Chelsea Review- What a Day!

Yesterday was fantastic. It summed up what it meant to be a Palace fan- a brilliant win in the fabulous sunshine all in front of a packed Selhurst Park. I’m sure that many of you, like me, can’t wait to get to school or work tomorrow and gloat to all the Chelsea ‘fans’. Yesterday showed us why we deserve to be in the Premier League, whilst at the same time dragging us 3 points closer to that all important safety.

This time last year, Palace had just lost 4-0 at home to Birmingham. The promotion chase had slowed down to a halt, and many of us feared the worse. Now, exactly a year later, a famous victory was recorded against a team whose right back cost more than the entire Palace starting XI put together. Mourinho was full of praise for a Palace side who had a greater desire to win yesterday, and who fully deserve every moment of the glory that they are currently basking in.

The team selection was exactly the same as it had been at Newcastle last week. When it was announced yesterday afternoon many people were moaning. KG and Jerome were still featuring, and there was no sign of Guediora even on the substitute’s bench. I, like many, didn’t have much hope of getting anything from this game. But I was proved wrong.

From the off, Palace were the better side. Bolasie had the best chance, but couldn’t convert and ended up hitting the side netting. Then Palace had two penalty shouts, both ruled out by Lee Mason (who was awful). Half time came and went, with Palace still very much in it. Then, on 52 minutes, John Terry headed a Ward cross into his own net. Then began the longest 40 or so minutes of my life.

The players defended resolutely, and could even have had a couple more chances on the break. They showed tenacity and a desire to win, supported by a rocking Selhurst Park. When the final whistle eventually blew, the heartbreak of last week was put behind. Palace had won, in the process denting Chelsea’s title hopes. It was a win that meant so much to so many. I was jubilant.

None of the performances of any of the Palace players could be faulted. All of them worked extremely hard, and battled until the last minute. My man of the match has to go to Speroni, for his magical save against Hazard to keep Palace in the lead. Cameron Jerome was fantastic, and was unlucky not to get a goal to his name when his shot ricocheted off the post. It is important that the players stay calm for next week though. Hopefully, this victory can help build momentum for some vital clashes coming up. Cardiff will be an extremely tough opponent, but if the same level of effort is put in as yesterday then Palace can hope to bring back more points from South Wales. But until then, all Palace fans can spend the week in joy, boasting to any Chelsea fans that they meet!

Up the Palace

 

Press Conference Roundup- Pulis and Mourinho

As we edge closer to the weekend, both managers gave their views in their weekly press conference. But how will everything said affect tomorrow’s game?

Let’s start with Tony Pulis. As always, the man was calm and composed in his presser, answering some questions even before the reporter had finished. It’s great to have someone like Tony answering the questions compared to some of the other previous managers in recent years (I won’t mention any names Mr Holloway…) Anyway, one subject that Tony talked a lot on was the need for some clinical finishing. The chances are being created; it’s just a matter of the ball ending in the back of the net at the end of them. Chelsea are going to be attacking for the majority of the game, so it will be extremely vital for us to take any opportunity which we get. Last week showed us how harsh it can be when the score is still kept at 0-0, even up to the last moment.

Then it moved onto referees. Lots of big mistakes in recent weeks have left the men in black looking over their shoulders as the Referee’s association comes under a lot of scrutiny. The big decisions can ruin games, and some consistency is needed from the refs as the season. That being said, it’s vital that the fans get on Lee Mason’s back all game. Referees often get bullied by the larger clubs, but the home crowd at Selhurst is more than capable of earning the team a few decisions during the game.

It was interesting to see Tony’s reaction about the West Ham fans booing their team off after the win against Hull in midweek. He turned the attention towards the Palace fans, calling them fantastic once again. Palace have hardly played brilliant football this season, so Pulis is trying to encourage the fans to stick with him until the end of the season, even if it may be ugly. It’s always nice to hear that there is still a good level of morale within the club. At the moment, Palace are still above the red dotted line, and now it’s just a case of staying there until the end of the season.

Onto Mourinho, a man who has perhaps become more famous for his press conferences than his actual footballing tactics. He speaks brilliantly, and does an excellent job of taking the pressure off of his team. His main emphasis was on how hard the Chelsea have been working this week. After the first few games of the season, Chelsea would have been laughing about a trip to Selhurst. Now the team have become so regimented that teams actually travel to South London expecting a game. It reflects brilliantly on the job that Pulis has done, but more importantly on the excellent effort that has been put in by the players over the last few months. There is a chance, albeit a very slim one, that Palace can get something out of this game. It’ll be tough, but as Pulis said, the fans have been fantastic. Hopefully the capacity crowd expected tomorrow can inspire the team onto a famous victory.

Up the Palace

 

Opposition View- Chelsea

Ahead of Saturday’s game, we caught up with some Chelsea fans to give us their views. Mark Worral is from Chelsea site Gate 17. http://www.gate17.co.uk/ Meanwhile, Jonty and mactheknife are both members of the Chelsea forum The Shed End. http://www.theshedend.com .

1. Obviously you must be pleased about your win over Arsenal, but who were the stand out performers?

MW-  Cesar Azplilicueta – unsung hero this season, and Oscar – genius personified.

Jonty-I thought Schurrle was our man of the match, set up Eto’o for our first goal and scored the second himself. After that with the sending off and Haz converting the penalty the game was killed off, but it all started with Schurrle.

MTK- Unfortunately I didn’t get to watch the match live but from extensive highlights, I’d go for Matic. The game was made for him given Arsenal’s centre mids.

2. Mourinho is in his second term in charge of Chelsea, has it been a successful season so far?

MW – Top of the league – still in Europe.

Jonty- He’s done more than I or anyone could have asked. The one disappointment would be the league cup exit to Sunderland but aside from that he has us top of the league without a class striker and into the quarter finals of the Champions League. He’s signed Matic who looks fantastic and Schurrle and Willian I think will both be key players for years to come. He’s got the best out of JT and made our defence impenetrable, made the Bridge a fortress again and has us undefeated in every game against the other big teams this season.

MTK – I didn’t want him back as I’m a never go back type. I didn’t doubt he is an amazing manager, the best in Chelsea’s history, but it should have been left at that. Though he came and is meeting my expectations: we are in the title race for the first time since we last won the league. No matter what happens here on, this season has been a success as fans are a lot happier compared to last year’s boardroom debacle.

3. Do you see Palace as a walk in the park compared to other games which you have played in during this season?

MW – Probably on a par with playing Arsenal at home last weekend.

Jonty- Not at all. You lot don’t concede many compared to the teams around you, you’ve only conceded 1 more than Liverpool and if there is one thing we struggle with it is breaking down a tight defence, as evidenced by our 0-0 draw against the Pikeys. I think this will be one of our hardest remaining games.

MTK- None of Chelsea’s away games this season have been easy due to a lack of a clinical striker. Palace a team with a lot of heart and Pulis will be targeting the home games to get the 10 points you need. I am and was a lot more worried about Palace than I was Arsenal, especially as you were one of the best teams to come to the bridge this season.

4. What was it like seeing Drogba back at Stamford Bridge?

Jonty- He barely had a touch all night. It was great to see him again and I’m glad we were able to thank him for all he’s done, but on the night he did virtually nothing.

MTK- It was a nice story, but I was just happy we went through. It was great that Gala were poor as it meant we were still very fresh for Arsenal. I would love to see him back as a technical director/ambassador type. He has the personality for that type of role and I think he is more suited to that than coaching. He could definitely help expand the Chelsea brand and his charitable work could expand further with a role at Chelsea. He has the capacity to give more than winning football matches.

5. Which Palace player(s) do you think will carry the greatest threat against you?

MW – Ince if he is allowed to play – which I doubt as Pulis will stick ten men behind the ball and instruct them not to advance out of your penalty area.

Jonty- I haven’t watched many Palace games this season but Jedinak looks like your leader on the field. You tend not to score goals but he does a good job of making life hard for the other team to do so.

MTK- Not joking here, I really like Cameron Jerome. He’s a proper striker and works hard for his team, just has always lacked goals. He seems to have dropped off a bit though. Ince is an enigma and could keep you up. But in my opinion, you had a terrible summer transfer window stocking your team with a bunch of nomads (I don’t rate Holloway). Your biggest player is Pulis and you are only where you are right now because of him.

6. Have you ever visited Selhurst Park before. If so, what were your thoughts?

MW – I’ve been to Selhurst every time Chelsea have played there since 1973 when we lost       2-0.  Not much has changed, I quite like that in an old school sort of way.

Jonty- Unfortunately not.

MTK- Yeah one of my first ever games was there in the late 90s, a Wimbledon game. Then I have been a few times in the last couple of years when you’ve played Middlesbrough as my dad is a Boro fan. I think you’ve got a great atmosphere and it’s great to see a lot of young faces down there unlike at Chelsea. I much prefer grounds like Selhurst than the anonymous bowls like St Mary’s and the Riverside.

7. Finally, a score prediction for Saturday.

MW -Palace 0 – Chelsea 4

Jonty- 2-0 (Chelsea). If we can grab a first I think we’ll be all right, my main fear is this ending a 0-0. I’d be very surprised if we conceded given we’re the best defence and you’re the worst offence.

MTK-Head says 1-1, heart says 2-1 Chelsea. I’ll go with my heart. The problem Pulis has against Chelsea is Chelsea teams tend to work just as hard as his, something not many other teams in the league do. It’ll be tight that’s for sure and I think it will take a late goal to win the game.