Haven’t We Been Here Before?

Peter Taylor, ,

I make that our third 1-0 defeat to Charlton in our last three home matches with them. It’s all a bit familiar and depressing. Svetoslav Todorov’s goal fifteen minutes from time decided the game at Selhurst Park yesterday.

Peter Taylor said, “I don’t think we deserved to lose” (pity that we did, eh Peter?). Meanwhile Charlton counterpart Alan Pardew said, “I enjoy coming back here, I always get a nice reception and the fans are brilliant to me. It’s been a great day.” I don’t remember him saying anything like that when he lost at Selhurt Park with West Ham three years ago. I suppose it’s easier to say things like that when you’re going home with three points.

Palace Stink It Up On Sky

Live on Sky, , ,

Ugh. Horrific game. We were dismal, second to everything, not much effort, it really looked as if a lot of players didn’t particularly care about the result and it was probably down to Julian Speroni alone that we didn’t suffer a heavier defeat. All this on a day when we could have gone equal top of the table, not that you’d have thought that on this performance.

Today was one of those games which really frustrated me, with the final straw being the substitution of Clinton Morrison when we were looking for a goal. Who else in our colours (which somehow continue to look worse and worse on each viewing recently) is more likely to score a goal for us?

Not a good day to be a Palace fan. That took a good forty-five minutes of dog walking to wind down from.

Clinton Salvages a Point

Clinton Morrison, Stuart Green, ,

When you go behind three minutes from time you don’t expect to get something from the game. Thankfully though Clinton Morrison’s equaliser – his 99th goal for Palace – managed to get us a 2-2 draw against Leicester City today. Stuart Green had previously given us a first-half lead.

I don’t know about anyone else, but after the great result on the opening day of the season I feel somewhat deflated about the season ahead. I was hoping the cup result against Bristol Rovers would be just a blip, but now I’m not sure what this season will bring. Personally I’m looking forward to next week’s televised clash with Ipswich Town to see how we look first-hand.

Taylor takes another cup seriously

Ben Watson, Dougie Freedman, League Cup, Peter Taylor, Shefki Kuqi

A team full of reserves managed to crash out of the League Cup tonight, losing 4-1 on penalties to Bristol Rovers (1-1 after ninety minutes and also after extra time).

Dougie Freedman scored what was apparently a sublime free-kick, but was one of two players to miss in the shoot-out. The other was Shefki Kuqi, who most fans on BBS were quick to criticise, while others would happily drive him to possible-buyers Ipswich themselves.

Of the first-teamers who did play one managed to receive an injury. Ben Watson was reported to be unable to put any weight on his left leg following his substitution. Obviously we hope it isn’t a bad injury.

Peter Taylor’s record in cup games as Palace manager now stands at P4, W1, L3 (yes, I’m counting this as a defeat). The warning I received from a Hull City fan to never expect a cup run under Taylor seems entirely justified on present evidence.

Bristol Rovers 1-1 Crystal Palace (AET) [BBC Sport]

Palace start season with 4-1 win

Clinton Morrison, James Scowcroft, Southampton

James Scowcroft was Palace’s hero yesterday, scoring a hat-trick as we began the season with a 4-1 win at Southampton.

Our second and third goals rank among the most amusing goals I’ve seen Palace score. The second came almost straight from Southampton’s kick-off, while the third was almost scored directly from Julian Speroni’s kick. Saints goalie Bartosz Bialkowski could only prevent the ball bouncing over him by palming it straight onto Scowcroft’s head.

The other scorer for Palace was Clinton Morrison, who now has 98 goals in a Palace shirt.

Southampton 1-4 Crystal Palace [BBC Sport]
Clinton’s 100 Goal Countdown [cpfc.org]

The season starts today

New season

How do you know that the season starts today? We’re away from home, that’s how.

This year we begin with a trip to St. Mary’s, where we’ve yet to beat Southampton (okay, we’ve only played there twice).

I don’t think I’m the right person to write a season preview, so let’s just say I’m not optimistic (I don’t put much stock in being unbeaten through the preseason).

Our youth system is admired up here too

Transfer rumours, , ,

Interesting piece on the BBC website today that says that Motherwell might be in the market to take some of our younger players on loan. Given that Motherwell are a matter of miles away from where I live, I thought it only fair to share a few thoughts on the subject.

1) Could many Palace fans name Motherwell’s manager before clicking the above link? Well, if you haven’t read it let me tell you who it is. Mark McGhee. That’s right, ex-Millwall and ex-Brighton manager Mark McGhee. The same Mark McGhee thousands of us urged to cheer up during the play-offs in 1997. Do we really want to help him out? I say no.

2) The typical Motherwell attendance for a non-Old Firm opponent is around 5,000. With those numbers do you think they’re paying any loanee’s wages in full? I doubt it very much.

3) For all the arguments about the quality of the SPL the one word I would definitely use to describe it is physical. If the likes of Lewis Grabban are going to get kicked about I’d sooner they are being kicked about in the Championship while wearing our red and blue. Why take the risk when it isn’t us gaining the reward?

4) Lewis Grabban became a regular substitute for the first team towards the end of the last season, and has already scored in a league fixture. I’d say that makes him too valuable for him to go anywhere.

5) Mark McGhee? Really?

Jordan wins Dowie court case

Iain Dowie, Simon Jordan

Wow – quite a surprise this. Simon Jordan has won his court case against Iain Dowie.

All the media coverage seemed bleak from a Palace perspective, and many of the legal eagles on the BBS were expecting a negative outcome. While common sense would seem to say that Dowie engineered his way to Charlton that is quite a different thing than proving it in a court of law, especially in what appears to be a “I said/he said” case.

Apparently who is owed what will be settled at a later date (surely if we won the case then we’re owed £1m, or does that make too much sense?), so it looks like this will continue to run and run.

Palace chief wins £1m court case [BBC News]