I think Big Mal wanted to go in his own direction and probably clear the older, established personalities from the dressing room. So Jacko wasn't the sort of figure he wanted to have around for any number of reasons. The problem wasn't so much the change (although as you point out, Jacko could and should have continued to serve us well for many years) as the way Mal handled things; crudely and tactlessly, given what Jacko had done for the club. For me, Jackson will always be the greatest player ever to walk the face of the earth but before I lurch into man-love, let's leave that alone. Anyone who disagrees is wrong, though.

Do you remember the first game of Mal's first real season with us, in Division 2 (he'd arrived the last couple of months before we were relegated)? He really set about the place with a broom. He drove expectations sky-high for an immediate return to the top flight, gave (from memory) Nicky Chatterton and Dave Swindlehurst debuts in the opening game and I'll never forget the match programme, where all the players had nicknames on the teamsheet page. I can't remember any of them but they were really asinine, things like "the motivator"...etc. I was about 13 but I remember going back to my mates house after the game and his older sister got hold of the programme and changed all the nicknames to stuff like the "the masturbator". Wish I still had it (for memory's sake). Of course, we got stuffed.

I think that was also the season where Mal started out by widening the pitch at Selhurst because of his plan to play exciting, winger-led football but after about three matches, during which our full-backs had been consistently raped, we reverted to the narrowest pitch allowed and left that idea for another day. Such is life at Palace.

Sydenham by birth. Selhurst by the Grace of God.

To be honest, although he turned into a good shot stopper (spectacular at times), I always preferred the solidity of Tony Burns given a choice between the two.

Sydenham by birth. Selhurst by the Grace of God.

Brilliant. In those days Hereford were always near the top, along with Brighton. Imagine...big matches against Hereford drawing crowds in excess of 30,000! Couldn't get promoted but man did we play some football and have the power to entertain!

Sydenham by birth. Selhurst by the Grace of God.

Your bestest post EVER Syd.

Tres amusing informative and a bit edgy.

Big Mal raised the profile of the club, there's no disputing that. And the Cup run was unforgettable.

However, I did used to wonder if we would have stayed in the First Division that season had he not have been appointed when he was.

And to follow that up with another relegation was plain embarrassing.

Ultimately he was shrewd to bring Venables in and let TV build on some of the foundations he had laid down.

Old, Ungifted and White