I can't wait for the season to start (From Your Local Guardian)

I can't wait for the season to start

9:49am Friday 6th August 2010

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So the auditions are over and it’s finally time for this season’s curtain raiser against Leicester City.

Many believed this day would never come after the trials and tribulations of one of the most action-packed, stress filled and euphoric summers in the club's history.

But fans will need to keep in mind the situation we were in during May and early June when it comes to tempering expectation levels for the coming season.

Yes, we have sensible new owners, a shrewd, highly thought-of manager and have been able to pay our first transfer fee in two years, but it will take time before we begin to see the effects of these sweeping changes.

In pure football terms George Burley will find it difficult to get the team playing his way.

Warnock’s lump it long ball game may not have been pretty but it was certainly effective. We will look far more susceptible at the back than last year as we adapt to a more expansive game.

Burley also faces the same problem that has haunted every Palace boss since the departure of Andy Johnson: scoring goals.

These problems have come to the fore in a slightly disjointed pre-season.

We were out-played in spells by the likes of Crawley Town and Dorchester as the team attempted to gel and adapt to new faces and new formations.

And this will be the theme for at least the first part of the season but from what I’ve seen and heard of Burley it will come good and this year will see us finishing solidly in mid-table.

Not least because the Scot has managed to persuade Darren Ambrose to stay in south London for a further three-years but also because of the signing of Owen Garvan.

Garvan has been recognised for a number of years amongst followers of the Championship to be a young player of considerable talent, but he’s lost his way just as Ambrose did.

Hopefully a change of scenery will have the same affect on him as it had on the 26-year-old playmaker.

And at £225,000, it could prove to be the deal of the season in the Championship.

As ever the latest crop of youth players have impressed and furthered the ever-growing reputation of the academy.

Keiron Cadogan has been the star of pre-season and will become increasingly important this season as will young Wilfried Zaha, who is arguably the most exciting striker in the squad.

Burley certainly rates the pair and they look set to play a big role in our opening games.

Leicester will be a tough game for Burley and the boys; they’ve been in scintillating form during pre-season and are dangerous going forward.

It may be a little early for us this weekend but I will look forward to seeing glimpses of what may be to come when the team do start to come together and find their feet within the new regime.

Not to mention, enjoying having a club to support.

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