With Crystal Palace flying high under the tutelage of Alan Pardew, another one of our former managers will return to a club where it could be argued that the Welshman laid the foundations for the Eagles current scintillating performances.
It was Tony Pulis who kept the club in the Premier League. It was Pulis who guided Palace to their highest position in the clubs’ Premier League history, but then he left. He departed on sour terms; a breakdown in relationship with owner Steve Parish was mooted. Lack of transfer money was another cause, whatever the reason he left and we moved on. Quite considerably I might add.
I think us Palace fans have a lot to owe to Pulis; he had a hand in our rise. It was either Ian Holloway or Pulis who setup the launchpad of our success in recent years. But it seems Holloway doesn’t get much regards these days by fans. I’ll let the fans decide who had the greater say before Pardew.
He brought in players such as Scott Dann and Joe Ledley and we all know how they have performed over the last year.
Under Pulis we had a set way of playing, and it worked. We grinded out results on occasions, other times we had a little more verve to our play – but it was a style and a way of playing that brought us success – it is only now that we have seen Pardew take the shackles off and unleash the maverickness within us.
Pardew’s approach has certainly different, with more emphasis on possession and playing on the counter attack. We have all seen the devastation we have caused teams on the break in recent weeks. We are also currently three points from breaking last season’s point tally; we have certainly showed progress this year.
In Pardew’s 12 games in charge he has amassed 25 points, while last season Pulis achieved survival with 38 points from 26 games.
But it has been impressive how Pardew has got our front three playing with so much confidence. They have been extremely dangerous, Glenn Murray has six goals in six games and then Yannick Bolasie looks as though he has found his scoring boots. A hat-trick last week at the Stadium of Light was richly deserved and then on the opposite flank Wilfried Zaha has impressed with his trickery and willingness to commit defenders and make chances for the team.
It will be an intriguing game this Saturday because his current side West Brom are currently in a sticky patch and with survival not secured, it is a big game for the Baggies. And it is the kind of game that could trip us up. We all know what we are going to get from a Pulis team; organised at the back, tough to break down and then direct in attack. We know what is coming, but then the same can be said of Pulis knowing our strengths.
But given our current run of form a Pulis side shouldn’t worry us. At the moment we are taking on all comers and brushing them aside with panache and style.
But it will be interesting to see what kind of reception Pulis will get, personally I feel it will be mixed – the way he left put a damper on his time at the club to many fans I suspect and I will add myself in that category.
I’ll leave the Palace faithful with a question:
If Pulis was at the helm today do you feel we would be in our current position?
I’ll let you decide, but please do let us know, we would love to hear your views here at Read Crystal Palace.
