Selhurst Park, Premiership, Wednesday 24th April ‘24, 8pm

‘Live’ on Snidey Sticks.

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CPFC 14th, P33 W9 D9 L15, GD -14, 36 Pts

NUFC 6th, P32 W15 D5 L12, GD +17, 60 Pts

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Following a free weekend due to FA Cup football, with all its accompanying VAR-drama, United are back on the road again. Next up, it’s South London, Selhurst Park and a suddenly upwardly mobile looking Crystal Palace.

In truth, our hosts have largely been struggling since the latter days of Patrick Vieira. The legendary Frenchman had his team playing some great stuff, and they looked a side on the up. It unravelled pretty quickly for him, though, leaving the septuagenarian Roy Hodgson to come in again and pick up the pieces. He initially did a sterling job in hauling the Eagles to safety, but then bringing him in as a full-time head coach felt like a retrograde step.

Once more, Palace looked to be flirting with relegation, and a mixture of poor results and Roy’s ill health saw them move for Jorman coach, Oliver Glasner. Having watched them a couple of times on TV, I felt that the new guy had instilled a new purpose to the squad. This, of course, could’ve been down to the usual ‘new manager bounce,’ but it looked something more tangible.

Certainly, their last two results have been seriously impressive. Firstly, they went to a title chasing Liverpool, and scored a superb team goal in a shock 1-0 away win. Then, on Sunday gone, they brutalised (an admittedly) knackered looking West Ham 5-2 at Selhurst Park.

They have a number of players whom Premiership scouts have a strong interest in. The pick of these appear to be recently NUFC linked Scando defender, Joachim Anderson and the more attacking Eberechi Eze & Michael Olise. The latter is famous for literally never smiling, and turning down a move to Todd Boehly’s Soccer Circus, dude. I believe him to be their most gifted talent, and you’ve gotta applaud his loyalty to Palace over a move to those tossers.

Another player who’s excelled since his ‘under the radar’ move from Blackburn Rovers in the last transfer window is Adam Wharton. Apparently, many clubs were watching the midfielder whilst he was in the Championship, but it was Palace who took the plunge. They’ll be pleased they did, as he looks a real prospect and is more than likely already worth a great deal more than the £18m they initially splashed out on him.

Their visitors will arrive in pretty rude health, themselves. A month or so ago, we looked to be drifting towards mid-table mediocrity and the summer couldn’t come soon enough. However, the last four games have yielded ten points and a string of mainly impressive performances. This run of form has suddenly given us a great chance of European football next season.

Out of my group of match-going pals, I’ll admit to being the most critical of our manager this season. I’m a firm believer in balance, though, so will gladly give him the plaudits when he gets it right. Against Spurs, last time out, he did that and some. The likeable Aussie in the Tottenham dugout was tactically schooled, and an attacking trio of Alex, AG, and Barnes ran them ragged for 90 minutes.

More of the same, please.

Looking at the table and everyone’s remaining fixtures, we are really well placed to nab either sixth or seventh place.* I don’t really care which Euro competition we land in, just so long as we do. The naysayers will twist about the Conference being a bit ‘Mickey Mouse’, but when your last proper trophy was during the rise of ‘Beatlemania’ I think this argument falls down somewhat. Give me away trips to Ljubljana, Riga, and the real chance of silverware. I’m not proud.

On to Wednesday night.

You’ve got two in form sides, with some eye catching performers bringing tons of flair and goals. This, therefore promises to be a high scoring affair, doesn’t it? Not according to the recent record books. For some reason, this fixture tends to be dull as ditchwater. There are 0-0s, 1-0s and 1-1s aplenty. I don’t know why this is, but it so often is.

The Holmesdale Ultras will be all dressed in black, choreographing the sort of manufactured ‘atmosphere’ so popular across Europe right now. Tragically, Arsenal have started doing it recently too. I sincerely hope we never see it at St James’ as it’s as false as Katie Price’s chest region.

They’ll also be giving it large about Saudi Arabia. Like we had a say in who bought us? In my considered opinion, The Croydon Human Rights Party (Est October ’21) would not exist had the PIF bought them. That’s true of their Wearyside cousins too btw.

Anyway, prediction time. I’d love United to win. And, it’s a possibility. I’m, however, going to plump for 1-1, which certainly wouldn’t be the end of the world (and probably won’t be the final score, if my recent soothsaying is owt to go by).

HTL.

Nick Clark @Clark5Nick

*Currently it’s Top 4 = Champion’s League Qualification, 5th spot gets you Europa League & 6th, the Conference.

It is highly likely however, that 7th berth will gain a place in the lowest ranked European competition. This is due to the FA Cup Final combatants. Man City, should they win would create a further place. This would also be true if (somehow) Man U won it and finished 6th or above.