March 17 2010

Paul Hart

Jamesey is getting very nervous as we hover precariously above the trap-door. Third tier next season?

I think most reasonable Palace supporters are trying to give maximum support to our new manager Paul Hart. He's got a tough job to do to keep us in the CCC.

There were, of course, rumblings from some who were not over-impressed by his record and warnings from other sources that his tactical awareness and use of substitutes leave something to be desired.

Well after another loss (0-1) against Leicester City during the week, Hart's statistics make very depressing reading - played four, won one at home, drawn one away, lost two at home. And in over six hours' on the pitch we have managed to score only one goal.

And, of course, we can't brush away our anxieties, saying that we must give him time to settle in. Time is what we definitely ain't got.

What mystifies is how we have changed from being a promotion-chasing team to a struggling relegation haunted shambles. The 10-point deduction, of course, put us in a false relegation position and at the moment we seem to be playing like it.

And, it appears that only Julian Speroni is keeping us from some fairly big thumpings.

From Saturday (Mar 20) we visit Blackpool and have 10 games left to save our bacon.

In an ideal world, Hart would keep us in the Championship, a rich and investment-minded buyer would come along and our current manager would be offered the job next season.

But it isn't an ideal world and if we carry on playing rubbish and losing games like we are doing, the outlook is very bleak indeed.

To finish on a more pleasant note, those of you know me or have perused this column over the years, will realise that I am a lover of all things Hellenic.

Until ill-health made flying and travelling in general an uphill struggle a year or so back, I could usually be found somewhere on the Greek mainland or islands a couple of times or even more every year.

One of my regular and very pleasant correspondents, Chris Feather, has designed and built a superb villa by the sea, just outside the heat and bustle of Athens (see website link below).

He and his partner Silvia are looking to let self-contained studios for what could be a wonderful holiday break to see Athens or visit other breath-taking sites.

Chris is a long-term and died-in-the-wool Palace supporter and, although I don't wish to put words in his mouth, I know he would welcome any other visitors of the red-and-blue faith to talk Palace till the goats come home. And who knows he might even be willing to give a slightly better deal to enjoy that privilege?

What better way to exorcise this demoniac and chilling winter than a little trip to enjoy the glories of Greece?

www.verdevilla.gr

Email Jamesey with your comments to jevans3704@aol.com

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