FROM seven defeats in their first eight games and managerial turmoil to wins over Chelsea and Everton and Premier League safety with plenty to spare - the transformation in Crystal Palace's fortunes has been extraordinary.
GLENN EBREY pinpoints five reasons why the Eagles' have turned their season around so spectacularly...1) The case for the defence
This time last year, Palace couldn't buy a win as they staggered and limped their way into the play-offs. This run included 3-0 drubbings at Ipswich and Brighton, and a 4-0 hammering at home to struggling Birmingham City. If such footballing luminaries as Frank Nouble and Nikola Zigic were causing the Eagles' back-line problems, what would Suarez, Aguero, Rooney et al.. do in the top division?
The answer seemed pretty apparent early on, reaching a nadir in Ian Holloway's final match in charge, the shambolic 4-1 defeat at home to Fulham (how bad does that result seem now?) And the worst fears, about a lack of mobility and pace in the Eagles' back-line appeared to be realised.
Fast-forward six months or so and here's two startling facts; 1) Palace have conceded the fewest goals of any team in the bottom half of the league; 2) they've conceded fewer goals than Liverpool, who are about to win the title.
Having been written off both before and in the early part of the season, it's fair to say the Palace defence – led by the inspirational Damien Delaney – have proved a few critics wrong.2) Super Speroni
There's a temptation to think the clamour for Julian Speroni to sign a new contract at Palace is borne out of sentimentality – he's a nice bloke, he loves the club, that sort of thing.
But forget that because in Speroni, it's fair to say Palace have had one of the better, if not the best, keepers in the top flight this season. An outlandish statement that may appear, but can you name anyone who has consistently pulled off more excellent, vital saves than the Argentine? David Marshall at Cardiff perhaps, Hugo Lloris possibly but, regardless, Speroni has been outstanding. Give that man a pen, some paper and a dotted line – and fast!3) Winning the 'mini league'
It's a well-worn cliché for any manager at the foot of the table – 'forget (insert name of big club) these are the games we really have to win' The six-pointers, if you will.
Regardless of recent exploits against Chelsea and Everton, since Tony Pulis took over Palace have beaten West Ham (twice) Cardiff (twice) Hull, West Brom, Aston Villa, and Stoke. In short, they've taken points off the teams around them, especially at home.4) Fortress Selhurst
Selhurst Park is falling apart. It's a pig to get to, the stands are crumbling and the seats are liable to give you a splinter on the behind. Hardly the embodiment of 21st century, prawn-sandwich munching, touchscreen-watching football supporting.
But yet, this is a football ground with presence, with an aura and authenticity so sorely lacking in the flatpack stadia occupied by most teams these days. Combined with the fierce vocal backing the Eagles players receive each week, it's the sort of ground opposition teams hate coming to (football cliché number 672).
Tony Pulis built up a siege mentality at Stoke – outside of playing each other, it was the game top 4 teams always saw as their toughest on the road. Now – and as Man City and Liverpool may yet still discover – Selhurst Park is the new Britannia Stadium. Minus Rory Delap and ball-boys carrying towels.5) The bloke in the baseball cap
It's easy to forget that not all Palace fans were jumping for joy when Tony Pulis was appointed in November. An Advertiser poll after Ian Holloway's departure, for instance, showed more people wanted Roberto Di Matteo or Neil Warnock to take over than the former Stoke boss. Whether it was gripes about this style of football or perhaps an aversion to baseball caps and shellsuits, there was hardly an outbreak of Pulis-mania in SE25.
How bizarre that seems now. If the Premier League had begun on January 1, Crystal Palace would be sixth and fighting it out with Spurs for a place in Europe. A stat which, above all else, shows the incredible job Pulis has done at Palace.
He's done it through the tried and tested virtues of hard work and organisation but, also, with an added touch of flair and pace. Marouane Chamakh and Jason Puncheon have provided genuine quality and how many other teams have scored three at Goodison this season?
Points 1 to 4 have been important but, harking back to those crazy, speculation-filled days of November, here's a question to ponder.
Would Dan Petrescu, Rene Meulensteen or Iain Dowie have led Palace to 11th place with three games to go?
Think we all know the answer to that one…Do you agree with these points, or are there other reasons for Palace's transformation? Have your say by commenting below...
