Since this is not supposed to be a book, I’ve got to pick one more squad based comparison. Zaha vs Salako would be great (I’m a huge fan of both and couldn’t split the 1991 Salako and 2015 Wilf), Mark Bright vs Glenn Murray would have been a fun one to talk about (Brighty takes that for coupling a great talent with the capacity to coach Wright into the player he became). Trying to choose between Nigel Martyn and Julian Speroni would be tough (I think the 1991 Martyn eclipses 2015 Jules) so I have decided to look at a partnership last of all – the centre backs.
Andy Thorn & Eric Young
Thorn and Young played together at Wimbledon and were a terrific partnership for Palace. Thorn joined first – he had left The Dons for Newcastle but in spite of playing regularly stayed for just one season. Although only 23, he had gained a lot of experience and was a committed and effective defender. This made a big difference to Coppell’s side and he was quickly a fan’s favourite.
Eric Young joined Thorn in the summer of 1990, after Palace’s reputation had risen with the FA Cup final appearance. Young, 30 at the time of joining, seemed to be what was missing at the back for Palace. Nickname “Ninja” for his headband and unique style, he perfectly complemented Thorn in a no-nonsense back line. The way Coppell called for a lot of long passes and physical play, but Thorn and Young were a partnership that were comfortable with the ball as well.
Scott Dann and Damien Delaney
I see a lot of similarities in the two partnerships. Most people will know the stories of both Dann and Delaney, but the abridged versions follow!
Delaney was signed from Ipswich under Dougie Freedman. Palace were a side that needed an injection of experience and versatility and Delaney was at a crossroads in his career. He had fallen out of favour at Ipswich and was considering quitting the game entirely or an offer to play in the MLS. He agreed a short term contract at Palace and in spite of being written off as a poor signing for Palace by Ipswich fans, Delaney appeared to settle into his surroundings almost immediately and produced top displays from the off. Playing alongside Peter Ramage and Danny Gabbidon, there was a steely determination at the heart of the Palace defence – as well as organisation, leadership and experience. In spite of an expectation of struggling at Premier League level, Delaney raised his game on promotion and has remained a mainstay ever since.
Scott Dann was purchased to partner Delaney and replace Danny Gabbidon in January 2014. Dann was already a highly rated centre back – playing senior games in Denmark and non-league at 17/18 and becoming a regular starter at Walsall at 20. A £1million move to Coventry saw Championship football and England U21 recognition – a season and a half at Coventry, ending as captain, saw a £4million move to Birmingham. Two strong seasons, with occasional injury issues followed and relegation for Birmingham saw Dann head to Blackburn for £6million.
Blackburn (in chaos under the Venky’s and Steve Kean) were relegated and Dann captained the side in the Championship for a further season and a half before Palace came calling. Reportedly the fee for Dann was as low as £1.5million with add ons, representing a bargain purchase as the Liverpudlian stepped into the Palace defence looking calm, assured and comfortable on the ball ever since.
Dann has hit the net a fair bit and also his general play in attacking areas and when passing out of defence has won many plaudits. And England call up can’t be far away.
Verdict:
Young and Thorn were simply superb as a partnership in 1991 – and the 2015 Dann and Delaney partnership is impressive, but slightly more porous in terms of goals conceded. I have to give it to 1991 again.
A quick word on the managers before I talk about the above. Steve Coppell had built a club – not just a squad. Working with Ron Noades from difficult beginnings, a clear vision had come to fruition – yet was just about to fall apart. Alan Pardew is from the Coppell school of management and the affection and loyalty he has towards his gaffer is still in evident today. Nevertheless – Pardew has only worked with what others have built at Palace. He has the potential to eclipse Sir Steve in what he builds from here – and take the title of Sir Alan.
I don’t think a comparison of the two works – but there are similarities, as you would expect given the circumstances.
Conclusion
The above shows that in terms of individuals, it’s close but 1991 is winning. I’ll be interested to see who agrees with me and who doesn’t but I have to say it leaves me uneasy. The key players in 1991 certainly shade it but when you look at the full squad, 1991 was supplemented by youngsters yet to prove themselves (Richard Shaw, Gareth Southgate, Stan Collymore, Simon Osborn etc) and, outside of the first 11 (which had the brilliance of McGoldrick, Humphrey, Gray, Salako etc) you were left with some who, whilst effort could not be criticised, were playing well outside of their natural ability – Phil Barber, Alan Pardew, Paul Bodin, Jeff Hopkins, Garry Thompson, and Alex Dyer all did their best but I would argue the squad we have in 2015 has more strength in depth. I think it is this point which has led to so many considering if the 2015 Palace squad is our best ever. When you consider the difficulty many of us have agreeing on a starting 11 now it feels far greater than the 1991 side which essentially picked itself.
I guess this goes back to the point about how different the game is these days, with a squad being deemed more important (Rotation in 1991 was pretty much unheard of) but in all honesty looking at the two I have to say 2015 is more impressive. Keeping it together and supplementing it with further quality for another season I genuinely believe it’ll get to a point where there is no debate.
What did we all think back then?
This is a much trickier question to answer that it would be these days – widespread internet use and the very concept of social media was not there to tap into. When discussed these days, people pretty much all talk about the missed opportunity. Missing out on Europe (unthinkable for a third placed team now) as a result of Liverpool being permitted to compete in European competition the following season simply denied the club and the fans a chance to do take the next step.
It was, however, the sale of Ian Wright which was the beginning of the end – and you can better see why I chose to compare Wright and Bolasie above now. Selling Wright for 2.3million (hugely undervalued even then) at a time where his best years were ahead of him robbed the team of that element that lifted everyone – fans and players alike. Bright carried on scoring goals but we never found our “new Wrighty” despite many promising to be just that. The team soon broke up – some aged and moved on naturally but others sought out different challenges as established top division players.
Before I talk of the similarities with the current situation at the club – I think it cannot be overlooked that the damage of selling Ian Wright to Arsenal was exacerbated by both him and our fans in events that happened after. Wright was the target of savage verbal abuse and reportedly his mother’s house was subject to offensive graffiti, creating a vast amount of ill feeling with the departed striker. His response in scoring against Palace to send them down and kissing the Arsenal badge in front of the Holmesdale left a lasting image for many – who even today will simply not accept any apology from Wright over what he did and the justification for it.
My personal view is that the level of ill-feeling between the club and a former hero – and simply one of the best players ever seen at Palace – was a big part in the subsequent slide down the table. Negativity breeding negativity, alienation of fans and players and a righteous ire that soon found itself focussed squarely on Chairman Ron Noades (which is perhaps a debate for another time).
If you have any comments on the feeling of what was to come next as we finished 3rd in 1991 and how it all unfolded, please use the comments box below – I’d love to know more from others about those times!
Fast-forwarding to present day, Yannick Bolasie is the man getting the press and those of us who cynically study the type and location of stories that appear around transfer windows will know it is far from certain Yannick will remain at Palace. There is little doubt that the club will want to retain his services – he has the pure skill and inspiration to change a game and the produce match-winning performances. Replacing that is a massive ask.
Looking at the lessons of losing Ian Wright, I think it is clear that you have to work to a specific hierarchy – that is only to sell if the player forces the move and the money is right. Of course, a pocketful of cash doesn’t mean you can have a suitable replacement – it often means you have to overpay for someone not as good.
I would argue the lessons of the past are that the club have to keep this team and its key components together for as long as possible. Evolution not revolution to coin a snappy, slightly annoying, idiom.
1991’s “Palace on the Precipice” serves as a stark warning about how quickly it can all change and progression will be about showing strength, belief and ambition in where Crystal Palace Football Club are going and how soon.
I suspect it will be tough to hang on to Yannick – and the key will be having a plan if the worst happens. That plan cannot be the modern equivalent of signing Marco Gabbiadini as a replacement (suggestions on whom that might be below please!) Perhaps one thing working in our favour if we do lose Bolasie is that he is not the finished article – that means replacing him you need to focus on pace, strength and unpredictable skills if you want like for like – OR you can replace him with something altogether very different. Someone who is perhaps more of a goal threat or has greater usage of the ball in possession – but for me the lesson is to get the deal done before you sanction the other.
There will of course be many similar situations – the best players are always targets and the simple truth is that you need a plan for losing them all. That’s the real lesson – and something Southampton managed to achieve in the season just gone.
I believe there was a huge slice of luck in all their signings working out and nobody key picking up a long-term injury before settling, but it shows it can be done. In fact it is probably a better learning device than looking back to the early 90’s and our last shot at greatness!
The future for 2014/2015 squad – how do we kick on?
It’s pretty clear, and I’ve said it in this article already – keeping the key players together and supplementing the squad with additional quality. It’s an obvious answer.
Reality, however, will suggest that keeping the key players will prove impossible. I want to believe it will be different, but when you look at what happens in the Premier League when clubs perform to the level 2015 Palace have been reaching under Pardew, the “big clubs” come calling and players’ heads are turned.
What will determine if Palace can kick on, is the plan in dealing with any losses of personnel. Work that should be (and I am sure is) already underway. A third successive season and with an ambitious manager on board, the thoughts must go further than what we do next season. They must be about what we do in two or three seasons. They must be about getting value from player sales at the right moment (a contract expiring in 2 years for someone pushing 30 is a ticking time bomb in terms of getting proper value.)
It might get brutal, but targeting replacements before a player needs replacing – sometimes a year or two in advance is the difference between losing Ian Wright and replacing him with Marco Gabbiadini and losing Ian Wright and replacing him with, say, Alan Shearer.
Given the record of CPFC2010 over the last 5 years, I think the chance to kick on Is much more likely to be taken than at any other time in our history. The fans will play their part once more, of course, in presenting a vibrant and progressive club and “The biggest club in South London” have a great shout at a prosperous future.
