October 9 2010

Crystal Palace

Jamesey, feeling fresh and enthusiastic after a couple of weeks in Samos, came back to earth with a bump when he discovered our recent results.

They may be marching in the streets and striking in Athens, but in the sleepy and laid-back Greek islands it was difficult to realise that the country is in severe economic recession.

Yes, food and drink is more expensive but it's been getting that way for years as the weak £ buys you fewer and fewer euros.

But the average Martian would probably have the same view, looking down on London where the bars, restaurants, theatres, shops and entertainment venues all seem to be thriving despite the surrounding fiscal gloom.

Be that as it may, as usual, I deliberately avoided catching up on Palace results in an internet cafe or newspaper.

I could have gone to see a local game, say Pythagorio Albion versus Marathokambos Wanderers, but I decided to abstain from football in any form and just enjoy the ambience and tranquility of the eastern Aegean.

I nailed my colours to the mast early in the season in this column, being firmly convinced that in George Burley, we had a first-class manager, and that our squad was still strong enough to make a decent fist of at least mid-table form.

So my flabber was never more ghasted than when I learned that in the three games I had missed we had gained one point out of nine and conceded seven goals and scored one. Not only that but, as I write, we are second from bottom in the Championship table.

Although fellow strugglers Leicester City have already sacked manager Paulo Sousa earlier this month for poor results I have not really heard any equivalent response concerning George Burley from the Selhurst faithful.

Maybe most supporters had fewer expectations than myself so are correspondingly less disappointed and, of course, the grisly events off the field for Palace during 2010 are a great burden to managerial success.

Nevertheless, if our dreadful form continues, will there come a point when the consortium has to say "enough is enough"?

The real crunch could come when the home supporters, fed up, with losing matches, decide to stay away and revenue starts to decline.

My real and current concern is our date with Millwall at Selhurst on Oct 16.

As a veteran Glaziers/Eagles fan, the ultimate enemy are the boys from Bermondsey. Another dismal performance and an ignominious defeat at home could try the patience of even a good-natured and fair-minded chap like myself and find me - albeit perhaps unfairly - baying for Burley's blood.

Email Jamesey with your comments to jevans3704@aol.com

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