Rival Lines
Match Preview: Crystal Palace v AFCB
Blogger Interview: The Eagles Beak
12 May 2019
Twitter: @TheEaglesBeak
CC: This week I talked to Crystal Palace fan Jay at the Eagles Beak. Crystal Palace are one of those teams that trundle along and get the odd victory against the top sic but don't necessarily hit top form for long pars of the season - or at leas that is how it looked to me this season. What needs to happen to see a change in that? Do they need to sell Wilfred Zaha or are Palace doing just fine?
CC: How satisfied are you with Palace's season?
TEB: With a highest points score within our grasp having already secured a 7th successive season in the Premier League (a record for the club), we should be pretty pleased. The sour point is the home form which has been poor, but thankfully we have been fantastic away from Selhurst. There was also plenty of disappointment at losing out in the League Cup quarter finals to lower league opposition and of course the FA Cup quarter final, but I'm pretty sure most fans will look back and think, that wasn't a bad season in the slightest. There is just some frustration at the quality within our squad should be pushing on having been in the Premier League for as long as we have, but I really think you have to be careful what you wish for in this game.
CC: Why do you think Palace tend to get off to slow starts?
TEB: I wish we knew! Last season was quite different with all the turmoil of an early change of manager, this one was marginally better but it dropped off quite quickly. It is so difficult to put your finger on, perhaps the way the fixtures worked out this past couple of season led to dips in form. If we could have managed a slightly better home form we'd have been okay, but hey, it has worked out just fine in the end.
CC: Would the money for Zaha be a chance to build a better side or is it more important to keep him?
TEB: Keep him - without question. He is still not the finished article, we see frustrations with him but he is a player that can do things with a football not many are able. He is arguably one of the best players outside the top six and it will be a long summer of rumours. The money we get for him, should he go, will not be enough to replace him. In fact, it will be difficult to imagine a Palace side without him. The good news is, Roy Hodgson has come out and said he is looking forward to working with him for another couple years, so there is hope, but I had prepped myself as this being his final season with us. Wilf is such a talent, I would not begrudge him a move for a shot at the big time.
TEB: Manchester City at the Etihad. There was not one fan, pundit or journalist that gave us a hope, but we put in a stunning performance to become the only team to win against the reigning champions in their own back yard. Not just that, but to score the goal of the season in that win just put the icing on the cake. What a hit by Andros! Lost count how many times I have watched that - never gets boring.
CC: Were you happy enough with what the team did in the Cup competitions?
TEB: Reaching the quarter-final stage of both competitions is a pretty decent showing, but there was plenty of disappointment at both those losses. Both Boro and Watford deserved their wins, but we did not perform in either game and it was a case of what if on both occasions.
CC: This last game will decide who finishes higher between the two teams. Do you consider AFCB as a similar side in terms of quality to Palace?
TEB: There is not a lot of difference between us in all honesty. We both have plenty of quality running through our sides and there is no doubt that both sets of fans will be hoping to keep hold of that talent during the summer. There is plenty of suggestion that this is a dead rubber, but there is a different of £4million at stake in prize money between positions we can end up finishing and that is an amount that both teams can do with.
CC: How do you expect Palace will line up for the game?
TEB: I think Roy will want to sign off at Selhurst with a win, seeing as there have been very few of those this season. I don't think he will be as bold as he was at Cardiff last week, probably more conservative so expect Jordan Ayew to drop back to the bench with either Kouyate or Meyer to step back in. Maybe, just maybe, we will be more bold at home in this last game so who knows!
CC: What is your score prediction?
TEB: I think we will sign off in style with a win but expect it to be a tough but entertaining affair. 3-2 to Palace.
CC: Thanks to Jay for completing our last Rival Lines of the season. I hope you have enjoyed them, I think it was on the Southampton away match that we missed out on. Jay van rightfully boast that Palace have beaten Man City away and they have the players to worry any team. These games are usually close between Palace and Bournemouth and the league positions suggests that two. I have my fingers crossed for a 0-1 away win and a record points total for AFCB. Many thanks for Jay and the Eagles Beak for their answers and may the best team win this weekend!
Match Preview: Crystal Palace v AFCB
Blogger Interview: The Eagles Beak
12 May 2019
Twitter: @TheEaglesBeak
CC: How satisfied are you with Palace's season?
TEB: With a highest points score within our grasp having already secured a 7th successive season in the Premier League (a record for the club), we should be pretty pleased. The sour point is the home form which has been poor, but thankfully we have been fantastic away from Selhurst. There was also plenty of disappointment at losing out in the League Cup quarter finals to lower league opposition and of course the FA Cup quarter final, but I'm pretty sure most fans will look back and think, that wasn't a bad season in the slightest. There is just some frustration at the quality within our squad should be pushing on having been in the Premier League for as long as we have, but I really think you have to be careful what you wish for in this game.
CC: Why do you think Palace tend to get off to slow starts?
TEB: I wish we knew! Last season was quite different with all the turmoil of an early change of manager, this one was marginally better but it dropped off quite quickly. It is so difficult to put your finger on, perhaps the way the fixtures worked out this past couple of season led to dips in form. If we could have managed a slightly better home form we'd have been okay, but hey, it has worked out just fine in the end.
CC: Would the money for Zaha be a chance to build a better side or is it more important to keep him?
TEB: Keep him - without question. He is still not the finished article, we see frustrations with him but he is a player that can do things with a football not many are able. He is arguably one of the best players outside the top six and it will be a long summer of rumours. The money we get for him, should he go, will not be enough to replace him. In fact, it will be difficult to imagine a Palace side without him. The good news is, Roy Hodgson has come out and said he is looking forward to working with him for another couple years, so there is hope, but I had prepped myself as this being his final season with us. Wilf is such a talent, I would not begrudge him a move for a shot at the big time.
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CC: Which was Palace's best game of the season for you?
TEB: Manchester City at the Etihad. There was not one fan, pundit or journalist that gave us a hope, but we put in a stunning performance to become the only team to win against the reigning champions in their own back yard. Not just that, but to score the goal of the season in that win just put the icing on the cake. What a hit by Andros! Lost count how many times I have watched that - never gets boring.
CC: Were you happy enough with what the team did in the Cup competitions?
TEB: Reaching the quarter-final stage of both competitions is a pretty decent showing, but there was plenty of disappointment at both those losses. Both Boro and Watford deserved their wins, but we did not perform in either game and it was a case of what if on both occasions.
CC: This last game will decide who finishes higher between the two teams. Do you consider AFCB as a similar side in terms of quality to Palace?
TEB: There is not a lot of difference between us in all honesty. We both have plenty of quality running through our sides and there is no doubt that both sets of fans will be hoping to keep hold of that talent during the summer. There is plenty of suggestion that this is a dead rubber, but there is a different of £4million at stake in prize money between positions we can end up finishing and that is an amount that both teams can do with.
CC: How do you expect Palace will line up for the game?
TEB: I think Roy will want to sign off at Selhurst with a win, seeing as there have been very few of those this season. I don't think he will be as bold as he was at Cardiff last week, probably more conservative so expect Jordan Ayew to drop back to the bench with either Kouyate or Meyer to step back in. Maybe, just maybe, we will be more bold at home in this last game so who knows!
CC: What is your score prediction?
TEB: I think we will sign off in style with a win but expect it to be a tough but entertaining affair. 3-2 to Palace.
CC: Thanks to Jay for completing our last Rival Lines of the season. I hope you have enjoyed them, I think it was on the Southampton away match that we missed out on. Jay van rightfully boast that Palace have beaten Man City away and they have the players to worry any team. These games are usually close between Palace and Bournemouth and the league positions suggests that two. I have my fingers crossed for a 0-1 away win and a record points total for AFCB. Many thanks for Jay and the Eagles Beak for their answers and may the best team win this weekend!
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