February 21 2012

Chris Martin

Crystal Palace forward Chris Martin's rise in stock has forced Simon Lewis to eat a large slice of humble pie.

As football fans, we all know that it can be difficult to accept you were wrong about something. However, I am happy to hold my hands up and accept that I was wrong about Chris Martin.

When the decision was made to extend his loan deal from Norwich beyond the initial one-month, I shrugged my shoulders and wondered why. Fast forward to the present day and I am absolutely delighted that we did.

Everyone’s favourite Coldplay-frontman-come-Palace-frontman had shone in League One with his parent club Norwich, but his time in the Championship was less successful.

Managing only four goals in 30 appearances led to some Norwich fans questioning his commitment. Others questioned his ability to perform at such a level.

His early performances against the likes of Leicester and M*llwall did little to suggest that they were wrong. I thought he looked slow, lazy, and a bit clumsy. Even his goal against Derby seemed to do little to change his demeanour.

A run in the team was what Martin needed to remove his rustiness, and in his new role just behind the striker, his intelligence shines through. He is blessed with a good footballing mind and when given the chance can certainly finish – his goal against Leeds in particular demonstrates this.

Where once there was laziness and clumsiness, now there is energy and quality. No longer does the ball seem to bounce off of him, instead it sticks to him. He is quick to look up for a pass, but his movement in particular impresses me, as he manages to find space where there appears to be none.

You can tell by the way he holds himself on and off the pitch, he is now a young man full of confidence and enjoying his football. Long may it continue.

This dramatic change has convinced me Martin’s initial form was simply an indication of his lack of football at Norwich this season. If the opportunity arises, I hope we make his deal permanent in the summer.

I simply worry with every goal he scores the potential price tag will grow (£2-million James Vaughan had scored the same number of goals at this stage in his Palace career). Anything up to one million will do nicely. I certainly didn’t expect to be saying that a few months ago.

So, as much as it hurts to be wrong, I admit it: I was wrong. Where’s that humble pie?