August 7 2003

Steve Kember

What a difference a year makes! Twelve months after Trevor Francis' negative tactics and dour demeanour turned Eagles fans away in their droves, Steve Kember has put the spring back in everyone’s step... writes Joseph O'Shea.

Kember's men followed up their narrow defeat against Dutch champions PSV with a superb performance against Chelski, which but for Dougie’s poor finishing would have earned at least a draw.

The sight of a full Selhurst (or 21,477!?!) and Palace playing free-flowing attacking football against two top sides seems so far removed from last season’s preparations against Charlton and Spurs.

Kember's astute signings of Neil Shipperley and Michael Hughes have added much needed guile, commitment and experience to Palace’s squad, but possibly more telling is his decision to list Akinbiyi and Granville.

However difficult they may prove to shift, Kember’s ruthlessness suggests he will take no prisoners in his pursuit of promotion this season, which can only be a good thing.

Wayne Routledge is on fire and looks set to fill Julian Gray’s left-sided role for the time being.

Anyone who saw Wayne sent six feet up in the air by John Terry may have winced initially, but would have been heartened by the bravery and commitment so seldom shown by Gray.

Palace are a centre half and a left sided player short, but go into the new season with reasons for optimism: Hayden is still here, Shipps is back, four excellent home grown prospects are coming through, and there is plenty to come from AJ, Derry, Dougie and Tommy Black.

The quality of sides coming up and down into Division One this year make it tougher than last, but with everyone finally working together at Palace - a play-off place is a real possibility.

Join me as I travel to Burnley’s Turf Moor on Saturday to bring you all the action from Palace’s season opener - live and free of charge.

Log onto: www.croydonguardian.co.uk/eagleeye/live/