I had to post this link. This is the Mirror's start columnist on the play off final. So insightful........NOT!! http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/robbie-savage-championship-play-off-final-1907081
Doyley reckons he could do a job on Zaha...Palace fans don't going by the reaction on their forum! Do you? http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/championship-play-off-final-lloyd-doyley-1912448
In 1999 we won under super-experienced manager GT , who devised and executed a perfect game plan. We also had a tightly knit team that had just won the Division two title, and had the likes of Mooney, Bazeley, Hyde, Chamberlain in it, as well as a couple of chaps from Carlisle. In 2006 we had a super confident manager in AB who got the team so pumped up they reputedly won it "in the tunnel". Of course it helped to have players like Young, Henderson, King, DeMerit, Mackay who could deliver the AB "style" to perfection. So how about this time? The manager is less experienced than GT and more measured in his approach than AB. But is he TOO nice and will his inexperience in the Championship be a handicap? Will he be out-foxed by the canny Hollowhead? GFZ has welded a group of strangers into what looks like a proper team,which plays outstanding football at times. The skill level in the team is as good as the previous two , with match winners all over the pitch. But is it robust enough for this kind of one-off game ? We have sometimes "taken the foot of the gas," given away late goals or individuals have been rash (Troy!). Is he a "lucky" manager? We have lost important players at key moments (goalies) often been on the wrong end of ref's decisions, and rarely seem to get the penalties we deserve. Luck does play a part. My biggest fear is a late injury to a key player, a mistake from a less experienced player costing us a penalty or a goal (careful Briggs) or a dodgy decision by an official costing us the match. Apart from that, nothing can possibly go wrong.
Repped Roger. But whilst the management might be less experinced I think this crop of players possibly has more big game experience. We have players who have international caps, we have a champions league finalist and many of our players have won titles before. I know wembley is another beast, and the grandeur and the occasion can get the best of anyone, but I think the young heads in the Palace team might struggle slightly more.
Evening, just got my internet back since it went AWOL last night. Please, I promise to be good to my wife and kids if the great WiFi being supplies me with a decent signal at 4.00pm tomorrow.
