This week I speak to Crystal Palace fan Jay from the EaglesBeak.com
What league position will you finish this season?
It’s amazing to think that we are potentially looking at mid-table obscurity. I’d challenge any Palace fan to tell me that is what they expected from us before the season started! But while we have got this far, why not expect us to stay there. Beyond anything I expected, I’m going to say that we will end finishing 12th.
Are you happy with Tony Pulis as a manager? Were you disappointed when Ian Holloway was sacked?
For the record, Holloway was not sacked. I was a fan of what he had done for us and it was a shame to see him go. When he left it was probably the right time, he just was not himself and some of decisions that went against early in the season he seemed to take quite personally. The fact is the Premier League has changed a lot since he was last there with Blackpool. You simply cannot get promoted and have a go at teams any more and this is where he was found wanting. If he had stayed then we’d perhaps have been down by now.
Who will be the three teams to get relegated?
Tough call even at this stage. I’d have to say that I cannot say much different to Fulham, Cardiff and Sunderland but there is still so much football still to play that one of them could escape at the expense of either Norwich or West Brom.
How is West ham and their fans perceived among Crystal Palace fans?
Good question. It’s an odd thing a London derby as many percieve them al to be as fierce as another. But thatis not the truth. We really have no big feeling towards each other as a whole although I would add that the play off final in Cardiff a few years back added some spice to this fixture. Our former player Alan Pardew was your manager and we were never given a hope, especially against a team wearing t-shirts with ‘the original academy’ or similar emblazoned on them.
What is your view on West Ham moving to the Olympic Stadium?
As a sports fan and former athlete myself I would have preferred for it to have been the national sports centre for athletics but in this day and age that alone would not cover the costs. Otherwise, I’m indifferent as it does not have a direct effect on Palace. I’m surprised West Ham are leaving Upton Park but I guess that is the time we are in where improvement is sought at every opportunity.
Who are your key players are and who has disappointed you the most this season?
Four for me have been key this season. Argentine goalkeeper Julian Speroni has been in great form as has captain Mile Jedinak, the heartbeat of the team. Also full back turned utility player Joel Ward who I am certain will represent England one day, he is that good. The other I would say is Damien Delaney. Many, myself included, never expected him to make the step up that he has but he has. A player full of passion and pride, you only have to look back at his reaction to the play final win against Watford to see what it means to him. Disapointed? I’m not a critical kind of guy and it’s not what we like to do on TEB. However, it has been a shame that Spanish midfielder Jose Campana was injured at the start of the season and never really made it into the side which has resulted in him being loaned to FCN in the Bundesliga. A real talent but maybe a luxury that a team like Palace cannot afford. The other two I would mention is Dwight Gayle and Jonny Williams but that is more down to not having the playing time we would have expected. The latter is on fire at Ipswich in the Championship where he is on loan so one for next season I’m sure.
What is your view on Marouane Chamakh? What has Pulis seen in him that Allardyce didn’t?
I admit I was against his signing. Big wages and what would we get for it? Never judge a book by it’s cover. While he was considered a flop at Arsenal I had a lot of good comments from fans about him so I accepted. The deal was one year with an option for a second but if we ended up back in the Championship he would be likely to leave. And what a deal that has turned out to be. It is a falicy that he has played well since Pulis arrived. He was already doing a decent job under Holloway although Pulis has managed to get that little bit more out of him. Playing in ‘the hole’ behind the main striker he has been a revelation. Working extremely hard the whole game, chasing back, making tackles and all for the good of the team. He has really won me over and I would argue that he has become a firm fans favourite, a cult hero even. Maybe even a shout for player of the season if the likes of Speroni, Ward and Jedinak were not playing so well.
What is your Achilles heel?
Naivity. It is something most newly promoted teams have. A manager can do only so much once the players are out on the pitch. We have been guilty of being too naive at times. I look at the home game against Southampton as an ideal example. The Saints are a good side, full of good players but they have a bit of experience at this level. I watched with interest how they knew when to slow the game down, make a cynical challenge in areas of the field that would not result in a threat but breaks up the play. All too often we have won the ball and attacked with speed rather than taking some time to hold on to the ball and work at it. Possession has not been high on our list of priorities in games.
If you could have any West Ham player in your team who would you choose?
If you asked Pulis that question then it would be Andy Carroll – he fits the bill! In all seriousness, for me it would be midfielder Mark Noble. An experienced player in the Premier League, quality on the ball and pitches in with goals which is something we are missing.
Score and prediction for West Ham v Palace?
I fancy this one being a draw and wouldn’t put it past being a goalless one too.
Thanks to Jay from the Eagles Beak theeaglesbeak.com and twitter TheEaglesBeak