September 20 2003

Dougie Freedman

When did England become climatically like Tunisia? We should have been wearing fleeces not suncream for today's WBA battle. Jamesey basked and enjoyed the game and the weather...

Sorry if my last column was rather downbeat (Bradford gloom) but I have cheered up considerably after our performance against the Baggies at home (Sept 20).

First, what a difference a Doog makes...a whole new range of options were created by the creative Jockster and although he didn't have much luck to begin with, he was inevitably the Palace player to put us back in the game at 1-1.

Michael Hughes was superb all the way through and the run up to the referee injury reminded me of Python and the Holy Grail where the knight gets every limb and body part severed and is still fighting like hell.

Anyhow, apart from a few lapses we did look like a decent football team again and although I have doubted Andy Johnson, his injury time equaliser was a refreshing change to what usually gets stuck up our fundamental orifice.

I still find it hard to understand why Steve Kember leaves Wayne Routledge and Ben Watson on the bench for so much of the time.

Wayne came on and made an instant impression on the game and we really should encourage and nurture young talent of the quality of those two lads.

Enough of the Baggies, let's turn to maggies...I was delighted to see a new fanzine on sale. It is called Five Year Plan and is well worth buying at a mere quid for anyone who hasn't already coughed up.

It is more in the spirit of the much-lamented One More Point than our other fanzine, Palace Echo. In my view, FYP captures the true feel of supporter fanzines. It is rough, ready, very funny and deserves our support. Buy it please...

Email Jamesey with any of your comments to Jevans3704@aol.com

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