Crystal Palace FC Thread + Championship Chat

[Sheriff Fatman]

Big, big win for us tonight and a huge psychological boost to get back out of the bottom 3 at the first attempt.

Brighton looked every bit like a side managed by Gus Poyet - cynical, dirty and doing everything to take advantage of a weak set of officials.  Calderon the worst offender in this by far.  They improved massively when Lua Lua came on, and he was a threat whenever he got the ball but, based on tonight's performance I'd say Forest, Palace and even Bolton look far stronger.

I'd imagine they're a completely different proposition when backed by a big crowd at home, but I think the key for them will be how well they dig out results away from home.  They'd be far better off utilising the undoubted talent they have in the squad to try to outplay the opposition rather than resorting to the cynical tactics they tried to employ tonight.  Poetic justice that Steele saved the penalty from Ulloa.

On to an even tougher home game on Saturday vs Watford, which makes the 3 points tonight so important.  Including tonight's game against 7th placed Brighton, we still have to face every team in the top 7 in our last 11 games, so every point is precious now.

[TightEnd]

- Wolves 2nd bottom and on Saturday play bottom Bristol C

- Cardiff have one shot on target, 93rd minute, score to get a draw at home to LCFC

Hoping that might be a beginning of some form for us after a desperate run, apparently we were worthy of the win

Cardiff though, digging in when they play badly


These play off spots are going down to the final game, pretty sure of it

[Chompy]

Be a shame for the league if Poshies go down imo, this was very much the difficult second season and the next campaign would be a lot different.

Can't even think about going from away trip to Blackburn to away trips to Burton Albion.

Let's have Brizzle, Wolves and one other for the drop please.

[Sheriff Fatman]

Be a shame for the league if Poshies go down imo, this was very much the difficult second season and the next campaign would be a lot different.

Can't even think about going from away trip to Blackburn to away trips to Burton Albion.

Let's have Brizzle, Wolves and one other for the drop please.

I'd like you to stay up, provided it's not at our expense.  I think someone is going to get dragged down from the mid-table spots given how competitive the bottom teams have been in recent weeks.  Millwall look the likely candidates for me.  I also think Burnley are heading in the wrong direction but I think they're too far clear now to actually go down.

[Ant040689]

This has got to be one of the harshest seasons on relegation candidates in years. How can guys have two more points than a point a game and still be in the bottom 3? Just shows you how tight it is down there. Millwall, Derby and Blackburn showing the worst forms in the league and could get sucked in, must help the relegation candidates that Millwall vs Blackburn tie ended in a replay needing to happen.

I would like Wolves, Birmingham and Blackburn to go down because I don't like their managers and have a bet on Birmingham to be relegated but that looks unlikely. Still think at least 10 teams are in the scrap for the drop and I do wonder if any team from league 1 is genuinely better than any team from the Championship this year.

And anthonyl, I think the form book and injury list gets chucked out of the window for the game on Sunday, as long as both teams don't look to get a man sent off it will probably be a very tight affair. We have been notoriously unconvincing away from home, but if you do lay down to us, that could serve to be the mental boost we need away from home and we could go onto win every game. That's the dream. That would have us the title as well. Hmmm.

[rfgqqabc]

This has got to be one of the harshest seasons on relegation candidates in years. How can guys have two more points than a point a game and still be in the bottom 3? Just shows you how tight it is down there. Millwall, Derby and Blackburn showing the worst forms in the league and could get sucked in, must help the relegation candidates that Millwall vs Blackburn tie ended in a replay needing to happen.

I would like Wolves, Birmingham and Blackburn to go down because I don't like their managers and have a bet on Birmingham to be relegated but that looks unlikely. Still think at least 10 teams are in the scrap for the drop and I do wonder if any team from league 1 is genuinely better than any team from the Championship this year.

And anthonyl, I think the form book and injury list gets chucked out of the window for the game on Sunday, as long as both teams don't look to get a man sent off it will probably be a very tight affair. We have been notoriously unconvincing away from home, but if you do lay down to us, that could serve to be the mental boost we need away from home and we could go onto win every game. That's the dream. That would have us the title as well. Hmmm.

Sheff UTD aren't and neither are Doncaster. Both would need some investment to have a good shot. Not exactly massive favourites with how the league can play out. Doncaster were  probably favourites to go down first year of championship football and were well safe by the end. League 1 has seemed to bunch at the top with no excelling candidate. Bournemouth looked set to appear from nowhere and lost 5 on the bounce.

[DungBeetle]

Indeed - I think this is one of the rare occasions when not a single promoted L1 team will strengthen the Championship

[aaron1867]

Indeed - I think this is one of the rare occasions when not a single promoted L1 team will strengthen the Championship

Probably because they haven't spent past their means.

[Acidmouse]

- Wolves 2nd bottom and on Saturday play bottom Bristol C

- Cardiff have one shot on target, 93rd minute, score to get a draw at home to LCFC

Hoping that might be a beginning of some form for us after a desperate run, apparently we were worthy of the win

Cardiff though, digging in when they play badly


These play off spots are going down to the final game, pretty sure of it

Are Cardiff an average team in a level league or just getting the rub of the green this season? Whenever I see them they look poor/average and nick a goal to get points. Shame they got a late goal, sky sports said it was not fair on LC.

[DungBeetle]

Not really.  For many seasons Huddersfield were a Championship side in waiting and would improve the league and they didn't spend above their means.  They just couldn't get over the line.  Charlton, Leeds and Norwich in previous years all were "improvers".  Just don't feel that this year as the bottom 3 in the Championship are all playing sporadically well and wouldn't be down there in normal seasons imo.

[TightEnd]

I wasn't there, but all reports from those who were suggested that they were poor

That said,

Cardiff are extremely well organised. Marshall is a top keeper, Hudson a terrific CB in this division, Bellamy a bit extra when needed, Whittingham's set pieces...tough and competitive team

should be enough to get up given their lead, then the Malaysian money presumably re-tools the team to stay up.

[DungBeetle]

My post was to Aaron.

[Acidmouse]

I wasn't there, but all reports from those who were suggested that they were poor

That said,

Cardiff are extremely well organised. Marshall is a top keeper, Hudson a terrific CB in this division, Bellamy a bit extra when needed, Whittingham's set pieces...tough and competitive team

should be enough to get up given their lead, then the Malaysian money presumably re-tools the team to stay up.

Wont be gutted if Cardiff/LC/Hull went up, never do us any favours when playing them, be good to get them out of the way for a few years.

[DungBeetle]

Regarding Cardiff, I think they've gone for bringing in proven Championship performers (Bellamy aside) to add to their home developed players which has resulted in strong consistency.  I think they are worthy of promotion, but I think the will really struggle in the Premier League without a major overhaul, as Tommy Smith/Heidar Helguson have proved before that they can't really make the step up.

[TightEnd]

I doubt we will

Our Thai Duty free men are £100m into us (purchase from Mandaric, squad, managers, just bought the ground), and realistically only the lottery of the play-offs to go at

Cue another managerial change in the summer, and we go again with more instability.