August 14 2016

Puncheon lets fly in the second half while Townsend looks on. But no goals were forthcoming

The sun broke through in Palace's opening league game for the '16/17 season. A disappointed Jamesey witnessed a 0-1 defeat.

Having been to two pre-season friendlies, one a defeat to a lower division team and the other a spirited win against a top European side, it was hard to know what to expect when West Bromwich Albion came to Selhurst.

There was the usual near-capacity turn-out and an impressive display of noise and banners from the Holmesdale Fanatics. Their enthusiasm is admirable. Although the official attendance was 24,490, it was hard to see any spare seats from where I was sitting.

Most of the pundits forecast a tight game, either goalless or with a one-goal decider.

As it turned out they were right but regrettably the decider came from the head of a Baggies striker, the Venezuelan Salomon Rondon, in the 75th minute.

WBA boss Tony Pulis is not the most popular fellow in the SE25 area for reasons far to convoluted to repeat here. Rumours that he might be the victim of a Chinese send-out by the club's new owner, Guochuan Lai, gained little sympathy with Eagles supporters.

However an opening away victory will have done him no harm, one assumes, in the eyes of the new guvnor. The Welshman will have certainly made a strong case for not getting the chop (suey) yet.

This supporter wasn't expecting a classic feast of football from two of the lowest goal-scoring teams in the Evenmorebagsodosh league last season. And he certainly didn't get it.

Palace just about shaded the first half although a header from eventual match-winner, Rondon, was superbly saved by Wayne Hennessey. If that had gone in it could have been a completely different game.

Our new signing Andros Townsend continued to look dangerous and his guile and experience are a shining example to under-performing wingers, Wilfried Zaha and Yannick Bolasie (who started on the bench).

Mid-fielders Mile Jedinak and Chung-yong Lee did a workmanlike job but how we miss the classy pairing of Yohan Cabaye and James McArthur in that area. Their combination of brains and aggression was so important to the Eagles last season and could be a big help to keeping us up in top tier. Hopefully they will be back in the starting line-up soon.

Our lone striker Connor Wickham who looked so good against Valencia was anonymous. To be fair to the lad none of his team-mates seemed able to provide him with any ammunition for most of the time.

At least the score was still 0-0 at the break so a nicked goal looked like winning the match. It did of course, but from the team wearing blue and white not blue and red.

If the first period was football of unconvincing, the second half saw a deterioration into football of a very poor kind.

Possibly through frustration or whatever reason, the Eagles degenerated into what could only be called a shambles.

There was no discernible tactical nous, passes went adrift, unforced errors gave the ball away. You know, it was almost like watching the England national side.

Bolasie has been the big talking point of late and he came on the field in the 65th minute and made no difference whatsoever.

The player is expected to pack his bags and head for Goodison Park within the next week or so when all the loose ends are sorted out.

There is little doubt that Yannick will always be remembered with great affection at Selhurst. In the lead-up to the last promotion the triumvirate of Wilf, Glen Murray and himself were a massive contributing factor to CPFC's success.

Nevertheless, the boss is quoted as saying: "...if [Yannick's] heart and soul is not with us then we have to exchange goodbyes and look to get better."

Pards obviously isn't really busting a gut to keep him at Selhurst.

Email Jamesey with your comments to jevans3704@aol.com

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