December 11 2003

Selhurst Park

Our defeat by Crewe Alexandra (Dec 9) is another pratfall in a long-running disaster story this season. Jamesey tries to reflect without rancour...but fails...

The role of a commentator on a Palace supporters' site is not to continually criticise the club, the chairman, the players and the tactics. But it is increasingly hard to refrain.

As I trudged down the Holmesdale Road, cold and demoralised, after the third goal went in, in our 3-1 defeat at the hands of Crewe Alexandra, I switched on my radio to FM London Sport.

"I've never seen anything like it," said the commentator. "When Crewe's third goal went in a couple of minutes from time, half the stadium just got up and left. They weren't booing or angry. They had just had enough..."

Yes, sometimes, enough is enough. Crewe, who had not won an away game since September or ever beaten us at all at Selhurst, put both matters right for themselves. Such depths have we plumbed that we even made them look like Brazil in 1970 while they did it. One record broken then.

Another record broken on Sept 16 was when we lost to Bradford City for the first time ever at Selhurst. Thanks, Messrs Kember and Symons, for providing me with two unique experiences in the space of a few months, after many decades as a CPFC supporter.

And on the subject of records, but in a lesser context, our gate for the Crewe fixture of just over 12,000, was the smallest of the season. Apart from the understandable desire of fans not to watch what is being served up at the moment, the commercial sense of cancelling the game on Saturday, Nov 15, for no logical reason, looks even more insane.

And so, faithful readers (if you exist) I now pledge to find good things to say about our upcoming performances. I am not going to Reading but will certainly be at my post for the home games against Forest (Dec 13) and Millwall (Dec 26). Come on you Eagles!

Email Jamesey with any of your comments to Jevans3704@aol.com

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