December 1 2008

Selhurst Park

Nil-nil draws don't exactly get the pulses racing but there were consolations to be found in the home game against QPR, writes Jamesey.

Sometimes the small irritations in life can be more of a pain than the major ones.

Once more, when I handed my three quid to the programme seller, he also gave me a copy of the official club magazine, "SE25" and demanded an extra pound.

Because I like to buy and keep match programmes I am forced to buy a product I don't want in the first instance, and if the club can't sell its magazines in a normal fashion, it doesn't say much for the product and it smacks of dishonest marketing and coercion.

Well, as I had paid for it, I flicked through its pages.

There was quite an interesting item about Neil Warnock's first year at Selhurst although, in truth, it was little more than a list of events.

To offset that there were reviews of a new computer game (yawn), a lecture from physio Nigel Cox (yawn), news from CPFC USA (yawn), a rambling interview with Shaun Derry with no insight into the man whatsoever (yawn) and a blatant plug for Simon "Sam Goldwyn" Jordan's movie, "Telstar" (yawn, yawn, yawn).

My extra quid would have been for better spent on a third of a pint of Young's Special bitter in the pub after the game.

As far as the match was concerned I found it more entertaining than did many HOL posters and journalists.

We totally dominated the first half and played some very pretty football, mainly on the ground. If only we hadn't over-elaborated and had had more of a cutting edge up front we would surely have gone in a couple of goals up at half-time.

I don't know how good the Hoops' new Portuguese coach is at English vituperation, but they certainly started the second half as though somebody had put a rocket up them.

In my column a few weeks ago, I had the temerity to predict that the massive improvement in the form of Shefki Kuqi could see him become a cult hero at Selhurst.

And lo, it came to pass. His appearance in the second half attracted a mighty cheer from the throng and he made a difference immediately with his strong running and unselfish passing.

I really wish we could keep him at the club but it seems his high earnings will mean his probable transfer in January.

Anyhow the 0-0 result (Nov 29) slightly spoiled our little run of three wins out of four games - and two of them away.

And it's two games in three days coming up, at Derby and home to Southampton.

Here's hoping...

Email Jamesey with your comments to jevans3704@aol.com

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