November 20 2016

Pards and Pep look on as Wilf feeds Connor…but once again the Eagles suffered a defeat

Four losses down and a match against one of the country’s top outfits. Regrettably it was cold weather and cold comfort for Palace. Jamesey reports.

My last column was written after a home defeat by Liverpool (Oct 29). The score, 4-2, probably sounds worse than it was. The Scousers’ last two goals were a result of what seems to be becoming a Palace habit - sloppy defending.

However the following away game (Nov 6) at Turf Moor was more of a cause for worry. Having doggedly fought back from a two-goal deficit to equalise, the Eagles threw away a possible point by conceding in the 6th minute of time added on.

One could always pay the team the compliment of saying they threw everything at Burnley to gain three points. Unfortunately the gung-ho tactic provided the Clarets with a counter-punch goal. And there it was, another loss.

So on a wintry day (Nov 19), Palace faced a potential fifth defeat on the spin and a further descent towards the bottom three.

I hardly need add nowadays that it was a full house as it rarely isn’t. The surrounding seats to mine in the Arthur Wait were occupied by a group of Bulgarian lads. I chatted with them and they were highly vocal Palace supporters.

I almost told them that I had once visited the Bulgarian resort of Sunny Beach on holiday. I decided on discretion not to, as my trip was 45 years ago when the resort was more commonly known as Slanchev Bryag and was a pleasant place on the Black Sea to spend a few days, in our case en route to Istanbul.

Judging by TV programmes I have seen recently the resort now seems to be totally occupied by swarms of British youngsters whose aim is to get completely obliterated with cheap alcohol, fall over dead drunk, vomit on the pavement, etc, etc.

I didn’t want my fellow supporter neighbours to think I was that sort of person, did I?

But I digress. As far as the game is concerned, the Eagles were getting it together really well considering the high-class opposition.

My current favourite blond, Yohan Cabaye, was looking masterful, apart from his free kicks. Jason Puncheon was playing really incisively too. They both performed as well as they ever had.

Although I have singled out the two players above, the whole team were so much better than of late.

Unfortunately the end of the first period saw a return to some of our worst habits. A defensive bloomer from Martin Kelly ended with a deflected goal scored by the returned-to-favour Yaya Toure.

Nevertheless, after the break the Eagles fought back strongly and substitute Connor Wickham lashed in a terrific shot to make it 1-1 in the 66th minute.

Our hopes were rising - a point would be good, or even a win?

But the same old problem reared up yet again. Towards the end of the match, a corner kick eluded a sleeping Eagles defence an an unmarked Toure executed a simple side-footed goal for a 1-2 victory.

A normally sleek Alan Pardew looked unusually ruffled in his post-match interview. And for good reason as Palace are now 5th from bottom. More defeats and some victories from fellow strugglers would see us plumb the very depths.

Will Messrs Parish and his fellow directors have enough confidence in their manager to stick with him or will the prospect of relegation and the stemming of all that lovely Premier lolly force them to look for a change?

To finish on the subject of Premier dosh, the nationals have recently highlighted a report by a body called the Global Sports Salary Survey.

I am not aware how they source their statistics but they have listed Crystal Palace as having the world’s 20th highest football club wage bill - £1.96m per annum giving an average of £37k a week.

My first reaction on reading this, as I have already stated elsewhere, was anger at the thought of a bunch of millionaire players performing before me in an outdated, crumbling stadium. The Arthur Wait in particular has medieval toilet facilities and third-rate eating outlets.

In six seasons, the only “improvement” I can discern is that my old comfortable wooden seat has been replaced by an uncomfortable plastic one with equally inadequate leg room.

But I have backed CPFC 2010 in every respect since they stepped in and on deeper reflection can see their dilemma.

We paying supporters are a small consideration now, while massive loads of cash for TV coverage bloat the Premier League.

Thus, the absolute priority is to avoid relegation and miss out on all that. So if you don’t pay out silly money for the best talent you don’t get them and maybe that doesn’t leave much dosh for stadium development?

I don’t know the answer but as a paying spectator for over half a century I feel I am very much the poor relation now.

Email Jamesey with your comments to jevans3704@aol.com

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