Often Partisan

Prey for the Eagles? Palace Preview

Today sees the visit of Ian Holloway’s high-flying Crystal Palace to St Andrews as Blues look to try to bounce back from defeat against Wolves.

Crystal Palace

Palace sit second in the Championship having only lost one game since August. After a slightly shaky start the Eagles have put together some good results and have only failed to score in one game this season., and have an away record that has seem them win 5 of their 10 games away from Selhurst Park in the league this season.

Stand-in skipper Mile Jedinak misses out through suspension, although he probably would have missed out due to illness anyway whilst Jonathan Williams may not be quite ready to return from injury. Club captain Paddy McCarthy remains Palace’s only long-term injury.

Blues

Blues come into this fixture with a somewhat depleted squad, with both of their former Palace players out amongst others. Hayden Mullins is suspended and Jonathan Spector is out for a couple of weeks with an ankle knock whilst Darren Ambrose is still suffering the injury that has kept him out of contention in recent weeks. This means that Morgaro Gomis as been called in from the cold to the squad and he competes with Papa Bouba Diop (whose contract expires on Monday), Ravel Morrison and rookie Callum Reilly for a slot in central midfield.

Pablo Ibanez may return after injury whilst Nikola Zigic rejoined full training yesterday and may not be fit enough for this fixture. Lee Clark will have to decide whether to stick with the 4-2-3-1 he employed against Wolves last week or to reshuffle the pack once more as he searches for a win.

I fear for Blues in this one. A team packed with pacy attacking players should find our creaky defence no problem; we’ve got a choice between Gomis (2 appearances) and Diop (10 minutes or so) in the middle realistically and that rustiness could well cost us. My head tells me we’ll be lucky to get nil but my heart feels that maybe, just maybe we could nick something. I honestly can’t see it happening though.

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11 Responses to “Prey for the Eagles? Palace Preview”

  • bluenose 11 says:

    im afraid im with you on this one it could be uncomfortable. BUT this is blues and we do seem to play better against better teams you never know
    kro

  • Paul Carter - The Voice Of Reason says:

    Cmon lads quit with the downer.

    Lets fill the ground and get behind the team and enjoy our cultural immersion which is Blues.

    Being Blues is a blessing from God and we should remember that,

    KRO guys, it’s all just a page in a book. There will always be a Blues.

  • Mickey07 says:

    FFs we went to Brighton who were top after our drubbing by barnsley and won,besides I think gomis is half decent……p.s. Is pannu there today as I want to give him some good old fashioned stick from the terraces??

  • swissjonny says:

    I suspect that If PP has any sense he will have acquired a note from Matron.On the basis that sense and PP are at the best of times distant relatives I would expect to see him at the game.So please Mickey warm up those vocal chords and deliver some festive cheer on behalf of those of us abroad.

  • Paul Carter - The Voice Of Reason says:

    He’ll be there, nothing will happen.

    Couple of renditions of that stupid Carson song and that’ll be it.

    Shame we aint got an organised fans group to arrange something.

  • andy says:

    Could there be a statement from Pannu in todays programme?

  • ChrisG says:

    Almajir, just wondering, if everything goes well with regards to Paladini’s takeover but with all the red tape can’t be finalised by the end of january, do you know if there would be a way that he could help us out financially, say give the club a tempory loan to enable Clark to bring in a couple of players?

  • Paul Carter - The Voice Of Reason says:

    Well done Lee Clark, another great match to watch.

    Lee changed the game when he bought on Zigic who got us that important first goal and generally frightened the feck out of the Palace defence who were hanging on for dear life at times. Although slated by some for the signing of Diop the big man looked more than useful yesterday and powered that 2nd goal in, a great signing by Lee. Another great Clark signing Caddis was having an excellent game until yet another injury but his replacement Hancox is a quality little ball player and fitted in fine. A great decision by Lee to blood young Callum Reilly who had a great debut and it’s great to see a manager who will give these boys a chance. The trick is knowing when they’re ready and Lee read this one spot on as Reilly alongside Diop gave our central midfield a far more solid look.

    Really enjoyed it again and with the absence of booing and banners St Andrews was great to be at again. All those Wembley season ticket holders sitting at home moaning about Carson and us having no money are a disgrace to his club. I hope you like seeing a half empty ground week after week.


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