July 16 2006

Tommy Black

Crystal Palace got off to a good start to their US tour with a 3-1 triumph over Crystal Palace USA.

Lewis Grabban netted twice and Tommy Black the other to give the Londoners victory over their newly-formed US Academy team.

The only sour point was an injury to young defender Rhoys Wiggins who had to go off with a knee problem.

Dougie Freedman missed a penalty and Rade Kokovic pulled a goal back for Crystal Palace USA.

Kit Symons told cpfc.co.uk: "We don't know the full extent of the knee injury to Rhoys just yet, but it looked as though it could be pretty serious. Fingers crossed for Rhoys that it isn't though."

He added: "It was a good performance and we were very pleased with it. We created a lot of chances, particularly in the second half and played some really good stuff."

Louis Manios was there for the Holmesdale Online to give his views on how the team faired.

Marco Reich - Excellent. Drove the team forward from midfield in the first half.

Lewis Grabban - first goal from picking ball off defender. Second from a nice hold and pass play from Jay Bothroyd.

Jay Bothroyd - when did we get him? I'm wondering who the big guy with no number up front was. Played well and did what a target man should do. Hold the ball, pass, good forward runs. Suprising.

Leon Cort - Won all headers in the back. Very solid. Mark Hudson played well too.

Rhoys Wiggins - taken out by the USA 14. Played ok. Was turned a few times. Went forward well and linked up well with Reich but didn't impress defensively.

Clinton Morrison / Jon Macken - Both missed some sitters in the second half. Clint was dangerous but a bit too impatient. Macken wasn't that bad.

Black - did well on right wing and pushed the attack forward in second half.

Palace played a 4-3-3 with one of the strikers (first Dougie, then Charlie Sherringham) in a free role behind the front two. Black is not fat. Saw him without his shirt and his lower body imersed in a bucket of ice. Tommy looks fine.

Starkey - Bossed the back of the midfield quite nicely passed well too.

Sheringham - Still built like a kid. Didn't get a chance to do much in the short time he played. Tall. Once he fills in his frame with muscle he'll be a real threat.

Tom Soares / Ben Watson - First half, Soares did ok. Watson had some nice touches on the ball but nothing amazing. Reich and Starkey were better.

Freedman - missed a penalty and was subbed off fairly quick.

Danny Butterfield - Did not recognise him with the new haircut. Did well.

Julian Speroni - was his usual self. Flapped at a cross, banged his head on the post on another. Scott Flinders didn't do much and got beat on a set-piece.

Overall, Palace played nice some nice passing football. No hoofing.

CPFC USA were not that bad. The defense was not that great - short centre-back and goalie flapped at some shots in the first half but made some nice saves in the second half and made a penalty save.

The US team had a nice midfield that tried to play some passing, possession football in the first half and tried to give as much as they got. There is some talent there. Looking forward to seeing the complete team in 2007.

The Eagles take on MLS champions Los Angeles Galaxy at the University of Richmond on Wednesday night.

Palace (first half): Flinders, Fray, Wiggins (Spence), Cort, Hudson, McAnuff, Watson, Hughes, Reich, Sheringham, Grabban.

Palace (second half): Speroni, Butterfield, Spence, Granville, Borrowdale, Black, Soares, Kennedy, Freedman, Macken, Morrison.