August 29 2004

Iain Dowie

A third defeat at Boro (Aug 28) and one point out of twelve. Jamesey tries to keep smiling.

The last thing we want to do in this most challenging of seasons is talk ourselves down.

I listened to the game on the internet link provided by HOL and, by the sound of it, we were hoping for a 0-0 and maybe nick one for a win.

And that could have happened except for the fact that to hang on to a lead you have to be rather more skilful and resolute than we appear to be.

I have said in this column before that I thought our catastrophic season in 97-98 was personally one of the worst CPFC experiences in my life.

We had a warrring boardroom, a chairman who wanted to sell for a quick killing and an idiot ready to oblige (Yes, Mark Goldberg).

Like all true Palace fans, I have been swept along with the Dowie phenomenon and my gratitude for the final few months of last season is beyond measurement.

But now we are four games into the season, I am beginning to see one similarity at least with 97-98 that I would never have suspected.

After our play-offs defeat of Sheff U, our best player at the time and Wembley hero, David Hopkin, left us for Leeds United.

After our Cardiff achievement, our outstanding player of early 2004, Julian Gray, also decided to move on.

And our obsession with buying up indifferent foreigners is also mystifying. Look at Boro, today. OK, Ray Parlour, Jimmy Floyd H, Zenden and a few more are all semi has-beens as far as Premiership pedigree is concerned. But wouldn't you fancy them in our squad?

This is not to blame our management one iota...attracting big-money players even if the money is available, is possibly not our strong point.

Also, looking at our line-up in 97-98, we had three of the highest quality performers in Attilio Lombardo, Craig Moore and Matt Jansen. There is not one player of that class in our current squad.

My nephew, a keen but armchair CPFC supporter these days, because of a young family, told me not to despair and wait for the Dowie miracle effect.

Well a miracle in one season is fantastic but another one in quick succession is almost like expecting loaves and fishes to descend on Selhurst Park.

Unlikely, I think....

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