After a loss, particularly a disappointing one, it is natural to look backwards rather than forwards. The issues we face are well documented and have been discussed and analysed at length but I thought I'd share my own view of, what I consider to be, the single moment that has defined our season to date. On 17th July, Rio Ferdinand put pen on paper in what was always like to be our highest profile signing of the Summer. Now, it is not my aim to review the past or present merits of Rio's performances or his off-field activities, rather than to discuss the change in mentality of those within the club even before he'd stepped through the door and the subsequent effect this has had on our season. This signing made it a change of formation to a 352 a realistic possibility and I'd challenge anyone to make a case for us moving to that formation without Rio - a man who had been identified as a potential sweeper back from his days at West Ham (with one Harry Redknapp in charge). The knock-on effects included Danny Simpson being allowed to leave as surplus to requirements. This meant we had no specialist right back (with both Isla and Onuoha having the capacity to cover there but not as their preferred starting position) as we piled all our poultry produced ovoids into a single wicker carrying vessel. Furthermore, our pre-season was focussed on gearing up the squad to be able to play in a new formation with only PAOK, as the last friendly, as a high standard opposition with which to test the effectiveness of the system in anywhere near a realistic forerunner to the Premier League opposition ahead. What followed was a start to the season that could, at best, be described as sluggish with heavy away defeats and tentative home performances. It's fair to say that our results away to Spurs and Man United won't be the defining moments of our success or failure this year but the more winnable home games against Hull, Sunderland and Stoke (the latter with a more conventional 442 formation) may well be - a return of four points from those three home games would certainly fall below expectations of any team when they're plotting a 40 point target for the campaign. After four games starting with the 352 formation, we have since reverted to a more standard flat back four and the performances and results have been improved (at least at home). We are, at least, in touching distance of safety and further improvement is definitely possible to the point where our dabbling with a new system becomes little more than a footnote in a successful survival bid (fingers crossed). However, I'd argue that the earlier excuse of fitness came about more through uncertainty about positioning and roles within a formation that was almost de rigeur due to popularity at the World Cup but has, ultimately, proven costly in terms of preparation for the season and the start to it, caused us to weaken the strength of the players in the formation we are now, more comfortably, using and only made possible by one specific signing - Rio Ferdinand. Is this a harsh, misguided or simplified view? Is there another event that has carried equal or more significance in terms of defining our season? Please add your own opinions or feel free to debunk my view (or just heckle).
I think the defining moment of our season may well be this game against, Burnley. If we really are to press Ahead and strive for mid table survival, it needs to happen this weekend ............. no if's or but's. We can muster up all soughts of reasons why we can or should continue to think we can survive this season BUT ............. if we don't get a genuine result this weekend, I think in all fairness, we are wasting our time. We CAN do it ........... the fans have the passion, I just hope our players feel the same way.
Defining moment of the season was Zamora's goal at Wembley last May. Great to be back in the Prem, but led to Redknapp not being on a golf course/in a TV studio, the need to buy in players to strengthen a squad which was barely good enough for a top 6 championship finish and opened the door for all the other things you write above Matt. Still, its better than being in the league below. Sub defining moment may have been Taarabtgate - I think TF read the riot act to Redknapp as part of that farce, and as a result, at home at least, we are at least looking more aggressive and Redknapp's body language has stepped up from the depressed sloth level. He's more like a hibernating hedgehog now.
I like your style Matt but after reading the OP my first thought was "I think our defining moment has yet to come" and Aussie maybe nearer the mark but I still have a feeling we are more likely to see a defining moment when we win our first away game. Stan's comment of, barely good enough for a top 6 chamionship finish, is correct and similar quotes have been said dozens, if not, hundreds of times on this board. However I beleive this was due because we had too many premiership players that were used to playing at a higher level and found it difficult to climatise to a lower division in the same way players from lower divisions can not make the step upwards, in my opinion this is the same in all walks of life. You can even see this with Rio as he has to ajust to players that simpley are not in the same class that he has been playing with over the past 12 years or so.
Looking at the fixtures tomorrow and we win and other results etc etc I think we can move up 5 places. Yes that could be defining and may result in Arry taking the shackles off the players and playing the same way in our next fixture away at Everton with 9 days to recover.... and possibly getting a result as well!.... If not he needs to go.... simples........
Taarabt row done the club a lot of good and agree sure Harold was slapped The highlight is still to come … Taarabt gets sold and plays brilliantly for a far better club than us THIS WILL HAPPEN … Questions will be asked why didn't he play him?
Talking to some of my local Palace mates they don't want Taraabt, they say the return of Zaha isn't working out, like Adel he doesn't defend from the front and is a luxury that is costing them. Players like Adel and Zaha can tear up the championship with their tricks and skill but get found out at the highest level where they are expected to contribute more defensively. As for our defining moment, a win today to lift us out of the drop zone would be one of them...
Right now the last game seems our defining moment, where all but Green and Krancjar looked at best Championship quality. Hope I feel differently after the match today.
DT...your big red nose thing has fallen off onto your size 27 shoes....... You goning to leave us and support plarce then? the omly team i hate almost as much as the scummers..... He'll do well their as they like a lard arse....
Speaking of which... http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/west-ham-plan-ravel-morrison-4750056
