Storming The Palace?
Feb 20th, 2015 by 'holic
I was chatting to a mate last week about my first visit to Selhurst Park in November 1969. It was the first League meeting of the two clubs. We stood at the back of theΒ Whitehorse Lane end, sold in 1981 to make way for a Sainsbury’s supermarket. The pre-match read of the programme was depressing, labelling Arsenal as ‘Punchless’ after a run of twelve matches without a win. In their last ten outings the misfiring Gunners had scored just twice.
A couple of hours later we were making our way home in the warm afterglow of success, a 5-1 pasting Β having been dished out, and a search of YouTube found the highlights here. It was great to see Geordie Armstrong, and the recently featured Jon Sammels in that video. Arsenal would go on to land their first trophy in seventeen years at the end of that season, memorably defeating Anderlecht in the European Fairs Cup.
The two clubs have now met 29 times in the top flight, and Palace have won just twice. Their only triumph in front of their own supporters came in 1979 when the only goal of the game was good enough to beat a Gunners team missing Pat Rice and Alan Sunderland. Their other triumph was by 2-1 at Highbury in 1994 when Ian Wright grabbed the goal for the Gunners.
If the Palace of the first half of the season were our opponents tomorrow there would be little reason to anticipate them securing a third triumph, but a managerial change in January has seen something of a revival of fortunes for the South Londoners. The replacement of Neil Warnock and Keith Millen with former Eagle Alan Pardew has seen something of a mini-revival. His first game in charge saw Tottenham defeated 2-1, and they have also won at Burnley (3-2) and Leicester (1-0). Their last two home matches brought a lone goal defeat to Everton, and a 1-1 draw with Pardew’s former club, Newcastle United.
As for the team news, long term absentees Mathieu Debuchy, Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey, and Abou Diaby remain out. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was back in full training today (Friday) and is probably a little short (in Wengerspeak). Hector Bellerin and Mathieu Flamini required late tests but with Calum Chambers and Francis Coquelin fit there is no need to gamble on their fitness.
On the plus side Jack Wilshere is available again and will probably start on the bench. As well as Coquelin it would not be a surprise to see recalls for Per Mertesacker and Nacho Monreal after last week’s outstanding performance against Boro. More interesting will be whether or not the attacking pack is shuffled to make space for Theo Walcott.
The hosts could welcome back skipper Jedinak after an ankle injury. McArthur may also return but our own Yaya Sanogo is ineligible to face us.
Listeners to last night’s AFC PodcastΒ will know I had to reveal the ‘holic pound a day early. I am waiting though for Paddy Power to improve on 14/1 against a 1-3 win for the visitors before hitting the bet now button. That confident prediction is based on the midfield turning up with the same ambition and conviction displayed last week, rather than the one that sometimes struggles to break down well organised defences.
For those going I hope we do secure the points for you with yet another blistering performance. That sentiment is obviously extended to those of you who will be joining me on a stream hunt at three. I’m looking forward to getting a flavour of the atmosphere as the vociferous home support goes head to head against the magnificent traveling Gooners.
This weekend, as ever, have a good one ‘holics.
106 Responses to “Storming The Palace?”
Nice one H.
3 games in London in the next 8 days – 3 wins please. π
As well as Palace having a piss-poor record against us, Alain Pardieux must have a pretty dismal historic set of results as well?
One for Ned.
You are there on Wednesday and Sunday Z? Excellent, me too π
About Diary spill chucked?
Enjoyed the 1969 clip quite a lot including the haircuts. π
The ‘holic pound revealed somewhere other than in the match preview? Scandalous. π
Thanks bt8. I am going to fock thet spill chucker…
Erm, not quite Guvnor.
Next Sunday deffo though. Liffey time. π
Cheers H! Like I said my first time there for fucking years – pre all seated days.
Meeting in the ‘spoons 12.30.
Cant. Fucking. Wait!
Mate those highlights are something else! Cheers for that.
The late, great Brian Moore commentating; bogrolls being thrown on the pitch and rattles waved in the crowd. And best of all – Stroller in his classic ‘arms aloft’ pose after scoring.
Absolutely brilliant stuff.
zico: Pardew vs Us. P12 W2 D3 L7. Think that counts as “pretty dismal”.
Twas a great day Esso. You’ll have one tomorrow, mate.
Evocative clip, ‘Holic. Hard to believe that team could have gone through a slump like that. But then perhaps not. π
Esso: there isn’t a commentator today who can hold a candle to Brian Moore or Peter Jones on the radio. Peter Jones commentary on the Heysel Stadium tragedy was one of the greatest pieces of live radio ever. I doubt there is a TalkShite muppet today who could have handled a disaster like that, let alone as eloquently as Jones did
More Brian Moore, another George Graham goal against Palace, and a Jon Sammels goal.
http://youtu.be/kNU6j6bUGlw
Excellent preview, Guvna.
Here’s to a 3-1 victory to the good guys and uncountable winnings for the Holic pound.
Victim of Chelsea’s racist fans invites Chelsea to contact his lawyer. Chelsea invites victim to attend a Chelsea home game. Disconnect?
Good stuff, Holic.
3-1 sounds about right.
Alain n’est PasDieu !
Haw haw hee haw ! π
Only Chelsea, bt8.
Just don’t get it, do they ?
Thanks Guv. A tremendous mix of personal/Arsenal history and a good look at what awaits tomorrow, as is your wont. And cheers for the video- first time I’d seen it, I think.
3-0 tomorrow. Why not?
Come on you rip roaring…
Ned, thank you. I was there that day too with ‘holicdad.
Great videos Holic, Ned,
just checked them out.
Brian Moore unsurpassed. As soon as I hear his voice, I can smell the Sunday roast and see The Big Match on the telly in the corner.
Even nostalgia ain’t what it used to be though …………
Holic
I was there that day too but at the Holmesdale End with my mates from school who were Palace fans. My best friend and I had waited for years for the teams to play. At half time it was all to play for and then we massacred them in the second half. My mate was unable to speak. He got a revenge of sorts when Palace knocked us out of the League Cup
at Highbury the following season…but winning the double made up for it. Tomorrow my mate will be sitting in the Holmesdale End again and I will be hoping to see the game here in Toronto. How things have changed and yet remain the same.
I’m hopeful we could and should beat them although they have fearsome support and some decent players. Zaha and Bolasie can cause problems and Gayle is decent. We need a positive start, early goal and a Cazorla, Ozil and Sanchez masterclass. 3-1 sounds about right but I’m going 2-0 as per last year.
It’s still bloody freezing here
17 years without a trophy, ‘holic, I remember it all too well. And some think nine years was an eternity. π
Whittaker aaht, Crayston aaht, Swindin aaht, Wright aaht … except I don’t remember that at all.
Γskar
Glad it brought back good memories, ‘Holic, and to ttg.
Can smell the Sunday roast, too, Trev. And hear that classic theme tune.
It is striking how few of the commentators of old were ex-pros, unlike today.
Bit of broadcasting trivia for you: Barry Davies had been pencilled in for Big Match job when the programme launched. Jimmy Hill, then Head of Sport at LWT, stepped in to give it to Moore, who he recruited from the BBC. Oddly, Moore and Davies attended the same school in Kent, Cranbrook, though they were five years apart.
ttg: Iβm hopeful we could and should beat them although they have fearsome support and some decent players. Zaha and Bolasie can cause problems and Gayle is decent.
Zaha on a good day can certainly cause some trouble. I think it suits him far better to be a bigger fish in a smaller pond than the ManU environment allows him to be. They have beaten both Liverpool and Spurs at Selhurst Park this season so let us be under no illusions that this will be a walk in the park in any way.
That said, as long as we turn up and do the job properly then this is a game we should win. We have a run of league games coming up where we, if we want that top four spot, really could do with three points in every single one of them so let’s start by getting a win today, please.
Up the Gunners!
Here’s that theme tune in black and white.
http://youtu.be/GOGv_tUmNec
(and watch for a tasty bit of Frank McLintock at 1:48)
What Lars said.
Go win, Gunners.
Ned,
Your archives never cease to amaze me ! π
Ned. Top top stuff. So evocative of a wonderful time. π
The U.S. equivalent of The Big Match at the time was “Star Soccer” with Mario Machado narrating, and it is nowhere to be found on Youtube. Luckily we also had “Soccer Made in Germany” with the great Toby Charles and here’s a clip including the memorable theme music at the end.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOTchs7zDGI
Star Soccer is the UK had the amazing Hugh Johns, but because it was a regional show for the midlands, Arsenal were rarely featured.
Not is, in.
Ospina, Chambers, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Cazorla, Welbeck, Ozil, Alexis, Giroud.
Subs: Szczesny, Gibbs, Bellerin, Gabriel, Wilshere, Rosicky, Walcott.
Great team, great bench. Hope it works.
Cynic. It must have been the same show then with the narrator changed. I’ve always wondered why Arsenal weren’t on there. Nottingham Forest, Leicester City and Derby County seemed to feature quite a lot. Thanks for clearing up this 40-odd year old mystery for me. To reward my #28 drink then, the U.S. equivalent of Star Soccer was Star Soccer lite. π
To reword, not reward. Spill chucked again. π
Toby. Great team I agree. The only question I’m asking is about Chambers’ quickness or lack of it.
Wow! What a strong side.. we’re not taking any chances it seems!
Up The Arse!
π
Pardew ’em up!
I remember if it was during pre-season when I said that the team I was most excited about included Bellerin. People said that they thought Debuchy, rather, should be in our strongest eleven. I said I never did say strongest eleven, but that I really did think that Chambers was bought, at least short term, as a centre back, and that Jenks got shipped out on loan, and not Bellerin, ment that Arsene saw something there. Also, being from La Masia and being the quickest player at the club made something click in my head. This is the guy I wanted to see.
But I like Chambers. He is versatile and young and I can definitely see him becoming an important player for us, if that is by cementing a certain spot, or just being the go-to-guy to plug holes in RB, CB or DM, I don’t yet know.
Point I am making is this: Yes, bt8bb, I agree that Chamber isn’t our quickest, our most experienced nor our most exciting right back.
But I’m fucking glad he can play when Debuchy is out, and Bellerin had a late fitness test and is on the verge of not being able to play. Strength in depth, and hopefully he will have a great game.
Cheers for the preview guv’.
Just checked into a hotel near an airport.
Stream hunting on the laptop about to comence………..
streams are pretty few for this game so far :S
Any luck Eandy?
I’m not having much joy.
that viasat acestream runs pretty well to me, did not try the other few http://www.livefootballol.com/streaming/english-premier-league/21-02-2015-crystal-palace-arsenal.html
http://livetv.sx/en/eventinfo/282414_crystal_palace_arsenal/#_
Cheers.
http://Www.stadium-live.biz/Channel 20.html
This is working great for me.
Backing Chambers for a big performance today. I hope I’m right!
COME ON!!!!!!!!!!
Cheers Holic and holics.
C’mon The Arsenal! β₯
Good luck to our Jack xx
http://www.stadium-live.biz/Channel20.html
stop putting unnecessary spaces in, stupid phone.
Come on you reds!
Give it to Santi!!!
π
PENALTY
SANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNTI!!!
π
GET IN!!
π π
SAAANTIII
Lovely game π
Monreal and Le Coq will have to be careful with their challenges,though.
Plenty of goals in this one.. and not all from us I believe.. still we should be able to get them on the counter if they’re overly aggressive!
COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WIN THE MIDFIELD …COME ON!!!
Chambers looks like hes getting or on the edge of getting skinned every time the ball goes down his side.
Great game.
UTA!
Real intensity to this. Both teams going for it. I’m loving it.
Zaha seems a diving cheat. All that time around rooney looks apparent.
0-2 Teamwork goal!
The poor state of the pitch is ruining it as a football spectacle, players loosing their feet on both sides.
Nacho having a hard time and the MF only got to grips with the game in the final 10mins of the half. Fab pass from Ozil to put Welbeck through and lovely finish from the HFB anticipating a mistake from the keeper.
We need to watch the yellow cards, don’t want to find ourselves with 10 men.
COYRs
Wise words Delia.
New pitch by Palace, kept a bit dry, Delia. Maybe a Pardue tactic! π
Strong presence by Ozil!
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh, more of that please!
Was hoping to keep this an alcohol free day, but Palace driving me nuttters!
Me too abb. But the black stuff has been calling me…
COMEEEEEE ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!
π
GSD π
REFFFFFFFFFFF OUT!
Grrrr!
COME ON .. let’s get a third!
Gibbo and Tomas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GET IN ….come on !
π
I hear the chavs are behaving like some of their fans.. come on Burnley!!!!
They’re bringing on their bruisers now.. !
Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurnleyyyyyyyyyyyyyy yes!!!
and COME ON.. let’s get a third.. need the goal difference!
π
Ospina, thank you!
Ospina’s a beauty @ABB!
π
holy fuck …whew
Wow! My heart isn’t feeling too good now….
π
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
BB , whew! Torturous match, esp. listening in.
Palace deserved a point ?
Double whew, eandy. Eek, too.
Not a happy last ten minutes.
But 3pts is just that, thank you very much, especially on that cattle patch of a field.
3 points, tough derby away from home. Worst referee yet this season. Got sooo many calls wrong (both ways). No injuries. Satisfied, especially with Utd losing.
Arsenal 3 yellow and palace 1??
Ridiculous. They were hacking Arsenal all over the park.
But a pretty fortunate unconvincing win.
Still: well done to get the points.
@Abb
I think they did deserve a point from their second half’s performance.
But I am glad they did not get one!!
π
Chelski drew and MU lost… shaping up to be a good week!
Our ‘ new’ tactics of conceding possession are working pretty well but lead to quite nervy times towards the end of games. The stats in this game are overwhelmingly in favour of Palace. They had nearly twenty shots in the second half! But temporarily up to third and at last the poverty of United’s football is rewarded appropriately with defeat.
Southampton/ Liverpool draw would suit!
We made it, just but with MU loosing & Burnley getting a point the afternoon turned out nicely. We have played miles better, hope we are saving it for Wed night.
COYRs
A tough away game, got to give credit to Palace for a relentless pressing game. We did enough, was defensively very focused and there was a collective willingness to weather out the tough moments of the match, but I think we should have also scored more from counter-attack where there was a little bit of lack of sharpness in the final third.
The condition of the field didn’t help, that was quite the potato field with an injury waiting to happen. Hopefully we have escaped unscathed.
Danny my MOTM today, involved in both the goals and a terrifically hard working performance down the right flank. Per was at his unflustered best and despite a strange header from Ospina I thought otherwise he was very composed and used his experience well in the later minutes.
Coquelin showed good maturity to slightly alter the positioning and approach after the first yellow card, he didn’t even commit a foul afterwards.
Giroud, Santi and Alexis were hacked to pieces, but that has become a regular occurrence.
50 Arsenal goals for Giroud in 117 appearances. Congratulations!
bt8b – Does this ring any bells re Star Soccer?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC0Zhty_MDY
Three points, i.e. two more than the Chavs and three more than the Mancs. Pretty routine until the final 10 minutes. The commentator on NBC thought Palace and been brilliant and hadn’t deserved to lose. Muppet.
And congrats to Fabianski too.. did the double over MU!
Get IN!
π
Very happy with our defence, we looked much more resilient. Alexis is getting kicked more often now too, did notice him limping a bit, hope it’s not too serious and he should be rested if he isn’t 100%.
Noticed too that Wilshere wasn’t too happy at being left out (I think!) good to see we have a selection problem now..too many players!
Ospina.. he seems calmer to me than Sczesny. Still a toss up on who’s better but as long as he’s playing well he should get a good run!
Job done.
Well done fellas. Hard work. Deserved win.
Onwards.
Time for a surge.
You could see why Zaha didn’t make it at United. Bags of talent in possession but weak final ball and decision-making as bad as early Theo.
@NBN
Think probably anyone could make it at MU nowadays though… π
Palace for all their poccession and stats didn’t have a shot on target until around the 80th minute. (Bolaise).
We were easy winners until extra time, when we aimed both barrels towards the toed area.
I’ve only just managed to clean out my crackers.
Still, a great three points and with Manure fudging up, a great weekend,, so far.
Mourinho will be very annoyed with Amati . The Chelsea culture which is fundamentally dishonest would normally see Matic writhing on the ground in an attempt to draw attention to a bad tackle from Barnes. In his case the red mist descended after a time and he went after Barnes right in front of the referee. Chelsea look very uninspired to me and could well lose out on all fronts this season. Citeh gave momentum, Toure back and Bony with them.
And RVP looking badly injured for United. RVP injured that gas a familiar ring!
Spell check again on my useless IPad. Magic not Amati of course.
Now it’s converted Matic!
π
I guess against Monaco Theo would start as in a CL match the opposition defense would be less deep and it would suit us best to have his pace and finishing to break forward especially against a rather slowing back four of Monaco. Alexis on the left, and Giroud down the middle. The midfield remains same or we give Santi a break and start with TR7 at CM with Ozil at no.10? Or rest Giroud, put Alexis down the middle and Ozil on the left and TR7 and Santi in the middle?
Appreciate all observations on how we played. Very hard to get a proper perspective from just audio!
Don’t blame Matic, after seeing that career ending type challenge.
Not going to celebrate RVP’s injury. Gives me no joy. When he retires, the magnitude of his ill-fated decision will truly sink in.
@TTG
Magic not Amati Matic!
Aptly sums up the week so far!
Chavs finally got what they deserved or close to it (losing is what they deserve!) Pool and Saints need to draw, fat sam needs to eat them spuds and it would be an almost perfect week, pity about city ..but you can’t have it all!
π
abb @ 97: About RVP, I don’t think he is as introspective a human being as you are giving him credit for. He earned much more in the last few years of his career that he would had had if he had stayed with us, he also earned himself a PL medal, and looking back at his career he would remember playing for two great teams in English football. I am not sure that is a decision he would regret. But that is just my opinion, I could be wrong. π
BB@98: I think it is better that Man City and Chelsea both stay interested in the league as they both have to play our competitors for positions 3-4. And moreover if we are not to win the league (still a mathematical possibility but just that) I would rather City wins than Moaninho and his thugs.
BB, Liverpool winning, would be better for us. π
But against the Saints, a draw might be more realistic.
Gotta a crush on Palace fans, can’t help myself. π
Speaking of dreamy, over the moon with anticipation towards
our afternoon tea (High Tea), with Monaco. β₯
Think Jack might just get a bit of a run. Shades of Barcelona …
@99 Reading you now π
Dr Fautus, true. But who’s he gonna call his ‘home’ xx
@102: Feynoord. π
We have a selection problem now?
Too many players?
I’m off to my fallout shelter, NOW!…(with my UK Decay albums)
(it was for sale, but not anymore) shelter, not albums.
God, help us all!
@100 Abb
Well in!
You’re probably right about Pool winning being better for us.. but I would prefer them not to! π
@99 DocFaust
Definitely not the moaning one! Am eagerly awaiting their sudden and unavoidable loss of form due any time now for a few successive matches.. Matic getting a three match ban might just hasten the effect!
Am anticipating a third place finish in the league at the very least, we have the players now for a decent run, let us see if we can sustain our winning form.
π
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