Turning points in recent club history

[TheBigToePunt]

Whenever I watch it back (and I may have rose tinted glasses) I feel like all three Palace goals were well worked, but all of United's were cheap, easy goals. I certainly think we could've stopped at least two out of three, I think the 2nd and 3rd from memory.

Our first (O'Reilly) was about as scruffy a goal as has ever been scored in all of football, playground games included.

There is an alternative reality in which no further goals are scored, we win the cup from that goal, and early 90's English football goes into a period of deep introspection about the dominance of long balls and set plays and the loss of skill and artistry. Well, it goes into an even deeper period of introspection about those things, anyway.

 

[Part Time James]

Our first (O'Reilly) was about as scruffy a goal as has ever been scored in all of football, playground games included.

There is an alternative reality in which no further goals are scored, we win the cup from that goal, and early 90's English football goes into a period of deep introspection about the dominance of long balls and set plays and the loss of skill and artistry. Well, it goes into an even deeper period of introspection about those things, anyway.

Fair. I don't have a good track detail for remembering stuff. It's been at least a week since I last watched this game back 😂

 

[TheBigToePunt]

Fair. I don't have a good track detail for remembering stuff. It's been at least a week since I last watched this game back 😂

I recommend watching back the 1991 ZDS Cup final win over Everton. Its not so much that we won a cup that stands out, or even the goals, but more how much of our approach comprised a combination of ABH and GBH. Most of it against Martin Keown. Every set play was like some sort of cage fight. At one point, Geoff Thomas swings his elbow into Keown's face so hard that it goes through and bulges out the back of his head. Maybe. God bless him, Keown cleared off most of the blood and came back for more. Which he got.

Anyway, I'm not so sure that we ever could have kept that team together, even if we had qualified for Europe. For one thing, they had all achieved all they could at Palace having gone from nobodies to the top of the game, and probably all felt entitled to take the once in lifetime opportunities that followed. For another, I don't think the refs in Europe at that time would have allowed our 'direct' approach to go quite so unpunished. What worked on the way up probably wouldn't have worked at the top.

 

[est1905]

I'd say we're at a pretty big turning point in our history right now.
Win the Conference League and we will probably secure a top manager (hopefully Iraola), have a few quid to strengthen due to guaranteed Europa League group games and will be playing in the second most prestigious competition in Europe

Lose that game and we're looking at probably a competent (but not sexy) manager, another standard domestic season, only strengthening with money from sales and no Europe.

In years to come I reckon many of us will look back on May 27th and pinpoint it as the day we took a giant leap forward or just missed an opportunity to

 

[beak]

They say football is a game of fine margins. I've just been thinking how very different our situation today would be if it weren't for just 3 crucial goals:
(1) What if Dougie hadn't broken away and scored that goal a couple of minutes from the end at Stockport County in 2001? Palace relegated to 3rd tier. We might still be there.
(2) What if Kevin Phillips had missed that penalty in the play-off final against Watford in 2013? No promotion with 13 successive years in the Premiership.
(3) What if Eze hadn't scored at Wembley last May (or, indeed, if Henderson hadn't saved that penalty)? No FA cup, therefore no Europe this season with the good chance of more Europe next season.
Three brief moments which could easily have been missed, each of which had massive consequences.

You have just spoilt the mythology that we never get the rub of the green. 😉

 

[McAhuna]

I can remember we all stood their stunned, it was right in front of us, our end, also Punchys goal against Norwich.

Freddie Sears was another one while he was on loan. Didn't affect us long-term, but his career went on a downward trajectory from then on.

 

[McAhuna]

Ron Noades shooting his mouth off to the TV cameras and putting his foot right in it.

Led to Ian Wright's departure and the end of a promising era that could have seen as become an established top-flight team much earlier.