Midweek matters at Selhurst Park. Yes, it’s Crystal Palace away.
It doesn’t seem like five minutes since we beat an annoying club from London and here we are about to beat an annoying club from London. Chelsea might not have much history before they were taken over but at least they’ve got something now. Crystal Palace haven’t got much of a past to speak of and neither have they got a present or a future. Some clubs make an impact, some are just there to give the rest of us something to do for ninety minutes every so often. The only thing you can really say about Palace is that getting there makes the European journeys seem short.
Once upon a time Palace had a successful youth policy, a talented young manager and ambitious owners. That was all a long time ago. Since then they’ve been up and down more than most although somehow they’ve been in the Premier League for the past fifteen years. That’ll have to end soon.
Steve Bruce used to be their manager until he was replaced by the late Beelzebub, Prince of Darkness. After that they employed such charming characters as Neil Warnock, Ian Holloway and Sam Allardyce before making up for them by giving a retirement job to Uncle Roy Hodgson, twice. In fact they’ve made a habit of appointing managers they’d got rid of; it’s probably the most interesting thing about them. That or footage of us playing them in 1988 was the backdrop to the climax of the original The Firm, when Bex got shot after the ICC stormed the Buccaneers pub.
Palace have got the most anonymous squad in the Premier League. We’ve got the most injured. They’ve also got that annoying load of ultras who bang drums, wave flags and shout a lot. We’ve got no such nonsense and please God, never will have.
Our reserves lost here last season. The first team will do a lot better. If you’re going you should have left by now and if you stay to the end you’ll miss the kick-off on Friday.
