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The semi

T

timmyb1971

Member
Location
Banstead
Country
England
7 weeks on from the final, undoubtedly the most momentous day in our Palace watching lives, it’s easy to forget the semi-final a few short weeks before.
The bun fight for final tickets, the hopes, fears and expectations maybe drowned out the magnitude of the semi performance.
For obvious reasons, the 1990 semi holds sweet memories of the best game I will ever see.
It eclipses a brilliant final and a woeful final replay.
But this year’s semi was extraordinary.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen Palace play that well.
So on top were we that when we missed the penalty, 46 years of Murphy’s law pessimism evaporated and I was able to tell my distraught son, “we’ve still got this.”
All three goals were wonderful for different reasons.
The defence were great…setting an upward trajectory for the final when they had to raise it to another level. And of course the palace contingent in the stands were amazing.
There was an element of having to endure 100 minutes of the final before the explosion of joy.
I loved every minute of the semi.
 
I make you right Timmy, we came away saying the semi has to be up there with the best performances we’ve ever seen from a palace team, and we’re old lags!

All things considered, the occasion, the venue, Villa, although we’re their bogey team, were a very good in form team last season, especially leading up to the semi, we could have had players freeze because of the occasion, but it was a magnificent display from every player and tactically by the boss.

It definitely had us believing we could win the final. A lot of pundits have said there was really something in the air from the palace fans on the day of the final, everyone could sense this could be our time, especially as City are not indestructible these days and it was possibly our 3rd time lucky
 
I'd extend these sentiments to the previous round where I thought we were superb against Fulham.

We were better against Villa than against Fulham. The momentum was something which felt different to previous recent cup runs.

I think the flow of the quarter and semi finals - not just getting through, but the manner in which we did it - gave the players the belief they needed in the final.
 
RubinsCube said:
I'd extend these sentiments to the previous round where I thought we were superb against Fulham.

We were better against Villa than against Fulham. The momentum was something which felt different to previous recent cup runs.

I think the flow of the quarter and semi finals - not just getting through, but the manner in which we did it - gave the players the belief they needed in the final.
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Spot on really, Fulham too were on good form when we brushed them aside comfortably in the end. As you say the way we won both games gave the players confidence and belief going into the final. Fulham and Villa were two very good teams last season on their day and let’s face it we gave them both a good hiding. The momentum just grew and grew and it really did start to feel like our name was on the cup……..even though being a palace fan I was still expecting defeat in the back of my mind🤣🤣
 
Forest Hillbilly said:
Palace played a near-perfect game for the semi. One of the best matches I've seen Palace play. They were fantastic.
That's it, I thought. The perfect game. How can we top that for the final ?
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I was the opposite - really optimistic... until the week before the final.

In that week prior, City couldn't break down Southampton and they were fairly woeful in a 0-0 draw. We played Tottenham and were great. I remember thinking "we really needed these performances next week, not this week. Harland is going to be back fresher and has some minutes. Looks like they are saving themselves for next week given this is their one shot at a trophy this year, why can't we have nice things for once..." etc etc.
 
Admittedly I watched the semi final on TV and the final at Wembley (what an absolute part timer) but agreed, the semi was one of the best games of football Palace ever played. It was actually on a par with the 4-3 over Liverpool that we get starry eyed about.

However, whilst the final was 1-0 and was primarily defensive, we have to herald that as an absolute master class of containment that I think many neutrals were jealous of. Admittedly the first 15 minutes I thought "god this is going to be a long afternoon" but when Eze scored I instantly thought "Glasner has got this spot on". Backs to the wall for the remainder of the game, or just schooling a 'big' team? I lean towards the latter. The semi final was a master class in attacking (which let's face it, people like to see) but the final was a master class in defence. Both great games for different reasons.
 
Charlton fans have been whining that we didn't play anyone in our cup run. Are they kidding. 7 games only conceded 1 goal, played 3 PL teams what more do they want.
 
Badger11 said:
Charlton fans have been whining that we didn't play anyone in our cup run. Are they kidding. 7 games only conceded 1 goal, played 3 PL teams what more do they want.
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That one goal we conceded was such a momentary nap as well, anyone else here thinking that could so easily have been zero? Absolute nothing goal.
 
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