Eagle Eye Report

[RB@CrystalPalace]

Eagle Eye Report
A Crystal clear lookon all things Palace

Welcome to Eagle Eye Report - your outstanding media outlet for all things Crystal Palace. It's been a tumultuous week at Selhurst Park, with the resignation of highly esteemed manager Lee Clark rocking the Eagles fans on the eve of the new FFO season. As a traditionally bottom half of the table yet safe from relegation team, Palace knew they couldn't start the seasons on randoms, affording potential ground to those wishing to condemn them to the second tier on their way to their own safety, so they sent one man on a mission (the following may have been dramatized for effect).

A chill ran through the crisp Devon air. Jon Banks paced down the street, checking house numbers as he went, his breath sending clouds of condensation into the cold night air. Finally, he stopped and approached a door, knocking three times.

There was silence, then a muttered expletive from the other side of the door. Jon could hear numerous locks and latches clicking, and then opened on a chain.

'Ey up lad.'

'What are you doing here Banks? Do you know what time it is?'

'Aye but not important. There's a job. We need you.'

'I've told you this before, I haven't got the time what with the family, work, I'm writing on the front page for Dugout-Online too now-

'It's not just any job lad. You think I'd come all this way for t'Brighton post or something?'

'You mean... Palace?'

'Aye. Lee Clark resigned today. Season starts tomorrow. What do you say?'

The door clicked shut, and Jon heard the figure on the other side of the door thump up the stairs. Less than sixty seconds later, the former Bristol Rovers, Spartak Moscow caretaker and Stoke City manager Rob Brunton appeared in the doorway, clutching a vinyl copy of the Dave Clark Five's 1964 record Glad All Over in one hand and a framed signed photo of Steve Coppell in the other.

'Is that all your taking?' Jon asked with an eyebrow raised.

'It's all I need,' replied Rob, 'now let's get to SE25.'

Rob Brunton named new Crystal Palace manager

In a hastily arranged news conference, it was confirmed that Rob Brunton, the former Bristol Rovers and Stoke City manager had agreed a two season deal to take over at his boyhood club Crystal Palace on the eve of Season 5 of FFO. Brunton's last management post came in 2016, and reaction to his appointment has been mixed among supporters who are happy with his track record yet understandably concerned given how long he has been out of FFO management.

Palace owner Peve Starish had the following to say on the managerial changes at the club:
'Firstly we just wanted to put our thanks on record to Lee Clark for his efforts while he was manager at the club. Continuing our status as a Premier League club is of the utmost importance to the owners and the fanbase, and we are pleased he managed this and will always be welcome back to the club. I've always thought it important to have Crystal Palace in your heart when playing or managing this team, and although Rob isn't a face we've seen in management for a long time, I'm confident he has the hunger, desire and talent to firstly consolidate Lee's work but also to try and build us towards better things in the future.'

Brunton himself also gave a few quotes to the press conference:
'Well first of all I'd be lying to you all if I said this was something I had any thought was coming even in the last few days. I've had some hugely fond memories of managing in FFO which I thought were consigned to the history books, but I've been convinced by Peve and Jon Banks to come and have another crack at things. I am honoured with the welcome I have received from those who remain here from when I first joined, and note the highly complimentary comments given by Tim Brown in his Premiership predictions post (congratulations on the double title success by the way Tim!). There is a little bit of pressure on me to deliver I think on the back of that, but I'm under no illusions that this a process that's going to take time and patience. We've essentially missed the whole pre-season, I have little to no idea on the economy, the new features, and I only have 21 players when I need 23. My aim is of course to win football matches and remain in the division, but I implore the fans for patience to begin with whilst we assess what we have and what we need.'

A trip to Elland Road to meet Tim Davey's Leeds United is up first for Brunton and his players, and the new boss may have been hoping for a slightly easier fixture to break in his new management career given The Whites 7th place finish in Season 4. The match report for this game and some prospective new signings to make up the 23 will follow in another article.

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[RB@CrystalPalace]

Eagle Eye Report
A Crystal clear look on all things Palace

Brunton enjoys mixed start to life at Palace

We are three games into the new Premiership season, and it's been a contrasting start for Rob Brunton's Crystal Palace who have collected two wins and a defeat from their opening encounters.

Round 1 - Leeds United 1-2 Crystal Palace

The Eagles navigated a tough fixture on the road in Brunton's first new test of FFO management, recording victory at Tim Davey's Leeds United. It was a dream start for Palace when they took the lead after just five minutes - new captain Daryl Dike showed great awareness to follow his own lobbed shot in towards goal and finished off a simple rebound past Maik Taylor. The visitors continued to show an air of danger with Rodrigo de Paul and Eberechi Eze causing problems for United, but the bright young prospect Rayan Cherki was alert to find a leveller when Marco Pellegrino's shot was blocked.

It was level at the break, but Palace were able to again find an important goal not long after the restart. De Paul collected his second assist of the day when his sumptuous long pass found his marauding midfield partner Fabinho who blasted past Taylor to restore the Eagles' advantage. Leeds applied the pressure roared on by a raucous home support, but found the away side's keeper Dominik Livaković in great form, although there was a dramatic moment to end the game. Moises Caicedo was certain he had saved a point for Leeds with the final kick of the game when his shot hit the woodwork and bounced down near the line, but the referee's watch indicated it did not cross it completely with replays later verifying the decision. It is those fine margins that can decide games sometimes, and fortunately for Palace it fell in their favour today.

Team: Livakovic, Anton, Renan Lodi, Tsimikas, Alonso, De Paul, Fabinho, Diawara, Eze (Pasalic 65), Adama Traore, Dike.


Round 2 - Crystal Palace 0-3 Blackburn Rovers

After Monday's victory, there was great feeling around Palace's opening home game of the season. There was a generally warm reception for new manager Rob Brunton although clearly some discontent directed at the club's owners after the lack of activity around the club prior to the season starting. It was an even start to the game, although Palace had to deal with an early injury blow to Eberechi Eze who limped off and is expected to spend at least a week on the sidelines. Both home keeper Dominik Livaković and visiting keeper Andre Onana were required to make saves, with Rovers' Heung-min Son a particular livewire. It felt like a game where the first goal might be crucial, and Blackburn grabbed it at a great time with that man Son finding space beyond the Palace backline and dinking over Livakovic for 0-1.

None of the Eagles' tactical changes did much to get any momentum going for them, although they did go close to an equaliser just after the hour mark when Adama Traore clattered the crossbar. Blackburn put the game beyond the reach of the hosts with two goals in three minutes - firstly through Kalvin Phillips who rifled past Livakovic on 72 minutes, and then on 74 minutes when the Croatian couldn't quite keep Clement Lenglet's effort from crossing the line. It could have honestly been worse for Palace, with Blackburn continuing to pressurise and nearly making it four in stoppage time when Bruno Guimares hit the woodwork. A chastening defeat for Brunton and his troops which had the danger to puncture the feel good air around the club after the win at Leeds.

Team: Livakovic, Anton, Renan Lodi, Tsimikas, Alonso (Grimi 75), De Paul, Fabinho, Diawara (Bierschenk 73), Eze (Pasalic 9), Adama Traore, Dike.


Round 3 - Cardiff City 1-2 Crystal Palace

The third game of the season saw the Eagles make the trip to South Wales to take on Matt Rose's Cardiff City. The two sides were separated by just one place last season, and it had the air of a fixture that both managers were keen not to lose at this point in the season with both formations including five defenders. Palace made two changes from their defeat to Blackburn, handing a debut to new signing Fraser Horsfall who made the move from French side Stade Rennais at the weekend, as well as Marco Pasalic coming in for the injured Eberechi Eze. Thomas Lemar struck the bar for the Bluebirds before a contentious moment that had a bearing on the end result. Cardiff striker Andre Silva was in clean through, only to be brought down by a surging Adama Traore helping out his defenders. The home crowd were baying for a red card, and were aghast when only yellow was produced, and similarly incensed when Silva was again involved, this time being seemingly brought down by Marcos Alonso in the area, only for the referee to wave away the protests. In typical fashion, it was Traore who broke the deadlock when he met Fabinho's corner to power a header past Ryan Allsop and give Palace the lead.

The Eagles were able to hold onto the lead until the break, but City found their equaliser with the first meaningful attack of the second half. Defender James Justin found the net with a header for 1-1, but not a minute later, Palace regained their lead. It was a third headed goal of the game, and a second for Traore who deftly turned in Tsimikas' flick on with his own head although Allsop really should have done better. Both sides went in search of further goals, and there was still time for yet more officiating drama when Cardiff's penalty claim was reviewed by VAR only for the decision to be 'no penalty'. It was a tempestuous game with five yellow cards issued, but most importantly for Palace they held onto the three points which lifted them to ninth in the table.

Team: Livakovic, Anton, Renan Lodi, Tsimikas, Alonso, Horsfall, De Paul, Fabinho, Diawara, Pasalic, Adama Traore.

Some early transfer forays, but Brunton insists 'stars not for sale'

After spending some time analysing the squad at his disposal, new Palace manager Rob Brunton has made some dips into the Eagles coffers to give his side some quality depth. As mentioned in the match reports, Fraser Horsfall was the first signing of the Brunton era with Palace parting with £25m to bring in the defender. There are some concerns around the proposed wage bill at the club given that the roster doesn't boast some of the elite players in the division, and both Alex Gilbey and Robert Gumny have been acquired on free transfers to allow the club to seek cash sales or the SHN list for some of their players on the peripheral. This is set to include defenders Fabian Balbuena and Matija Nastasic, with the former already subject to a transfer offer from Paris St. German.

'There's some work to be done, with the squad both making it resilient enough to compete now but also to put us in a position to be able to strengthen long-term,' Brunton explained in his pre-match press conference ahead of Friday's fixture with Wolverhampton Wanderers. 'The fans made it clear that they aren't satisfied with the quiet pre-season, and although that's out of my hands I've got a responsibility to ensure we set things up. I'll make one thing very clear though - this is not a fire sale. We had an enquiry about the services of Waldemar Anton which we rebuffed - it wasn't a bad offer by any stretch but the fact only Robin Gosens has more tackles this season than him and Tsimikas underlines how important he is to our team.'

One defender that it appears Palace are happy to move on from though is Marcos Alonso. The Spaniard, 34, has started all three games for the Eagles since Brunton has come in, but seemingly a decision has been made to cash in on his value at his advanced age, with Chelsea agreeing a fee with Crystal Palace. Brunton didn't accept any questions about Alonso or his potential involvement against Wolves, but it seems that they may already be planning for life without him, as Sparta Prague's Brazilian defender Tuta has been spotted with club officials at a regional airport with a touted loan deal on the cards.

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