February 19 2007

Steve Bruce

...that is the question. Jamesey looks back on a dispiriting afternoon in Selhurst.

We all expect plenty of booing when Steve Bruce and Birmingham City come to town and we weren't disappointed during our 0-1 defeat on Saturday (Feb 17).

I've touched on the subject in this column before and it still defeats me why so many CPFC supporters still feel strongly enough about Old Flatnose, to give him the bird with such force.

I realise, of course, that for many of us, the booing of Brucey has become a sort of parodic ritual and the smiles on the faces of many booers bear witness to the fact that it is all rather a joke really.

But he was our manager for only a few months six years ago...rather a good manager in fact.

He told a porkie-pie and said he was staying here but ultimately jumped ship, joined Birmingham City and took the Bluenoses up to the Premiership.

And, I have to say, under his aegis, I don't remember seeing the sort of clueless and gutless performances orchestrated by Peter Taylor on some occasions this season.

End of story. Let it be.

To move on to the more delicate matter of the booing of the Palace manager and team by their own supporters this season - in evidence again at the end of the Birmingham game - it is a double-edged sword.

What must be clarified, I think, is that the booing is not simply because the team have lost, but the manner in which they lost.

After all, having the best of the first period, but failing to find a ruthless final touch, we ran in at half-time 0-1 down and were greeted not by abuse but by moderate applause.

It was the dismal football on offer from the red-and-blues in the second half that activated the boo-machine.

It's not pleasant to hear, but it is the only outlet that many supporters have for their frustration and disappointment.

I was greatly offended by former Palace hero, Kenny Sansom, now a pundit on LBC radio, when he commented that in his day "Palace had great fans" and he just couldn't understand why they were behaving in this manner.

He went on to say that it took time to "turn a club around" and we should give Peter Taylor time to sort things out.

In other circumstances I might have agreed with Kenny but "turn a club around"?

After three seasons where we won the play-offs, didn't disgrace ourselves in the Premiership, and reached the play-offs again, we hardly needed turning around.

In fact, the only turning around at CPFC this season has been in a downward direction, and with the outlay of a considerable sum of money on a platoon of none-too-impressive players.

Sometimes you have to laugh just to stop you crying, and Kenny's programme quoted a text message from an alleged Eagles fan who said he was fed up with watching a load of Millwall rejects and henceforth would be going to the New Den to watch the real thing.

Now that's really going down suicide alley!

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