September 17 2017

Jostle and shove: In a hard-fought contest, Palace were yet again defeated by a resolute Southampton

There was a feeling of optimism in the air at Selhurst… but it gradually faded and the Eagles lost 1-0 to Southampton. Jamesey reports.

These are tough times to be a Palace supporter – mockery and derision coming from everywhere and, even that bitterest of pills to swallow, sympathy, from some quarters.

But this site is run and written by supporters and we must try and stay loyal to the cause without glossing over the serious mess the club has got itself into.

With the fourth new manager in nine months, Selhurst welcomed Roy Hodgson for the third home league encounter of the season with Southampton (Sept 16).

The 0-1 defeat was not a happy result for Mr Hodgson and assuming that his current job is not his managerial swan-song, he might not be too enthusiastic to enter the following on his next CV.

"On September 16, at the start of my tenure, Crystal Palace created a new record, being the first club to lose its five opening games in the top division without scoring a single goal."

Let me quickly say that one can hardly blame Roy for the current shambles he has inherited from previous managerial incumbents. One only hopes that he can sort matters out with some alacrity.

It has become all too widespread to look back on Sam Allardyce’s reign as a glorious period but it is worth pointing out that we lost many games which we really should have won and only stayed in the elite league by a late treble of the most unlikely (one could almost say "miraculous") victories against Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal.

Back to the present, probably the least said about the match itself the better.

A keeper’s fumble and a defensive mix-up presented the Saints with an opening goal after only six minutes.

Surprisingly they didn’t add to that figure despite being superior in every department.

The red-and-blues, confidence visibly disappearing as the minutes ticked away, had no game plan apart from "hoof it to Tekkers", a lonely figure indeed.

They lost the ball continuously, passed to the green shirts, and were totally out-flanked on the wings although, to their credit, the Eagles did create a couple of good chances which were spurned.

Even two of the most creative midfielders to ever wear the shirt, James McArthur and Yohan Cabaye, seemed incapable of even keeping the ball never mind providing any constructive play.

And to cap a thoroughly miserable day, Roy was honest enough, on the evidence of what he had seen, to admit to the likelihood of still being pointless after the next three extremely challenging games against Man City, Man U and Chelsea.

I have never criticised Steve Parish and the consortium in this column during the past seven years and, after attending creditors’ administration meetings in 2010, I was very happy when he and other local businessmen-cum-Palace fans bought the club.

It has been upward momentum since then and despite still playing in a medieval stadium, totally unworthy of Bagsololly status, one can only applaud the progress.

However the chaos from the continual turnover of managers (not all the fault of the board) must call into question what is going on at the higher levels of club policy.

Afterthought: I don’t know whether the team were booed off after the final whistle because I wasn’t there.

Anyone watching the match on TV in cosy living rooms or bars in Aberdeen, St Ives, Chicago or Adelaide who disapproves? Kindly address your complaints to: The Board and Playing Staff, Selhurst Park, London SE25.

Email Jamesey with your comments to jevans3704@aol.com

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