This weekend, bolstered by two wins on the bounce (perhaps Dan can let us know when we last scored 3 goals in consecutive league games) West Ham welcome our South London neighbours Crystal Palace to the Olympic Stadium. Ahead of the game I caught up with old friend and Crystal Palace die-hard fan, Angela Couch, currently living in exile in Lincoln, but still managing to come down for games, to discuss the game and the season.
Hi Ange, after the current round of mid-week games Crystal Palace sit 4 places behind West Ham with 12 points. That must have been a particularly painful loss to Brighton on Wednesday: what are your feelings on the season so far?
On the most part I think Crystal Palace have played well when I’ve watched them this season. We just can’t seem to get the ball in the back of the net and that’s not through lack of shots. I thought Jordan Ayew would have a run in the side and could net us a hatful of goals, especially with Benteke being out of action. I hoped Jordan would start every game and provide us with a proper, well-needed, striker but we don’t seem to play a striker at all.
Having had three consecutive one season visits to the Premier League, with this being your fifth season in the top flight, you must consider yourselves to be ‘established’?
Firmly established just above the relegation zone but living in hope each season we’ll creep into the top half of the table.
You’ve been through a lot of managers in the past ten years including two of own ex-managers in Big Sam and Pards, are there any that you think should have been given a bit more time? How does Roy Hodgson rate on the list? Is he going to be your manager for the long term?
I had to look up just how many managers we have had over the past ten years and yes, it is a lot.
Starting with Neil Warnock back in 2010, I was gutted when he left. It’s strange that you can dislike someone but as soon as they become your team’s manager you can easily change your mind. Neil Warnock was a lot calmer when he came to Palace and he did good for us. I believe he left because he wanted to retire. Mmmmm. That didn’t last long.
I quite liked Alan Pardew as a manager but I think it was the right time for him to leave the club. Sam Allardyce was another manager that I did not like before he came to the club. I remember feeling very upset when I heard he had been appointed. It was actually my dad that made me feel better about it, he said it was probably just what Palace needed. He was right. I would have liked Big Sam to have stayed longer, definitely.
I was not a big fan of Roy Hodgson when he came to Palace but he has been a stabling influence on the club and we needed that. He is also a Palace man through and through, having been born in Croydon (as was I). I like the way he sets out the team to attack when we can and not always sit back like so many other Palace teams have done in the past. One thing I would say though is that we need to incorporate a proper striker and I don’t think Wilf is at his best in that position. I hope he stays for the rest of this season at least.
What do you think about Manuel Pelligrini’s appointment and tenure as West Ham manager?
I think it is a great appointment for West Ham. If he continues to take West Ham in the right direction I think he could stick with the club for years.
Which teams have impressed you at Selhurst Park this season, and which teams do you think will end up in the Champions League slots?
Arsenal played well at Selhurst. Most of the other teams didn’t look that impressive.
Champions League slots – Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal.
On the other hand who has been poor this season, and who are your favourites for relegation?
Burnley were poor. I was at that match and it was a fantastic atmosphere. Burnley offered very little, which is strange because I have seen them in other matches and they looked like they had enough not to be relegated.
My favourites for relegation are Huddersfield, Fulham and Cardiff. Southampton always manage to sneak out of trouble at the last minute.
What positions do you think Crystal Palace and West Ham will occupy at the end of the season?
Palace will likely finish 16th, just above Southampton. West Ham 10th.
I’m sure most teams in the League (apart from Man Utd) would take Wilfred Zaha, which other player(s) would you be loathe to lose?
As a Palace fan I am used to losing our best players so I don’t get too upset about it anymore. I like our new midfielder Max Meyer. I want to keep him in the side.
Who would you be happy to see go?
Another midfielder, Milivojevic. He is not always in the game enough. Some of the ex-Liverpool players like Martin Kelly and Christian Benteke. (Although, I understand that the whole time that Benteke has been playing for us he has had an injury.)
Most West Ham fans I think (without any evidence to back it up) were surprised to see James Tompkins and Cheikhou Kouyaté leave West Ham, how are these former ‘fans favourites’ transfers turning out for Crystal Palace?
Tompkins has been immense. One of the first on the team sheet now.
It has taken Kouyate a little bit of time but he has started to play well. He definitely adds something to the team.
Which if any West Ham players would you like to see playing for Palace and why?
Quite a few. I like Lanzini, Antonio, Perez, Arnautovic, Hernandez. People that can score goals because that is what we are lacking at Palace.
How will Crystal Palace set out against West Ham on Saturday? Formation/Team?
HennesseyWan-Bissaka Tomkins Sakho Van Aarnholt
McArthur Kouyaté Milivojevic Meyer
Zaha TownsendAre you confident you can get a positive result away at West Ham this weekend? Prediction for the score?
No, I am not confident. West Ham are in good form at the moment and I think they will win 3-1.
Well many thanks to Angela for her time. I hope she is right and that we can win another game and score three more goals, but surely it can’t be true? A bubble of a dream, rising high, let’s hope it won’t fade. 3 – 1 West Ham 3 – 1. COYI