My first blog (the one your currently reading) is going to be about my beloved Crystal Palace F.C. I will try to make this the only trip I take you on to a virtual Selhurst Park (again I will try!!). So here goes......
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| Zaha from shy youth product to club legend in 3 years |
A lot has been said recently by pundits, fans and bloggers about Palace's chances of survival this year but this blogger see's a team and a club destined for more than equaling Derby's poor showing five years ago.
Three years on from facing liquidation and under the guidance of a very business savy board and one of England's best managers Ian Holloway the club are heading in the right direction. Starting off the close season by losing two of your best players in Wilf Zaha (if you havent heard of him yet just wait and see) to Manchester United (Fergie's last ever signing) and Glenn Murray top goalscorer in the Championship last year through injury it wasn't the greatest time looking at the squad. However I think that Holloway has built a squad currently as I am writing (12/08/13) that has a good chance of staying up. I believe it is a squad that has more than one game plan.
Game plan one: A lot of Palace's goals last year came from set pieces as well as crosses into the box, I think this is why Holloway was quick to bring in wingers Grandin,Dobbie and Thomas who all have quality delivery as well as keeping Yannick Bolasie (the best buy of last year IMO). I think there is a good chance that a lot of Palace's game this season will be to stifle the opposition and hit on the break with pace and then relying on that quality delivery from the wide men to be put away by Phillips,Gayle or Chamakh. Having the option of Marouane Chamakh as the main striker is one that gives Palace a chance of an out ball for him to hold up and bring others into play.
Similar to: West Ham - Finished last season:12th
Game plan two: The departure of Zaha is softened by the fact a young Welshman is still at the club Johnny "Joniesta" Williams, this young man is by far one of the best footballers I have ever seen with or without my red'n'blue tinted glasses on. He has immense talent for someone so young and after already playing in high pressure internationals (coming on for Gareth Bale while Wale's were losing 0-1 to Scotland, only to turn it around with a 2-1 win) he will feel at home in the Premier League. The game at the top is less physical and more about skill and technique both attributes that Williams has in abundance. So game plan two will be built around keeping the ball and making sure we don't get sloppy in possession and Williams is vital to this, alongside Jedinak and new boy Jose Campana we see a midfield three that wouldn't be out of place in any Premier League team from about 8th - 15th they are that good. Against teams like Everton and Swansea this game plan will be vital as Palace look to beat teams who are only one or two steps above them.
Similar to: Swansea - Finished last season:9th
Game plan three: This will be one that combines the top two game plans and will be used against the bottom eight teams, Fulham,Cardiff,Hull and Stoke these teams at Selhurst will be needed to be treated as beatable and the pace of the team when attacking with overlapping fullbacks and possession in the 60+percentile will be to much for some teams if executed to its highest potential.
Similar to: Tottenham - Finished last season: 5th
So I think there is a good chance from how I see the team playing that Palace will beat the drop and finish about 14th.
