'Certain for relegation', they said at the start of the season. "They", being everyone. Palace scraped their way into the Premier League and no one gave them a chance of surviving more than one campaign. Ian Holloway is always great value for money in the entertainment stakes. I can think of few managers I would rather watch post-match. And for that matter I think he's a pretty good manager at Championship level. He demonstrated this last season with Palace and previously with Blackpool. But when it comes to the Premier League he is yet to achieve the kind of consistency needed to stay up. Palace started as predicted, and were thought to continue this way. Enter Tony Pulis and suddenly Palace are "that side" you don't particularly want to play. 7 clean sheets in 13. 1.58 points average per match since he was appointed in contrast to 0.5. Palace are organised, physical and use the ball when they have it. Add some shrewd signings, included the highly sought Tom Ince, and the track-suit and baseball cap wearing coach is showing the same simple yet highly affected strategy that saw him turn Stoke into a mid-table, formidable side.
Frustratingly argumentative writer, eater, reader and fanatical about film ‘n’ food and all things fundamentally flawed. I have been a member of the WhatCulture family since it was known as Obsessed with Film way back in the bygone year of 2010. I review films, festivals, launch events, award ceremonies and conduct interviews with members of the ‘biz’. Follow me @FilmnFoodFan
In 2011 I launched the restaurant and food criticism section. I now review restaurants alongside film and the greatest rarity – the food ‘n’ film crossover. Let your imaginations run wild as you mull on what that might look like!
