won promotion after being in contention for the first time in five seasons (gaining just 72 points, going into the away leg at Brighton with only one win in 11 and that being courtesy of a last-minute goal against relegated Peterborough, going five games without a league goal including three 3-0 or 4-0 defeats) you must have been odds-on for relegation.
Yet, since Ian Holloway left, under the combined inspired leadership of Tony Pulis and Alan Pardew (leaving aside Neil Warnock of course, whose return was a mistake) in 38 games you have gained 63 points, which over most seasons would be enough for a Europa League spot - that is staggering. What have been the main factors behind your improvement? Did you have better players all along than results and performances suggested under Holloway, have you had a major injection of cash after a few years of struggle in the Championship, is it all just excellent management, or any or all of the above?
I'm hoping we join you of course, but with the form Bournemouth and Norwich are showing, I'm not all that confident. It would just be our luck to end up in the play-offs again with a better team and much higher points total than two years ago, and not even get to the final this time - but that's another story...
0 commentaires:
Enregistrer un commentaire