Time for the first Winter World Cup?

While Sepp Blatter's controversial and horrific comments with regards to gay sex at the 2022 Qatar World Cup rightly made headlines, he also mentioned in the very same press conference something that went unnoticed by many, but is perhaps a far more significant dilemma.

It has been barely a fortnight since Russia and Qatar won the rights to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups respectively, but just as it seemed the fuming football fans around the world had begun to calm down, FIFA decided to try and land another bombshell by announcing that it was considering moving the World Cup from it's usual date of June and July, to a much earlier January tournament, in order to help cope with the ridiculously high temperatures of the summer months.

The idea was not one of Sepp's, however, former players, and FIFA executive committee members Franz Beckenbauer and Michel Platini first came up with the idea, before on Thursday the FIFA general secretary said "why not?" when asked about the first ever winter World Cup.

Then, in his press conference on Friday, our favourite FIFA member said this;

"I definitely support to play in winter [in Qatar]. To play when the climate is appropriate and I'm thinking about footballers, not only the fans but the actors. Where there's a will, there's a way."

It is understandable that it will be tough for the players to play in such a gruelling temperature, even with the proposed air conditioned stadia, but is this not why FIFA gave the Qatar bid such a poor safety rating? So why was it voted for?

This will add to the failed bidders' anger and sense of injustice, as if they weren't sore enough. It seems that the factors that may have deterred voters from voting for a nation could now be avoided rather easily.

But there is no rule to state when a World Cup should be held, it has just traditionally been held in the summer months, however there is nothing to stop Qatar holding a World Cup in January. FIFA tend to work out the scheduling for World Cup 2-3 seasons in advance, so there would be plenty of preparation time, and so it is not a matter of FIFA and Qatar picking a date a letting everybody else work around it.

There are still 12 years, or 11 if it is in January, until the World Cup, so there is plenty of planning time, but the big clubs in Europe in particular will do everything in their power to avoid a winter World Cup.

True loyalty, or simply postponing the inevitable?

As the words "number 1, Julian Speroni", the biggest cheer of the day went up in recognition of Julian Speroni signing a new 3 and a half year contract on Friday, probably the best news of the season for any Palace fan. The Argentine shot stopper was then met by more applause as he approached his goal at the Whitehorse Lane end, with the entire stand giving him a standing ovation, holding up Argentine flags and singing his name. He applauded them in return, and was visibly touched, but this did not stop them, and the songs continued as the game begun.

Julian Speroni is quite possibly the best goalkeeper outside the Premier League. Some fans argue that he is not, saying that the likes of David James, Scott Loach and Kieron Westwood are better, but, even without my Palace cap on, I struggle to see how they are any better than Jules.

David James is 40 this year, and despite playing at the World Cup in the summer clearly wasn't up to the high standard of top class international football, and this was proved when he didn't sign for a Premier League club, and instead joined Bristol City. Kieran Westwood is young and a good shot stopper, but is often caught out of position and can be prone to making costly mistakes, as he showed when he collected a back pass against Palace for an indirect free-kick inside the box, which Darren Ambrose duly fired home from. And while Scott Loach is a great keeper for his age, he rarely is seen to make incredible diving saves, with many Watford fans believing he could have done better with Owen Garvan's two goals against Watford.

Julian Speroni, however, has everything a keeper needs to be successful. He is only 31, the optimum age for goalkeepers, and has experienced, all be it very briefly, top level football. That was 6 years ago, but he has learnt from his mistakes and matured greatly. His diving is exceptional, and when watching him I can guarantee there will be shots destined for the back of the net before he gets a hand to them. His kicking is superb, and there is nothing better on the break than him placing a perfectly placed kick at the feet of a young, quick winger to watch him weave through the remaining defender and score. And then there is his most outstanding attribute. His reflexes. Speroni is easily one of the best goalkeepers in the world at making reflex saves, and you only need look as far as a month ago against Coventry where he made some mind boggling saves.

So why isn't he in the Premier League? Well, as far as I can tell, it is his love for Palace and the Palace fans. Before and after every game he applauds the fans, and has stated his love for the club, but when in the summer Fulham put in a bid for him, he seemed destined to leave and finally get another bite at the Premier League cherry. No Palace fan could deny that this opportunity is long overdue, and so when, at 16:00 on Friday afternoon, news broke that he had signed a new contract and will be staying at SE25 until 2014, Eagles fans worldwide celebrate wildly. But will this simply mean he will be sold, and the club will receive more money for him? We will have to wait and see, but, for now, let's celebrate.

Ever since I became a fully qualified referee, my views on their performances have drastically changed. Whereas before, I would slate every referee that wasn't 100% spot on with his decision making, recently I have held back, knowing how hard it is to referee football matches, and so I hadn't actually been saying anything negative about referees. After all, the better team should be able of winning a game regardless of the referee's performance, so, with that in mind, I would think about the referees tough job, and come to the conclusion that it was Palace who simply hadn't been good enough on the day to beat the opposition. Until yesterday.

In the Palace versus Sheffield United match at Brammall Lane yesterday, live on Sky Sports, I can quite confidently say that Anthony Taylor had the refereeing performance that I have ever seen in football, be it on the parks on a Sunday morning, or in the Premier League on a Saturday afternoon. And this isn't with my Palace tinted glasses on either, because he wasn't just poor for us. He was poor for Sheffield United as well. Ask anybody who watched the game and they will agree with me. Believe me, I would be just as outraged had we won the game.

Taylor has already issued 55 yellow cards and 7 reds.

The first penalty was very soft. Don Goodman said that the referee "has been conned", and that may be the case. From the angle the referee was at though, and judging by the flight of the ball and the direction in which Neil Danns was running, I would say that Danns went down under the challenge of Calve. That's not to say it was a penalty, I would never have given it, but Danns was going for the ball, so obviously couldn't have kept his balance as well as if he had been stationary.

Following that, the referee awarded a penalty to United, despite the fact that Nathaniel Clyne won the ball, and Claude Davis was booked, before Owen Garvan was sent off for foul and abusive language, something which I am sure would not have been punished in the Premier League. Then, with 5 minutes to go, United scored an offside goal, which was not spotted by the referee or his assistant, and Taylor then awarded another penalty to United. Granted, it was a trip, but I wonder whether it would have been awarded by Howard Webb, in my opinion the best referee in the world, for example. Another sending off in the dying seconds capped off his performance, but that red card was probably deserved.

He has refereed several games in the Premier League, but his references have not been glowing. During the game between Fulham and Blackburn earlier this season, he missed a handball outside the box by Mark Schwarzer, and was criticised by both managers, and Blackburn put in an official complaint to the Premier League.

These fast-tracked referees simply aren't of good enough quality to referee in the Football or Premier Leagues. Perhaps a good idea would be for the fast-tracked referees to spend a season or two running the lines as Assistant Referee or 4th Official, while watching more experienced, and more qualified, professionals control the game in the middle. Certainly, a far more cautious approach will be needed if the fast-tracked officials are to avoid becoming synonymous with making high-profile blunders.

Capello - Idiot, or Genius?

Bothroyd has scored 15 times already this season

As everybody now knows, last night Jay Bothroyd, the Cardiff striker, was called up to the preliminary England squad for the friendly against France that will be played on Wednesday night. So far, Bothroyd, 28, has played for Coventry, Perugia, Blackburn and Charlton, but it seemed that he has only recently been able to settle down and get stuck in at a club, and perhaps now that he is being given a run of games at Cardiff we are seeing the real Jay Bothroyd. With 15 goals in 16 games this season, there is no doubting he is in top form.

But the big question is why has Capello chosen him? Yes, he is in form, but he is not playing at the highest level, something Capello has always stressed to David Beckham is key if he ever wants to play for England again. And why was Kevin Davies not picked? He only got a cameo appearance in what is so far his only England appearance, and when Don Fabio went to watch him against Tottenham last week he scored two and got an assist - not a bad return for a man who was used as a "big target man" before this season.

Capello has been scouting young talent

On the other hand, a few people are praising the Italian's "inspired" decision. Dave Jones, the Cardiff manager, has been calling for the call up to happen, and many football experts also believe that Capello is moving in the right direction. Following the World Cup he promised a revolution, a new start, a completely refreshed England side, and you cannot argue that he has picked players that wouldn't have had a look in pre-World Cup since, such as Scott Loach, Andy Carroll and Kieran Gibbs. Capello is clearly looking to the future, giving this young talent international experience in order to hopefully have the team of tomorrow, today.

Some people wonder if he has gone slightly too far, however. Chris Smalling, Frankie Fielding and Kieran Gibbs are not starting on a regular basis for their clubs, and so far this season have failed to play more than 500 minutes of football between them. It begs the question: Is Capello picking players who are young, rather than just players who are in form and playing regularly? Possibly, but it is certainly refreshing to see a squad with players who under previous regimes would not have dreamed of a call up without a move to Manchester United.

Here is the England preliminary squad, to be cut down to 23:

Foster (Birmingham), Hart (Man City), Green (West Ham); Gibbs (Arsenal), Cole (Chelsea), Terry (Chelsea), Jagielka (Everton), Lescott (Man City), Richards (Man City), Ferdinand (Man Utd), Smalling (Man Utd); Walcott (Arsenal), Wilshere (Arsenal), Young (Aston Villa), Gerrard (Liverpool), Barry (Man City), Johnson (Man City), Milner (Man City), Henderson (Sunderland); Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Bothroyd (Cardiff), Carroll (Newcastle), Crouch (Tottenham)

When will they learn

2 big stories dominated the papers this week, the first being the will he/won't he Wayne Rooney saga, and the second being the much more serious and upsetting story about Portsmouth being "on the brink". In the early parts of the week, Rooney dominated the headlines by stating his desire to leave Manchester United, saying they "lacked ambition" and couldn't sign the best players, and so was going to leave, before yesterday signing a new 5 year deal. Then, early yesterday evening, Portsmouth FC posted the following statement on their club website:

Portsmouth Football Club is extremely disappointed to report that it has not yet managed to achieve the exit from Administration, despite the extensive efforts of the Football League, NewCo, the Administrators and their various legal advisors.

The process has been extremely complicated and there has been a team of people working night and day to get the deal done. The most difficult aspect has been trying to achieve agreement with Alexandre Gaydamak after the remaining parties have agreed the deal and executed the necessary documents, namely the new owners, the Administrators, the Football League and the creditors.

Unfortunately, despite the new owners fulfilling all the requirements of the Football League and the creditors, and agreeing and signing up to the required terms of the purchase of the club, at the 11th hour the goalposts have been moved by Mr Gaydamak and this has now made the deal impossible to complete.

Put simply, despite being offered full payment for the secured part of his debt in accordance with the financial plan approved by the Football League, this morning Mr Gaydamak has demanded a very significant upfront cash payment in order to allow the deal to proceed by releasing his security.

All this is in spite of his lawyers going to Paris this morning specifically for the purpose of witnessing his signature to the document agreed yesterday.

It is neither in the interests of the club nor its unsecured creditors for such a ransom payment to be made, particularly where the payment is being demanded by one of the authors of the club’s current circumstances.

In addition, and equally importantly, all of the business plans submitted and approved by the Football League would be fundamentally damaged by such a requirement placed on the club by Mr Gaydamak.

We will provide further information as soon as possible.

However, it appears likely that the club will now be closed down and liquidated by the Administrators as they are unable to support the continued trading of the club.

We would like to thank the Football League in particular for their support and assistance through this difficult process.

All other parties had managed to reach agreement.

This has now been undermined by the self-interested actions of one individual. Mr Gaydamak has provided confirmation several times that terms were agreed. However, he has continually changed his position in an attempt to exploit the goodwill of the other parties to the transaction. 

By now doing this he has shown complete disregard for the supporters, the club and the City of Portsmouth.

His earlier comments when the club went into Administration about doing everything possible to save the club’s future do not appear to reflect his current actions.

This news didn't really come as a shock for Portsmouth, who have been spending above their means, and continue to spend above their means on players such as Dave Kitson, Liam Lawrence and David Nugent, but it certainly puts the Wayne Rooney saga into context.

Will football ever learn that big wages and bonuses are signalling the beginning of the end for the beautiful game? Rooney was complaining that he doesn't get enough money, yet he gets paid in a week more than most people in the country are paid per year, for doing far less work that is more enjoyable to him, but at the end of the day doesn't produce anything. Rooney was on £80k per week, plus appearance and goal bonuses, and advertising fees, and image rights. It is a sorry state of affairs that the two top stories on Sky Sports News (in HD) are "Wayne Rooney threatens to leave Man Utd before signing new deal" and "Pompey on the brink".

Fortunately, it appears Pompey are not actually on the brink as was first feared, but that's not the point. Money in football is being spent in the wrong places, and something needs to be done. Maybe put in a wage cap, so that players cannot ask for ridiculous amounts of money. But then what is that cap to be set at? If it is at a good level, the majority of Man City players will have to take pay cuts, and if it is set level with the highest earner in the Premier League then it isn't really a gap, as the majority of players are on under 100k, so a wage cap of 220k would not affect anyone. So is there another option? Could all clubs be set a wage budget of a percentage of their club's worth? Possibly, but it is the FA that needs to make a decision quickly. This problem isn't happening in the well run Bundesliga in Germany, or in La Liga over in Spain.

They say football is an unpredictable business, but I can predict that if it carries on as it is right now, with ever inflating transfer fees, wages, and player power, then a lot more clubs will go out of existence, and yet the Premier League still won't take notice.

Hopefully Pompey are saved, just as Palace were 4 months ago, but if they aren't then hopefully this is the wake up call the FA need.


Gibbo

What should the FA do about referees?

Page 123, Law 13 - The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves.

This is not the first time there has been controversy surrounding refereeing decisions made in a Liverpool Sunderland fixture, nor is it the first time referee Stuart Atwell has woken up on a Sunday morning with his name all over the papers for the wrong reasons.

Last year, a beach ball deflected a Darren Bent shot, in open play, past Pepe Reina in the Liverpool goal, and referee Mike Jones allowed it to stand. Sunderland won that game 1-0, and the debates over whether or not the goal should have stood continued for days, but in that case most arguments were ended on the agreement that the right decision was made by law and by common sense.


And 2 seasons ago Stuart Atwell was at the centre of attention again as he awarded a mysterious "ghost goal" to Reading against Watford. Amid a goal mouth scramble, Atwell adjudged the ball to have crossed the line between the goal posts and underneath the crossbar, despite the fact that only time it crossed the line was outside the goal. A goal kick should have been awarded, but instead a goal was given. The game finished 2-2.

Yesterday, as I am sure everybody has seen, Atwell awarded an indirect free-kick to Sunderland in their own half. Turner tried to take the kick quickly, but it was pulled back to the correct position by the 27-year-old youngest Premier League referee. Atwell waited until Turner was by the ball, and as Atwell turned his back and walked off, Turner appeared to backheel the ball towards his keeper, and the keeper walked forward to take the kick, but instead Torres pounced on it, and although the keeper appealed, Torres was allowed to go on by Atwell and pulled it back to Kuyt for an easy finish. The referee consulted his assistant, and a goal was awarded. The game finished 2-2.

I am currently undertaking a refereeing course, and we were told that while you should stick to the laws as much as possible, the use of common sense is also very important. It could be argued that he did the right thing. Turner, afterall, passed the ball to his goalkeeper, and so the ball was in play, and Torres and Kuyt were justly rewarded for their quick thinking. However, surely it would have been clear to his assistant that Turner had not deliberately given the ball to Torres, and maybe the kick should have been retaken.

As you can see, all three decisions have affected results, and although in some cases the right decision may have been made, the FA is going to need to do something to stop such strange occurances happening again. It appears at the moment that young referees act like robots, and rarely use common sense. More often than not, younger referees make decisions correct by law, but not necessarily correct in practice. Is it nerves that force these referees into making the decisions, or is it younger referees wanting to be better and sticking to the rules?

So what should they do? Does the process of a referee going from Level 9 to Level 1 need to be changed? Or is this problem always going to be there of referees making mistakes? Unfortunately, I think it is the latter. Referees go about their job in different ways, some are leniant, and some only make decisions on their first thoughts. Because of this, it is likely that referees will always make mistakes, and we will just have to hope that they aren't too costly.


Gibbo

Learning curve for Burley

After arguably the most extraordinary summer in Crystal Palace Football Club's history, it finally appears the Club has returned to having a sole purpose - playing football. There is no longer any feeling of needing to sign new players, or searching for a new manager, and there are certainly no financial worries.

Instead, the only thing that the Palace forums are talking about, is the football, and, perhaps unsurprisingly given the nature and fickleness of the modern day football fan, the views on the football and players is mixed. There are those who, like me, realise that you cannot completely change a squad and win the league overnight. Then there are those who feel that it is Calvin Andrew's fault (I can see where they are coming from, but that is a whole new post.) while some are saying that Burley should be sacked, although this is quite definitely the minority, and rightly so.

But I can already see a trend developing. At home when I have seen Palace, even when we haven't won, we have played some very good football and come very close. Against Leicester we were incredible in the first half, and the 3 goals we scored showed that, and against Portsmouth our wingers, Cadogan and Djilali, along with hat-trick hero James Vaughan were unplayable, and a great night was only tarnished by a communication error between Gardner and Speroni, but it was a Tuesday night, so I think we got off quite lightly! And against Burnley, despite what the papers say, we were very good defensively and came close a number of times, not forgetting the player Neil Danns thinks should be Argentina's number 1, Julian Speroni, who pulled off his usual array of world-class stops.

Yet away from home we are afraid to shoot, afraid to pass, and invite pressure. Even against Reading, not the best of sides with a poor referee, we had about one shot on goal and were, if I'm brutally honest, shocking.

However, George Burley is a very experienced manager, and the squad he has built is a credit to him, and surely from here the only way is up. There are so many weaknesses in our side, but this is not because of lack of quality - we have that in abundance and, for me, we have one of the top 5 squads in the league - but because of the lack of time they have had together. I have never understood how a team can be so confident at home, but so timid away, and I am sure this is a problem Burley is all too aware of, and I am certain that given time, results away from SE25 will come.

For me, away games at Swansea and Preston will be the biggest test for us, and I believe that, even if we lose 5-0 in both, Burley will take a lot away from the two games, and we play so differently home and away that it should be relatively to adjust team-talks and tactics in order to improve results.

We won't be getting 3 points every week any time soon, but in a way that is a good thing, because this way Burley gets the chance to prepare for if and when we do. Burley has a steep learning curve, but this is nothing new for him, and I am sure he relishes the challenge of moving Palace up the Football League.

Gibbo

I cannot wait for this season to begin

As I type this blog on my laptop at home, there are people frantically preparing for the start of the new npower Football League season to start tomorrow and tonight. The friendlies are over, the trialists have been unsuccessful in the most part and the audition stages are over, and at tomorrow at 3PM the curtain will rise on another season for Crystal Palace, another season which at one point two months ago was not looking possible.

Many people believed, back on the 31st May, that with a day for a deal to be agreed there would be no football at Selhurst Park on the 7th of August, after probably the most traumatic, dramatic, nerve-wracking and action-packed seasons and summers in Crystal Palace's 105 year history.

And the Palace fans will need to keep in mind the trials and tribulations of being a Palace fan in May and June during the build-up to tomorrows game, and it probably during the majority of the season too.

This past year has been a hectic one for Palace, and everyday something has happened, so it wouldn't surprise me if George Burley and the co-chairmen Martin Long and Steve Parish didn't want a particularly spectacular season, and would rather build for the season after.

Yes, we have a good, shrewd manager, and seemingly sensible finance-conscious owners, but this doesn't mean we will be challenging the top dogs for the league title this season. It will take time for Burley to get in the players he wants, and to get those and the current players to gel and start playing his style of football, and get to know the new faces and new formations.

But Burley won't find it easy erasing Warnock's hoofball tactic from the players memories, and while it wasn't pretty, it worked. Warnock's tactic of not playing the ball on the ground also leaves another problem to be solved.

Palace haven't had a goalscoring striker since Andy Johnson left us for £8.6million in 2006, and Burley will need to be quick if he is to get a good one in either on loan, for a fee or for free. 

Because of the new players signing all the time, and the complete change in tactics, we had been outplayed in several friendlies against much, much lower opposition, and I am sure this will continue into the beginning of the season.

But despite all of the new surroundings for the new Palace manager, I fully believe Palace can and will finish in a solid mid-table position, not because of Burley alone, but because he has managed to convince Darren Ambrose to sign a new three year contract, and has signed promising young midfielder Owen Garvan from Ipswich for a fee thought to be around £225k, which could prove to be the deal of the Championship this season, as less than a quarter of a million for a player of Garvan's quality is, quite frankly, daylight robbery.

Not only that, the new crop of youth players seem to be ready to make the step up to the first team, too. As I mentioned in a blog post at the end of last month, the Palace Academy is one of the best in the country, and Wilfred Zaha and Kieron Cadogan both have been exceptional in pre-season. In Cadogan we have a good young winger who made his debut two years ago but was frozen out by Neil Warnock last year, and Zaha is possibly the best young striker at the club.

Burley clearly rates these two and sees their potential, and has a good history of working with youth players, and they look set to play a big role in our early games, without an out-and-out striker and with Danns suspended and Garvan unable to play until the league share goes to CPFC2010, they could be key.

Leicester will be a tough first game tomorrow for Burley, and it the beginning of the season may have come a few weeks to early for Palace, but this season and more importantly tomorrow is not about winning the league or getting promotion, it is about enjoying football.

Not to mention enjoying supporting a football club.

Gibbo

Is Milner to City really a good move?

So today, yet again, Sky Sports News has been dominated by repeat updates on James Milner's future. As I am sure you are aware, the Aston Villa midfielder has been subject to two bids from Manchester City, both rejected by Villa, of £20million and £25million, taking into account add ons. It would appear that Milner wants to leave Villa in what I personally see as a downwards move for the World Cup star, and here is why.

Manchester City has, for the past three summers now, been a regular in the BBC gossip column, and has been linked with more or less every player who is worth more than £10million. In their first season as "the richest club in the world", they signed Brazilian forward Robinho from Real Madrid for around £32.5million on transfer deadline day, and this was just the start for them. Last sseason they signed Joleon Lescott for £23million, Emmanuel Adebayor for £25million, and Gareth Barry for £12million to name but a few. This summer they have continued spending, with new £20million signing Yaya Toure on £220,000 per week.

It appears Milner has his heart set on a move to Eastlands, but I cannot see how this move would help him develop as a player. Yes his bank balance will shoot up, but his game time and player progression will come to a halt. Roberto Mancini has a wealth of midfielders at his disposal, but has to pick 25 players over the age of 21 for the coming season to represent City in the Premier League. He already has Patrick Viera, Stephen Ireland, Vincent Kompany, Gareth Barry, Nigel De Jong, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Adam Johnson, Michael Johnson, David Silva, and Yaya Toure. He may well make it into the 25, but breaking into a probable midfield 4 containing these players will be a tall order.

And that shouldn't be his only worry. He may play a bit, but playing with wingers such as Adam Johnson, David Silva, Shaun Wright-Phillips and the returning Robinho will be tough, and it isn't like at Villa where he is a top player and can move about, because in the centre of the field are De Jong, Viera, Barry, Kompany and Ireland, so it will be tough breaking into the team their. In fact, I would go as far as saying that the only place I can ever see him playing is as an attacking midfielder, either at the top of a diamond, or in the middle of a 4-4-2, attacking while Barry, De Jong or Viera hold the fort.

But on top of that, will he fit in. Yes they are all professional footballers, but they clearly aren't gelling as Roberto Mancini and Mark Hughes had wished when they signed these players, as again they failed to finish in the top four and thus seal Champions League qualification, so there is room for improvement in that position.

So what could Villa offer him? In terms of money and a new contract, they have no hope of matching City, but what they do offer is good football, a good manager, and he is surrounded by players of equal ability who know how to play well together and a manager who knows how to get the best out of them. They are slowly building, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if they made it into the top 4 this season, but they need to keep their best players.

It will be interesting to see which option Milner chooses. He comes across as a football loving player, but he may have had head turned already. If he does go to City, I would hope he does well, but I just have a feeling he may come to regret the move in a similar way Robinho and Shaun Wright-Phillips have begun too.

Gibbo

Next up from the Acadamy: Zaha and Cadogan

Late last night, as I flicked between my tabs at the top of my Google Chrome browser, checking what is happening on the BBS, Facebook, and Crystal Palace's NewsNow page, Palace were playing Brentford at Griffin Park. Unusually for a pre-season friendly, I am able to listen to commentary on Brentford Player, but the boredom refuses to cease. We are losing, again, to a Brentford side who could have, and should have, in reality, been 4-0 up at the break. We have played a boring 4-4-1-1 formation with Calvin Andrew, bless him, trying his best as the lone striker but failing to do anything that footballers should be able to do. As the whistle blows for half-time I contemplate going down-stairs to play a game of Fifa 10. Or maybe watch some TV. Instead, I decide to carry on listening to the game. Not sure why, I just did.

On came two men who completely turned the game. Alan Lee and Wilfred Zaha replaced Calvin Andrew and Kieron Djilali, and instantly there were chances for Palace, with Zaha soon creating a very good chance but unfortunately couldn't hit the back of the net as the ball soared over.

Mid-way through the second half, after Zaha and another young player, Kieron Cadogan, had tormented the Brentford defence creating chances, a corner met the head of Davis who nodded goalwards before a flick over the keeper by Cadogan secured a draw for Palace.

Cadogan and Zaha have been the highlight of Palace's pre-season this year, and while we need a striker and a defensive midfielder, these two could yet be the revelations of the season. In the recent past we have had  Clinton Morrison, Ben Watson, Tom Soares, Victor Moses, Sean Scannell and Nathaniel Clyne to come through the academy, and one way or another have made us money, especially people such as Clinton Morrison, who indirectly got us promotion. Zaha has given Palace fans like me a sight we have been missing for a long time - a small striker. He is quick and pacey, and isn't afraid to take on defenders, and is such a breath of fresh air.

Cadogan is a young winger who can also play as a striker, and scored 19 times in the reserves last season, something no other player could even come close too, with Pinney behind him hitting the net 9 times. These two, with the correct guidance that I am sure they will get from George Burley, could be the two players Palace rely on most, and I can see them coming on late on in games and scoring vital goals, two years after Cadogan rounded a Coventry City goalkeeper on his debut to salvage a draw. He was frozen out last season after seemingly breaking into the side in the 08/09 season, and hopefully this season he can kick on into what will be an exciting new era.

Cadogan and Zaha will be just like two new signings if they continue this form, and they may just help us push for the play-offs.



Gibbo

Palace fans! Don't worry!

So, tonight is Palace's first pre-season friendly, and our first game under new manager George Burley. It is expected that Palace are to play with a squad filled with trialists, and rumours going around on the BBS suggest that the likes of Dean Morgan, Liam Bridcutt, Lewis Price and Mark Randall are to play a part, with many more unknown as of yet. We are rumoured to be about to announce the signing of a goalkeeper, presumably Price, and a Premier League striker before the Chelsea game on Saturday, but how many new players do we actually need?

Goalkeepers

1. Julian Speroni
2. Charlie Mann

So, we have two goalkeepers. Darryl Flahaven was released this summer, but he was never really used anyway during his tenure at SE25, and during the latter stages of last term the inexperienced youth player Mann stepped in on the bench. He was unused, but could be one for the future. But what if Speroni gets injured? Mann isn't ready for the npower Championship yet - he has never played a professional game at any level - so maybe we should loan him out for experience. But that would mean getting in another 'keeper to cover Speroni. And besides, if we really do want to move up in the league and the pyramid, is not having a professional back-up 'keeper really a wise move.

My verdict: Really, we need a back-up keeper. As I mentioned in my opening paragraph, that will probably by Lewis Price, a 25 year old who played about a dozen games in the Premier League with Derby a few years back, and has a very good penalty-saving record.

Defenders

1. Nathaniel Clyne
2. David Wright
3. Lee Hills
4. Claude Davis
5. Adam Barrett
6. Paddy McCarthy

We currently have just 6 defenders. After the departures of Butterfield, Lawrence, Hill and Ertl last month we looked to be really struggling at the back with just 4 defenders, two of which were still under 20 and one was injured until December at least. However, in David Wright, George Burley has a full back capable of playing on either side, and in Adam Barrett an experienced defender and leader. But, really, we still need at least two defenders.

My verdict: We should aim to try and get two more defenders, ideally one more centre-back, or maybe use Alex Wynter if he is ready for the step up, and a left-back. We were linked with Stephen Jordan but it appears he is off to Pompey, so we will have to keep looking. Should Clyne go, though, we will need to look for another right-back.

Midfielders/Wingers

1. Darren Ambrose
2. Neil Danns
3. Andy Dorman
4. Sean Scannell
5. Alasanne N'Diaye
6. Kieron Djilali

It is clear we are more-or-less sorted in the attacking midfielders and wingers department - Ambrose got 20 last season, Danns oozes class, we have heard very good things about new midfielders Andy Dorman, and Scannell hopefully can kick on from his stalled growth as a player under Burley, while we have yet to see the true potential that Djilali possesses. However, under Burley, who is known to be good with youngsters, and started of Ambrose's career, all of these should flourish. However, maybe a back-up winger on the left is needed, although Ambrose can play there if Scannell is to occupy the right hand side. That list, though, shows how we are crying out for a defensive midfielder. Whether or not we will actually use one is yet to be seen, but nonetheless we need one in the squad. N'Diaye shows glimpses of class and skill, such as he great build-up play for the second goal at Hillsborough "that day" but as of yet hasn't been consistent, and has often been clumsy and late in his tackling. Derry and Ertl left, and we now have a void in that position.

My verdict: A defensive midfield should be one of our main priorites, followed by a left winger, although Danns can play there. We have been linked with James Harper, and have reportedly had bids turned down for Owen Garvan, who would be a great signing, not sure if a necessary one though.

Strikers

1. Alan Lee
2. Calvin Andrew
3. Wilfred Zaha

Fans' favourite Alan Lee is now close to having God status at SE25, but like Calvin Andrew he is a ball winning striker, and what Palace need for him to thrive is a small, quick poacher who can run on to his flick ons. This may be Zaha, but we shouldn't be relying on him this season, we need to let him grow.

My verdict: Get a quick finisher to play alongside Lee or Andrew. Clinton Morrison was rumoured, and now has signed for Wednesday, and Simeon Jackson has also been mentioned. Whether a deal for the latter actually comes to fruition or not is still to be seen, but he is the kind of player we need right now if we are to be competitive in this league.

Really, we need a goalkeeper, a centre-back, a left-back, a defensive midfielder, a left-winger, and a striker. 6 players. Obviously, we could have a few back-ups on top, and none are completely necessary right now, but we will need depth and options if we are to make a play-off challenge and sustain it throughout the season.

Gibbo.

The World Cup has begun, but can we really win it?

So, last night the World Cup begun. Lots of colour, flair, excitement and energy surrounding the beginning of the Rainbow Nation's first ever World Cup is probably going to be the only thing  to stay consistent throughout the whole tournament. But it started off, after so much hype, a low scoring but interesting game between Mexico and South Africa, in quite boring fashion. No big goalscoring game, no big refereeing mistakes, nothing. But then, France v Uruguay was the next game. Surely a game with two teams as good as they are will produce something.

On the contrary, this game was one of the most boring I have seen. Many people on the BBS, a Palace fans' forum board, have said that we only think it is boring because of the hype surrounding the World Cup, and because it is the world's biggest stage, we expect a bit more, but really, it was just dull.

So can England, the team that invented the beautiful game, produce something interesting tonight? As I write this I am watching Argentina v Nigeria, and Argentina are 1-0 up. Despite this lack of goals, it is a very enjoyable game. And no, it isn't because of Messi, it is because, as much as I hate to say it, Maradona's side are playing very good football.

This, according to ITV and BBC commentator's, is what Capello has got England doing. Every game, and listen for it tonight against the USA, the commentator's say at least once: "Capello has got England playing their best football for years." If this was the case, we would have won all of our games comfortably. We didn't and it isn't.

The problem is, every time somebody talks about England to me, I mention how our squad is too old now, and our squad in 2006 was better. They then come back with the usual "we have got Rooney/Lampard/Gerrard" depending on which big 4 team they chose to support despite not living locally to them. But the truth of the matter is this: Capello is a good manager, but doesn't play good football, and doesn't have a good squad.

However, the shocking display from France last night gave me, for the first time in a long time, a glimmer of hope.

We should really win our group, and as I am sure everybody has I have been through my World Cup wall chart and worked out that the odds are that we face France in the quarter-finals. If they play like they did last night, we really should beat them.

That would leave us with Brazil in the semi's, but let's cross that bridge when we come to it!

Gibbo

Sky show where their priorities lie as Palace are saved

As if I needed any more proof that Sky couldn't care less, today they showed their true colours.

As everybody knows, CPFC was close to being entered into liquidation today. Yesterday, at 1PM, it emerged that the CPFC 2010 consortium had been set a deadline of 3PM today to agree an anti-embarrassment clause with Lloyds Bank, who owned the ground. The two parties had agreed a fee for Selhurst Park, but Lloyds wanted an over-the-top anti-embarrassment fee. The anti-embarrassment fee is in place to stop CPFC 2010 from selling the ground on to developers and making a profit, thus embarrassing the Bank. However, Lloyd's wanted a ridiculous fee, and so there was a disagreement over said fee. As it was a bank holiday, no negotiations were taking place, so when this news came in it was quite a surprise.

Today, as 3PM approached, there had been whispers coming from London that we may be saved, however nothing concrete. More or less the whole day Sky had been switching between England World Cup squad announcements and Palace updates, so it was expected this would continue. However, at 3PM, Georgie Thompson and Sky seemed to forget that Palace existed, not for the first time I hasten to add, and instead decided to speculate on who will be on the plane to South Africa, leaving thousands of Palace fans in the dark.

However, I can sort of understand this, as more people support England than Palace, but it baffles me how speculation over who will be making it on the plane to South Africa is more important than the existence of a 105 year old football club.

But the blame for this top tier love in does not go to Sky. This year, despite the BBC denying it favoured the Premier League massively over what was then the Coca-Cola Championship, Newcastle proved this not to be the case when they featured in most of the Beeb's live games, and were almost always the main game on the Football League show. 

Since the Premier League was incepted in 1992, the so-called Promised Land has grown farther and farther away from the league below it, and as a result many many teams now find themselves in difficult financial trouble, Palace and Portsmouth being the most famous and worst of these. Sky have inflated the effect that promotion to the Premier League has on a club, and so now a club over spends and when they come back down have nothing to fall back on.

Being a Palace fan I felt the pain that administration and the threat of liquidation can bring, and really hope that something happens that helps close the gap, because they way we are going, sooner or later there will be no npower Championship for teams to be relegated into.

Gibbo

That light I spoke of just got brighter...

My first ever post in this blog was entitled "The light at the end of a seemingly endless tunnel." This was in reference to Nathaniel Clyne, a young Palace right-back who had broken into the Palace team at the end of last year and kept his place. Anyway, the reason I am now posting again about him, is that in the April edition of FourFourTwo magazine, the Top 50 Football League players issue, he came 17th, the highest under the age of 21, and therefore becoming Football League Young Player of the Year for 2010.

Just when you think it cannot get any worse for the Palace... it does

Maybe Palace fans should have seen what was coming when Freddie Sears had his only goal for CPFC wrongly disallowed at Ashton Gate on Saturday 15th August 2009. Some did. But nobody could have predicted the outcome of the season to come. As is now well documented, Palace went into administration, were deducted 10 points to all but end their play-off hopes, lost their manager, Neil Warnock, to QPR, and are now in the relegation zone. Since rumours of former Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock leaving to go to QPR arose, and the glorious cup run began, Palace's league form has really stuttered, and now it may be too late for the south London club to do anything about it. With only 8 games left, Palace find themselves 3 points from safety, but Watford, who occupy 21st place, have a game in hand on them. As well of this, Palace's injury and suspension worries just won't stop increasing:

Nick Carle is out for between 10 and 14 days with a calf strain
Nathaniel Clyne is out with a hip injury and may not play again before the end of the season
Danny Butterfield may be out for 2 weeks with a hamstring strain
Alan Lee is out for at least a weak with a groin issue
Paddy McCarthy is coming back from a very long injury, and may not be back at his best this season
Claude Davis is suspended and in the middle of serving a three match ban for hitting another player
Matt Lawrence is also suspended and in the middle of serving a three match ban for deliberately using his hand to stop the ball against Nottingham Forest.

This means that Palace only have 12 senior players fit for the match against Cardiff tomorrow: Julian Speroni, Clint Hill, Shaun Derry, Darren Ambrose, Neil Danns, Stern John, Sean Scannell, Lee Hills, Calvin Andrew, Kieran Djilali, Johannes Ertl and Alasanne N'Diaye. If a club wants to avoid relegation, having a squad with only 12 fit senior players doesn't really help. Not to mention the fact that the fans are no longer behind the team, with some calling for Paul Hart's head after he appeared to play a 4-5-0 formation against Leicester two weeks ago.

And yet, when many Palace fans felt that their season really couldn't get any worse, it does. Brendan Guilfoyle set a deadline for any interested parties to show him the money, and that deadline was today. Nothing has happened. No statement. Not from anybody. It appears we will go into tomorrows game none the wiser of who, if anybody, is interested in buying CPFC2000Ltd. We shall see how this season will turn out for Crystal Palace FC, but I bet that it will not be a predictable few weeks at the bottom of the Championship.

Bridge refuses to play for England - and then refuses to shake John Terry's hand

As has been well documented in the press recently, England and Manchester City left-back Wayne Bridge has caused England manager Fabio Capello more problems by refusing to play at the World Cup following the John Terry - Wayne Bridge - Vanessa Perroncel scandal, as is reported by Football365 here:

England left-back Wayne Bridge has declared himself unavailable for the World Cup.

The Manchester City defender released a short statement claiming his presence within the national squad was "untenable and potentially divisive" and that he did not wish to be selected.

It leaves Fabio Capello without both his first-choice left-backs for Wednesday's friendly with Egypt.

The move comes after lurid details about a relationship between Bridge's former partner Vanessa Perroncel and Chelsea defender John Terry came to light.

Terry was ultimately stripped of the England captaincy by Capello, who earlier this week spoke of his optimism that Bridge would continue to play for his country.

However, after a lot of soul searching, the 29-year-old feels it is an impossible situation for him to contemplate.

"It has always been an honour to play for England," said Bridge.

"However, after careful thought, I believe my position in the squad is now untenable and potentially divisive."

It was the delicate balancing act Capello knew he was carrying out when he retained Terry in his squad whilst removing the coveted armband.

The Italian hoped Bridge would remain involved and was scheduled to see both men in action at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, when Chelsea entertain Manchester City.

Roberto Mancini spoke about the certainty of Bridge's return to the England fold but there was always a feeling the full-back held a different opinion.

Speculation that he would not even shake Terry's hand prior to this weekend's game hardly gave credence to the belief any clear differences could be patched up.

"Sadly, for the sake of the team and what would be inevitable distractions, I have decided not to put myself forward for selection," said Bridge.

"I have thought long and hard about my position in the England football team in the light of the reporting and events over the last few weeks and have today informed the management of this decision.

"I wish the team all the best in South Africa."

As Bridge has not formally announced his retirement from international football, it can only be concluded that he would consider a return should Terry not be involved.

Terry must now carry with him the additional burden of knowing his own actions have resulted in someone he used to class as a close friend missing the biggest tournament any professional can be involved in.

Quite apart from dealing with that fall-out, Capello must find himself alternatives at left-back given Ashley Cole is presently ruled out for three months with a broken ankle.

As was rumoured in the quote above, John Terry's hand was not shaken by Wayne Bridge today as Manchester City comfortably came from behind to beat Chelsea 4-2 at Stamford Bridge today, a result which I am sure will make Wayne Bridge smile inside.

I have spoken to many people recently about the story, and many of my friends, as well as myself, are firmly Team Bridge. How on earth the Chelsea fans could have booed Wayne Bridge today is beyond me. I am all for supporting your club and it's players, but when a player ends his England career because he never wants to play again with a man he thought was his friend because of an affair with his girlfriend, you cannot really defend it. Wayne Bridge has not even received an apology from Terry, who hasn't tried to patch things up between the two at all.

Because of this lack of emotion from Terry, and the painful circumstances Bridge finds himself in, I really do feel for him. Some people may feel he is being rude and childish by not shaking the hand of John Terry today, but I certainly don't. John Terry has continued his life as if nothing ever happened, and somewhat arrogantly didn't step down as England captain, a sign that he has not really appreciated his mistakes.

Personally, I think that Terry should sacrifice himself for Bridge, it is the least he can do surely?

As for the Chelsea fans, while as I said I understand their supporting their player, they even tried to defend his actions to me, some saying it had been blown out of proportion, one saying that Terry didn't know she was Bridge's girlfriend, one even trying to convince me it didn't happen! I think this just shows how some Chelsea fans really do not understand or pay any attention in football.

If I were Bridge, I would have insisted on taking the penalty for City at Stamford Bridge today, even if it was only to celebrate in front of Terry. I think the fact that he didn't just shows the fact that he doesn't want Terry to have any part in his life whatsoever any more, and that he wants to put the saga behind himself.

On a side note, I am going to see England v Egypt on Wednesday, a game in which Terry but not Bridge will play in, and it will be interesting to see who is next in line to be England left back in South Africa in the absence of Ashley Cole.


Gibbo

Warnock to go to QPR?

As I am sure you have heard, there are some very strong rumours floating about SE25 and Loftus Road linking Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock to the QPR manager's job.

Flavio Briatore last night stepped down as QPR chairman as Lakshmi Mittal prepares to name Neil Warnock as boss after increasing his stake.

Steel magnate Mittal, one of the world's richest men, has bought most of Briatore's 30 per cent stake to take control at Loftus Road as predicted by Mirrorsport on Tuesday.

And Mittal, who has named Ishan Saksena as the club's new chairman, now hopes to bring in Crystal Palace chief Warnock to manage the ailing Championship club.

Mick Harford, yet to win in six games in charge, will be boss for today's game at home to Doncaster which Rangers need to win after slipping near the drop zone.  

But Rangers hope to name Warnock as their next permanent manager on a two-and-a-half-year deal next week after Palace's FA Cup replay at Aston Villa on Wednesday.

And Warnock is already planning to bring three of Palace's best players with him to QPR.

Warnock, whose Palace side host Coventry today, wants to take midfielders Darren Ambrose, Neil Danns and highly-rated full-back Nathaniel Clyne to Loftus Road if he moves once compensation of around £1.5million is finalised.

The trio can all leave on loan now ahead of a permanent summer transfer as cash-strapped Palace are in administration.

Warnock is also keen on Scunthorpe striker Gary Hooper on loan with a view to a full-time 500,000 pounds switch.

QPR vice-president Amit Bhatia said: "Our immediate priority must be to re-introduce stability into the club and safeguard our future in the Championship.

"The season has been disappointing so far, but there are still many games to go. We must make every effort to end it positively, not least for our fans, the people who have continued to support and believe in the club through all the highs and lows. Together we can succeed."

Briatore has retained a small shareholding in QPR and Gianni Paladini is staying on. Warnock wants to take Darren Ambrose, Neil Danns and Nathaniel Clyne to Loftus Road

 These rumours come at a very bad time for us Palace fans, having just seen our club go into administration and therefore being deducted ten points, and then follow this up with three straight defeats to distinctly average Championship clubs, with only a brief glimmer of FA Cup glory coming first from a perfect 6 minute Danny Butterfield hat-trick against Wolves in the 4th Round, and then Darren Ambrose's awesome 35 yard screamer against Aston Villa.

As a result of these three losses, which may have been because of the distraction of the cup, Palace now face themselves in a series relegation battle, one which only hit home to us fans when we first flirted with the relegation zone on Saturday. Until this point, Palace fans had believed that their club was too good to go down, and with Warnock at the helm, it was never even a possibility, especially with the possible takeover imminent.

But two weeks later, still no news at all on a takeover, Palace in the bottom three, and Neil Warnock walking out of a press conference after being asked about the QPR job has left Palace fans wondering what state their club will be in come May.

But the question that may be decisive in where they end up in just three months time, is will Neil Warnock still be manager of Crystal Palace FC?

Speculation has been rife and many Rangers fans have said he has agreed a deal to join tomorrow, something which we will have to wait to find out if true or not, but I cannot see QPR being the right move for Neil.

Whilst it makes great financial sense for a man reaching the end of his career to go to the richest club in the division, and as a result "add a kiwi to his fruit bowl". It would also present the easiest and most obvious route for him to win promotion to the Premier League one final time - something he has made no secret of his desire for. It would also, with the loan window opening, and presumably no limits on spending on wages and fees during this time, he could very easily create a squad he is happy with for the remainder of this year and next. After all, at the age he is at he needs quick success - he cannot afford to build for the future, because he won't be around to witness it then.

But while all of this makes sense, I can't help thinking it would be a backwards step for him. He joined the club stating he wanted a challenge, and there was no greater challenge than that of winning promotion with no money. And because it is clear by his successful attempts to keep Neil Danns and Nathaniel Clyne at Palace in January that he is happy with his squad now, so why bother leaving a squad he tried so hard to keep in place?

Despite all of this, I am still torn as to whether or not he will go. He is constantly telling us of how he has had no contact with QPR, and Brendan Guilfoyle, administrator of CPFC, has told us how Warnock is here to stay. Yet on Saturday he avoided the questions by walking out of the press conference, and he never denies it, instead dodges the question, something which doesn't show me that he is entirely certain he would turn down an offer from QPR should it come in.

We will have to wait and see, next week we should know where we stand, but until then I will have to continue reading Mirror Sport and reading rumours on the CPFC BBS and hope for the best.



Gibbo

Fulham lead chase for Moses

Palace are, and have been for a while now, resigned to losing Victor Moses this month. and today the News of the World are reporting that he is off to Fulham:

FULHAM have emerged as serious challengers to Manchester City in the chase for teen whizz Victor Moses.

Crystal Palace boss Neil Warnock is resigned to losing striker Moses, 19, during the transfer window.

City want to build for the future but their football administrator Brian Marwood was shocked at the Eagles' £5million price tag.

Palace would go for a staggered payment deal but their need for cash sees chairman Simon Jordan pushing for as much up front as he can force. And Palace now have several other bidders, with Fulham the main rival.

Cottagers strike ace Bobby Zamora could be out until March with a shoulder injury.

And if the right deal for Moses is struck, a move to Craven Cottage may suit all parties not least because the Londoner would not have to move home and would have the chance of regular first-team football.

In some ways, I see this move as being better for both him, and Fulham. At Man City, I just can't see him fitting in somehow. Man City are clearly building for the future, having bought in numerous youngsters, but at 19 Moses isn't the type of player who can be saved for 3-4 years and break into the team when the likes of Joe Hart will be number 1.

As well as this, there is clearly no need for him in Man City's attack at the moment, with the likes of Emmanuel Adebayor, Carlos Tevez, Craig Bellamy, Roque Santa Cruz, Robinho, Martin Petrov, and, when he returns from his loan at Malaga, Felipe Caicedo all ahead of him. And there are bound to be more signings for City in that department. I may be wrong, but he does seem a strange target for City to continue pursuing.

On the other hand, we are told of how Fulham are also interested in signing the young Nigerian, who already has scored 10 times in 57 games, chipping in with 6 assists along the way, and has already made 29 appearances at England youth level, with 11 goals and 5 assists, and suddenly the race for his signature becomes all the more interesting.

Because despite lacking in the money department compared to City, I can see him fitting in perfectly. The injury prone Andy Johnson could easily be replaced by Moses when he is injured, as they play very similarly. And as mentioned in the article above, with Bobby Zamora out injured until March with a shoulder problem, he could strike a partnership with Johnson, and while there is no target man, a simple change in formation could easily accommodate and midfielder just behind the striker, and with both Johnson and Moses playing in the same team, Fulham could be a very strong force.

I may be proved wrong, he may go to Man City and be a huge hit, or he may go to Fulham and be a flop, or fail to perform with Johnson or Zamora, but going to Fulham does seem to make more sense football wise for Moses. It is just a matter of how much money will sway his decision.

Gibbo.

One Jose Fonte, There's Only One Jose Fonte

A song that even the man himself has recognised, updating his facebook status with those lines.

Two and a half years ago, a young, unheard of 24 centre back from Benfica called Jose Fonte arrived at Crystal Palace, to a mixed reception. One portion of the fans didn't like his attitude one bit, after he reportedly said that he could have easily played Champions League football at Benfica, so Palace was a step down, implying that he felt he was better than other Palace defenders. In some respect he was right. The other half of the CPFC faithful felt that the kid had potential and to give it time.

I was lucky enough to meet him, as was Matt Woosnam who also rights a football blog, before an Palace v Everton game, to celebrate the return to Selhurst Park, if for one night only, of Andy Johnson, but that night a virtual Palace ever-present for the next two and a half years made his

first appearance at Selhurst Park, and I was one of many other to get his autograph and wish our newest signing the best of luck.

Following a season of being in and out of the team, when Neil Warnock began his first full season at Palace, he saw potential and activated a clause in the contract saying that if we wanted, we could buy him for £400k. So that is what we did, and neither Palace, nor Fonte for that matter, have ever looked back. He played consistently well, pushing himself into the team and keeping his place, and things just got better.

He made 92 appearances for Palace, and chipped in with 6 goals, the last of those being against Ipswich Town, in what was the last game I saw him don a Palace shirt. He was one of my favourite players, probably in fact my favourite. The phrase "you don't know what you've got until it's gone" is fitting in this instance. I will confess I never saw Fonte as one of our best players, along with the likes of Victor Moses and Julian Speroni. I never felt he was one of my favourite players, like I did with Neil Danns, and again, Julian Speroni. However now he has left, I really feel a huge hole has been made in the CPFC squad. Maybe it is because I see this as the beginning of the end for CPFC as I have known it all my life, since I can only remember in 100% detail seasons since 2002. But I think it is something more than that. Since that first autograph, I collected several more, and Fonte was and still is, one of the keenest people to meet fans I have met, ahead of my favourite of the past Andy Johnson. He was the only player to have a drink with the Holmesdale Fanatics last year, and for that I see him as a great.

He may have only been here 2 and a half years, but Jose Fonte will stay in the hearts of Palace fans forever, and I really would love to see him back at the Palace someday.

Southampton have themselves a bargain, £1.2 million including add-ons I have heard rumoured, and if that is true then they have done very well to get a talented defender who is capable with the ball at his feet as well as in the air for that price.

Thanks for the memories Jose, and good luck at you next club.