December 8 2013

Marouane Chamakh grapples with the Cardiff defence and later scored Palace's second in a 2-0 win

Jamesey jumped on the Clapham Junction stopping train with more hope than usual for our match against Cardiff City. And he was right.

In the month since we cranked out a home 0-0 draw with Everton, the tide has certainly turned in a big way. We are still, of course, a long way from avoiding the drop from the Moulah League but the facts speak for themselves - played four and won three of them.

It is still early December and (if you count Caretaker Millen) we are on our third manager this season. However after the departure of Ian Holloway we have seen a steady improvement.

We are playing in front of almost sell-out crowds at Selhurst (just under 24,000 for the Cardiff game) and in our past ventures into the top flight that has just not happened. The obvious games always pulled in the maximum punters but matches like Fulham, Swansea and Sunderland would certainly not have done so.

So what was wrong earlier in the season and why is it looking so much better now and how did a ragbag of summer signings manage to gel into a handy looking team?

It would certainly appear that Ollie was a far from motivational manager and he was unable to produce any sort of spirit and nous into the squad. Or was it merely that more time would have seen the team blossom into the side that has now revealed itself?

Tony Pulis was, of course, the early favourite to get the top job but it was speculated that his salary demands were far too inflated. Anyhow, after going round and round the mulberry bush for a few weeks, Pulis got the nod and if he can keep the Eagles in the top flight, a couple of million quid bonus would seem a small price to pay for the financial returns.

The appointment of Pulis was not exactly met with wild enthusiasm by Palace supporters, with his reputation for playing long-ball "ugly" football. However his record at Stoke proves that he has the experience and know-how to do what exactly our owners were looking for - to keep a small, unfashionable club in the top echelon.

After the excellent result against Cardiff, if that's what "ugly" football is all about, give us more, please.

On another subject, there has been considerable discussion amongst HOL members about the standing/seating issue recently and mention of a leaflet handed out to ingoing supporters at the turnstiles.

The message below was not exactly handed out but was available at the Cardiff fixture, although not offered, in my case, for interested parties to read. Was it a serious statement from the club or an attempt to keep the authorities happy by appearing to address the situation?

I sit in front of a large group of fans who stand at the top of Block W in the Arthur Wait and good luck to them as long as we all know what to expect - just like the Holmesdale contingent. Nobody who knows how Selhurst works would expect to sit in Block B.

But there seems to be a creeping increase in "standers" in other areas and I reproduce the leaflet below although for all I know it may have been shown on the HOL message boards. Maybe this could give it wider publicity?

'TO ALL SUPPORTERS AT SELHURST PARK

As a large stadium licenced by both the Local Authority and the Sports Ground Safety Authority, it is a condition of our licence that we provide an all seated venue and standing is not permitted in the seating areas.

It is also a Premier League and Football League ground regulation that there should be no standing in the stadium.

For the benefit of our home and away disabled supporters, whose areas are at the rear of the stands, together with those younger fans and those who cannot stand easily we would ask you to allow them to enjoy the game as well.

For the sake of ALL the fans in the stadium, both home and away, please remain seated.

Thanks for your co-operation. Enjoy the game.

STADIUM AND SAFETY TEAM'

Email Jamesey with your comments to jevans3704@aol.com

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