Blackpool vs Crystal Palace Preview
Posted: March 31, 2013 Filed under: News, Previews/Reviews Leave a commentCrystal Palace head into this one without a victory in their past 3 matches and only one win on the road this calender year. The Eagles have conceded 7 in their past 2 matches and will be hoping to turn their fortunes around and keep their push for automatic promotion going against a Blackpool side who have won just once in their past 8 games. Paul Ince is still looking for his first home win in charge and has yet to see his Tangerines score at Bloomfield Road under his tenure.
There is added spice to this fixture as it sees new Palace boss Ian Holloway return to his old side that he guided to the Premier League only two years ago, after quitting the Seasiders earlier on in the season.
Team News
Blackpool
Blackpool go into this fixture with no new injury concerns, with defender Ian Evatt (Knee Injury) and forward Gary Taylor-Fletcher (hamstring) the only two remaining sidelined. Chris Basham could deputise again after making an appearance last time out after suffering from a cheek bone injury.
Defenders. Defenders. Where for art thou Defenders?
Posted: March 30, 2013 Filed under: Opinion Leave a commentFor my very first opinion piece for Eating The Burger I was hoping, giving the season we’ve had so far, that it would be a more uplifting piece, full of praise and optimism for the team going into the final 8 games of the season. This is however an article on the shambolic defending we’ve witnessed over the past two matches. Defending that has destroyed our momentum going into the crucial final 7 games, and turned fans on the team (rather unjustly I might add) and the manager.
Peter Ramage and Damien Delaney have been a revelation this season at the back for the Eagles forming a fantastic bond both on and off the pitch. Their commitment has never been in doubt, and those fans that have been getting on the teams back via Twitter and what not shame on you, because these two guys have given everything for the cause this season. However the truth remains we’ve struggled with conceding goals all season. Under Freedman Murrays goals and our natural momentum from the consecutive victories saw us winning games from almost impossible positions. We were 2 goals down on numerous occasions at home, but for Murrays fantastic hat-trick at home to Cardiff which gave us a 3-2 victory , or Wilfried Zaha’s brace against Burnley which helped the team win 4-3, we could easily have been humbled on more than one occasion this season.
Yesterday Birmingham were clinical scoring 4 of their 5 shots on target, whereas Palace’s usually reliable front line misfired all night. On another night it could easily have been 3-3. But that’s no excuse. Under Holloway something has happened on the defensive side that is making me nervous. When Freedman was in charge, despite conceding our fair share there was always a sense of solidity at the back. An established back 5 of Speroni, Ward, Parr, Ramage and Delaney were mainstays, which gave us a real stability. Holloway on the other hand chops and changes the back four at will, even mid game, as we have seen most recently at Birmingham where KG was moved to right back to accommodate Dobbie, despite not being a natural right back.
Parr is a far, far better full back than Moxey, who is in my opinion is punching above his weight at this level. A fantastic tryer, but still lacking the necessary know how to deal with the quality of winger he faces in this division. The KG thing is unforgivably bad, considering he had a recognised right back on the bench in Joel Ward to bring on yesterday.
When Holloway surprisingly left Blackpool for Palace several months ago now, there was a lot of bad blood between the players who felt betrayed by his departure. Centre half Ian Evatt came out and openly criticised his former boss for a complete lack of defensive understanding, even implying that on the training ground defending was never worked on. Whether this is totally true we will never know, but I am starting to wonder. Under Freedman there was at least a shape and a method behind the way we defended set plays in particular, meaning the majority of goals conceded by us were of relative quality. Under Holloway however the same players are making the most routine of mistakes. Not picking up their men from corners, not holding a tight line, and allowing themselves to be pulled apart from one another on far too many occasions.
3 goals at Brighton was embarrassing, especially against the old enemy. But 4 at home to a lowly Birmingham City side with the chance to go second with a win is almost unforgivable. If what Evatt said was true and Holloway doesn’t focus on defending in training, he seriously needs to start if he himself is serious about his claims for wanting to get this side promoted.
Im still behind Holloway for now, and I’m 110% behind the boys that have done us all so proud this season. Blackpool will be a real test of character on Monday, but if we can address our defensive frailties, and knick a win then that will put our promotion push right back on track. If we continue to defend as we have been and lose again Monday then I wish Holloway all the best in his future job, because the wheels could well and truly come off and the blame will fall solely at his feet.
Crystal Palace 0 Birmingham City 4
Posted: March 30, 2013 Filed under: News, Previews/Reviews Leave a commentA dismal display from Crystal Palace saw them slump to a 4-0 home defeat at the hands of a rampant Birmingham City side, live in front of the Sky cameras.
After the disappointment of the 3-0 away defeat the Eagles suffered to their bitter rivals Brighton before the international break, Holloways men were looking to bounce back with a positive performance at home. Having not lost at Selhurst Park since the opening day of the season the omens were good. Birmingham had other ideas.
After a rather drab first 20 minutes in which both sides cancelled each other out, a fantastic bit of individual skill from young winger Nathan Redmond broke the deadlock on 24 minutes. Picking the ball up 30 yards from goal he dribbled past two Palace defenders before cooly slotting it into the far corner.
Palace looked shell shocked and it told again just 8 minutes later when from a vicious corner Eagles centre back Damien Delaney rose highest only to see his header thump into the back of his own net to make it 2-0 to the visitors.
Palace rallied before half time with Kevin Phillips and Glenn Murray both wasting good opportunities before the break, and then the two same perpetrators were guilty of missing two further golden chances in the opening 10 minutes of the second half.
The home side were punished for their poor finishing when the Blues other winger Ravel Morrison got him self on the score sheet after calmly side footing the ball beyond the Palace keeper. The win was sealed 5 minutes later when on-loan Newcastle midfielder Shane Ferguson curled home a delicious free-kick to complete the rout and give the away side all the three points.
Crystal Palace vs Birmingham City Preview
Posted: March 28, 2013 Filed under: News, Previews/Reviews Leave a commentCrystal Palace welcome Birmingham City on Good Friday looking to put the disappointment of the 3-0 defeat to arch rivals Brighton well and truly behind them.
The Eagles sit just three points shy of an automatic promotion spot with Holloways men knowing that a win could see them end the day in second place and in the driving seat for automatic promotion.
Birmingham City on the other hand have been seeing something of a revival in recent weeks as a run of just one defeat from their past six matches has seen them climb into the top half of the table. A win for the Blues could see them hot on the heels of the top six and go some way to rescuing what has been a rather lacklustre season for them.
Team News
Crystal Palace
Wilfired Zaha is suspended following a one match man for his gesture towards Leeds fans in Palace’s last home game. However Joel Ward, Danny Gabbidon and Alex Nimely could come back into the squad after all recovering from their respective injuries. Stephen Dobbie returns also after being unavailable for the Brighton game, however another loanee Jacob Butterfield has returned to his parent club Norwich so is no longer available. New Signing Aruna Dindane may feature, but is lacking match fitness. Paddy McCarthy and Owen Garvan remain on the long term injury list.
Birmingham City
Marlon King is the major absentee for Birmingham, with a knee operation keeping the Blues top scorer sidelined for the rest of the season. Peter Lovenkrands is likely to deputise is Kings place, however Jonathan Spector is doubtful to play thanks to an ankle injury.
Palace sign Dindane
Posted: March 28, 2013 Filed under: News Leave a commentCrystal Palace yesterday announced the signing of 32 year-old Ivory Coast international Aruna Dindane on a contract until the end of the season.
The must travelled forward has amassed 67 caps for Les Elephants and is perhaps remembered most here in England for a brief but successful stint with Portsmouth two years ago. Whilst at the south coast club he scored 10 goals and played in an FA Cup final.
It is hoped that the Ivorian will be able to supply extra fire power to support fellow forwards Glenn Murray and Kevin Phillips in the final promotion push for the Eagles.
Manage Ian Holloway said of his new signing: “I know what he can bring to us if he is in the right condition.”
“Behind the scenes we have been working with him to get him to the condition that we want, I am hoping he returns to what I have seen him play like before. He’s very strong and a goalscorer.”
“I would like to thank the chairman for giving me the chance to bring him in and we will see what he can do for us.”
Murray ‘Agrees’ New Contract
Posted: March 28, 2013 Filed under: News Leave a commentCrystal Palace manager Ian Holloway has today announced that star striker Glenn Murray, 29, has agreed in principle to a new three-year contract that will see the in form forward stay at the club until 2016.
Ian Holloway confirmed the news in his Thursday morning press conference saying: “Glenn Murray has agreed a new three year contract with us which is great news for this club”
With mounting speculation linking the 30 goal hit man with a host of Premiership clubs, the Palace fans will be delighted with the news, and it is sure to give the club a massive boost going into the promotion run in.
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