March 22 2010

Paul Hart

After our 2-2 draw against Blackpool (Mar 20) we're not hovering above the drop zone - we're in it. Jamesey comments.

I have strenuously avoided joining a rising tide of Hart-knockers although it is tempting to have a bit of a go after the Tangerine travesty.

Like many of us, before the game I would have jumped at a draw with the Seasiders like a Jack Russell offered a bag of tripe. So when I switched on Palace Player for the second half I was jubilant to hear that we were two goals up.

The second half, I hear you cry, why only the second half? Well I had to watch my favourite rugby team, Wales, give Italy good thumping in the Six Nations (at the moment, Palace supporters have to seize our pleasures where we can find them).

Anyhow, imagine my amazement that we had even scored any goals at all (it's not really been much of a goalfest during the Hart regime).

The Tangerines scored early in the second half and thenceforward our tactics were retreat and defend. Even the Palace Player commentator seemed incredulous that Palace appeared to have no interest at all in getting out of our own half.

Well, sides that try and defend for 45 minutes to hang on to a lead often come unstuck and, naturally. we got what we had been asking for when Blackpool scored a late equaliser, followed by some Julian Speroni brilliance which saved us from returning south with Sweet Felicity Atkins.

All the other reports and feedback I have looked at appear to confirm the above, particularly an intelligent and insightful posting on the message boards from HOL member "Bubbs" who was actually at the game. I think he is a fair-minded supporter but he too seemed bewildered by a tactical decision that almost asked for a defeat.

Anyway we all think we would be better managers than the ones in the firing line (although personally I wouldn't argue with Fabio Capello). Paul Hart has been a professional footballer and manager; I didn't even play football at school - we used an oval ball. What do I know?

Another issue which comes round time and again is the subject of Uncle Ron Noades who is again linked with a possible Palace connection by a not-altogether-reliable Sunday newspaper.

Ron is still capable of stirring up extreme passions among Eagles supporters - the Devil incarnate through to St Ronald of Selhurst.

I don't go along the sanctification road but having lived all through the Noades era and quite a while before that too, I would welcome someone sensible back in SE25 after a decade of a loudmouth, strutting, conceited jackanapes.

I know all the anti-Ron arguments off by heart but then I just repeat the following litany - Steve Coppell; Mark Bright; Ian Wright; Nigel Martyn; the Holmesdale Stand; the FA Cup final; four consecutive years in the top level and Euro-football had Liverpool not been reinstated; third in the top division, our best ever finish.

That's enough for now though I could think of quite a few more, as no doubt the Ron-knockers can provide their own list of his alleged dirty doings..

Email Jamesey with your comments to jevans3704@aol.com

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