Steve Parish and the rest of the CPFC2010 consortium have answered almost every question asked of them in the last five years that they have been at the helm of the club in SE25. Two consecutive seasons in the top-flight of English football have been heralded by all connected with the club, and rightly so, but one head-scratcher refuses to go away…
The previous two seasons have seen Crystal Palace begin each relatively badly, eventually resulting in a managerial change and playing catch-up, just to remain within grasp of avoid relegation. In fact, it could be argued that both seasons under Holloway and Pulis and then Warnock and Pardew are almost identical in every respect. Starting poorly, a manager change, a great run towards the latter third of the campaign during a torrid group of fixtures, but ending up with a comfortable survival.
Last season, under Pardew, we went one notch better compared to the season before – a top-ten finish, as a result of playing very good attacking football, with the national and world media singing our praises. Palace is no longer considered to be “making up the numbers” in one of the best leagues in the world. High profile players are being linked with the South London club, without a smirk on the face.
Yes, some might consider us audacious, but there can be no doubt among any about the apparent ambition of the club. As I write, top names are being banded about the rumour mill from pillar to post. Whether any of them end up wearing red and blue come 8th August is another matter, but the fact that Palace aren’t automatically being rejected or shot out of the sky as a potential suitor by the players in question, speak volumes about how far the club has come in such a short space of time, both in terms of league position and stature.
So, the aforementioned head-scratcher is this – one thing that probably does put potential players off from joining is the venue. Selhurst Park is known, rightly, as the noisiest ground in the country. A lot of this has to do with the utter passion from the terraces, but also in part to the location of the stands from the pitch. The stands and fans are, at times, only feet away from the players and consequently provide an unrivaled cauldron of noise that cannot be underestimated with regard to our successful results at home, especially when the big teams come to town. Hence the name “Fortress Selhurst” which has been adopted by so many.
There is a genuine feeling that we will get a result, and last season’s home victories over Manchester City, Tottenham and seemingly routine win against Liverpool, confirms that. Though, here is the “but”…
Our beloved Selhurst is in major need of redevelopment. It is no sudden revelation. Simon Jordan’s tenure at the club did nothing to address the constant bird poo design of the walls or the dilapidated rusty barn-like side panels. At 110 years old, it’s creaking, peeling and in parts, sinking. However the current owners have honourably stepped in to “pave over the cracks”, so to speak.
The rusty blue has been replaced, albeit temporarily with white cladding. The square pixelated jumbotron, that always stopped working as soon as it got cold has been replaced and most importantly, the gutter leak in the main stand has been fixed, making Niagara Falls MK II a thing of the past. But the underlying issues still remain. Aside from the Holmesdale stand, which is relatively new and of Premier League class, the Main Stand and Arthur Wait in particular, must be the priorities, if we are to build our fan base and attract larger crowds.
Steve Parish had previously alluded to capacities of 40,000 or more. This figure, whilst we remain in the top-flight, isn’t unrealistic, with nearly every home game a quick sell-out, leaving loads of hopefuls unable to get inside to watch the game. Planning permission is a whole other agenda as far as progression is concerned, but that aside, Parish and co must come up with a suitable plan of action over whether to proceed with the investment in the team, more so than any potential stadium development. Most will argue that you only have to look at teams like Coventry with the Ricoh Arena, or even West Ham in their imminent home of the Olympic Stadium (the practicality of which is debatable) to know that there is no point in having a good stadium if you don’t have a good team to play in it. This is of course true, but in the Eagles’ case, enhancing the Selhust experience really does help become that mystical 12th man on a matchday.
Pardew will obviously prefer funds to spend on players in order to challenge for another top half finish in the 2015/16. Nothing would suggest the board wouldn’t back him to the best of their ability, but one good thing is that we are in no need to sell (a phrase of which I’d never thought I’d hear again only a few years ago) and holding on to our best players is seemingly a must, as well as attracting a better class of player to take us to the next level, whatever that is perceived to be.
However, everybody involved with the club would love to see an improved stadium and this has to be in the thoughts of the men in charge. Does the board begin redevelopment and close parts of the stadium stand by stand, whilst others are filtered into empty seats in other areas? Or are we simply re-homed for the duration of the redevelopment project?
The exact method of this job is unknown, but deciding over the preferable need of the playing staff over the urgency of the ground being restructured can’t be an easy decision. Quality players may cost millions. A quality stadium will definitely cost tens of millions. Perhaps any potential takeover could help facilitate both at a faster rate? Until then, we will just have to press F5 a little longer in the hope of more news on either front.
