Another week rolls on with no news on who the new Palace boss will be, but caretaker manager Keith Millen has steadied the ship somewhat and the Eagles are now beginning to find their feet in the Premier League.
It was going to be one of those days. Rush out of work to find that all the trains were cancelled, then get caught in traffic when I call up my dad and he decides to drive. Nowhere to park, great. Rush to the stadium and there’s a massive gaping hole in the road, forcing hundreds of people to squeeze through a tiny gap left by the fence cordoning it off. What followed was a bottleneck to enter through sainsbury’s car park.
It was really going well… but it could have been worse; as the reason for the cancelled trains was an overturned vehicle on the railway line. That put it into perspective as I considered my fortune that I wasn’t the one travelling to hospital instead of Selhurst Park.
In the end, it wasn’t one of those days. Palace put in a spirited and vastly improved performance over a strong Everton side that could have gone second in the Premier League the previous weekend, but instead settled for a respectable seventh position. A point against a Toffees side with Miralles, Baines and Pienaar in was no mean feat for the Premier League’s bottom team.
What stood out was the real desire from the Palace team to earn the point, to keep Everton out and to go home with a smile on their faces. It could have even been better for Keith Millen’s side, had Jerome Thomas, Kagisho Dikgacoi and Marouane Chamakh not wasted excellent opportunities. Alas, the supporters went home quietly impressed with what they had seen, and rightly so. It was a gutsy, determined performance; personified by Thomas and Dean Moxey.
Former Exeter and Derby County man, Moxey has been subject of much discussion on the messageboards this season. Some arguing his performances have been excellent, whilst others (including myself) questioning the reasons for his last-ditch tackles and casting doubt over his real quality. However, the 27-year-old left-back produced an outstanding performance to keep Everton at bay.
It was more like the Palace of old. There were shades of Matt Lawrence and Paddy McCarthy’s embrace at Watford back in 2010, as Moxey put his head on the line, quite literally, towards the end of the match to win a header against Seamus Coleman despite knowing he would be clattered. He embodied Palace’s spirit on Saturday and if there is hope for the Eagles to stay up, then the entire team must show some of this determination.
Iain Moody was appointed as “sporting director” of the club last week, in a move designed to change the structure of the club to a more continental style, relieving some of the pressure on any new manager. Such a move was shrewd from CPFC2010, as the former Cardiff employee has vast knowledge and insight into the game. It’s a step back in the right direction for the club, following a few mistakes in recruitment or lack of, following the departure of Dougie Freedman last year.
It is hoped that a new manager will be appointed at Selhurst Park by the weekend, with many names still being linked; some being ruled out and some being plucked seemingly from thin air. Whoever is appointed must retain the spirit and unity of the club, return it to the fans and create a sense of intrigue and excitement around Selhurst Park; because when the fans are vocal and excited, it usually means the players are doing their job on the pitch, and indeed provides a welcome boost around the club. Millen has done well to return somewhat of a feel-good factor to SE25, but will the new man be able to continue this?
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