The annihilation of Crystal Palace
- James M.
- Dec 15, 2016
- 4 min read
Tales have been told of how Selhurst Park is not an ideal ground when you are hunting for some three vital points in the Premier League.
Reviews and counter-reviews about how Pardew was going to clobber Mourinho had been written and duly signed by the cynics and haters alike.
Every opposing fan was expecting nothing short of a catastrophe at Selhurst Park.
Each news outlet had preserved a high-profile section that would be dedicated to Manchester United’s loss at the instigation of opposing fans.
The enthusiasm and zeal that these opposing fans showed by roundly predicting how Manchester United was to get whipped by Crystal Palace makes you doubt the sanity of some individuals.
Yes, it’s purely and ethically correct to have faith in whatever you believe in, but it’s humanly immoral, criminal and offensive to intentionally inflate that hope to unachievable levels.
It is then that you quickly remember that we’re in the December holidays, and that the Christmas mood has shelled out colossal amounts of methanol and ethanol alike to these set of fans who thought that Pardew was going to roundly and mercilessly thump us!
In reality, the boldness and fanaticism that these opposing fans supported Crystal Palace with makes you think that as a country we’ve been testing people for the wrong kind of drugs!
Moreover, the final score just vindicated our claims that some opposing fans are the real SI units of how not to use faith in some futile situations.
You should have seen some of their faces after the whistle – I’ve never seen some people dafter than a puppy high on some imported amarula!
Frustrating the likes of Hull City with crafted draws and slim margins is what Crystal Palace does best.
However, denying Manchester United is a different kettle of fish.
After McArthur’s equalizer, Palace resorted to what they know best – playing deep in their own half and occasionally inviting us so that they can have a basis to launch counter attacks.
Pardew’s men would however surge forward in search of a winner but as it has been symbolic of Manchester United games, there was a late goal; just as with the game against Zorya, we had the goal in the correct net after Zlatan Ibrahimovic had been set up by Paul Pogba.
You can bet your life that Alan Pardew and the entire Selhurst Park faithful had at one point in the game flirted with some delusions of grandeur, particularly midway in the second half.
But he forgot that Manchester United and the Old Trafford brigade are not referred to as The Red Devils for nothing!
Besides, when did Eagles start entertaining thoughts of having a go at the Devils?
Sir Alex Ferguson once said that if you cannot win games, then make sure that you don’t lose them either.
This gem from the Scottish Knight seems to be what Mourinho is perfecting as evidenced by the three last games.
The slim margins of victory in these matches have fostered a sense of belief in the team, and by extension may prove to be the catalyst behind a successful campaign.
Promptly, these slender wins resonate with the old-age adage, “The end justifies the means.”
Wilfried Zaha was itching to serve “justice” on us after his poor displays during David Moyes’ era saw him return to Crystal Palace.
Zaha can’t blame us anyway as he had promised to fill that which had been left void as a result of Ronaldo’s departure to Madrid several seasons ago.
Well, Zaha’s form of justice was in great contradiction to what he had envisioned; the Englishman hardly made his tricks count on the flanks, a clear indication of how inconsistent he can be!
Crystal Palace never really threatened as Man United looked the team to do much carnage early on.
In reality, the score line may not be reflective of how poor Crystal Palace players were – just some few shades of threats coupled with the lack of urgency from Pardew’s lads.
As we had indicated before, Palace’s defence seems to collapse during the final minutes of any match as evidenced yesterday and in the match against Swansea City.
But who impressed the most? Michael Carrick was beyond extraordinary; individuals his age would most likely be tucked up in bed when the match started.
Of more significance is what Carrick did on the field that makes you question his age, but that is before you recollect an aphorism that goes, “fine wine matures with age.”
Carrick is just brilliant – his commanding play duly earned him the man of the match.
Phil Jones has continued to silence his critics with solid performances and his displays at Selhurst Park makes you think that the urgent need for a center back during the January transfer window may well be redundant.
All the former Blackburn Rovers man needs is a competent partner at the back and the Golden Gloves will surely have a new recipient in David de Gea.
Paul Pogba is slowly but surely adapting to the forceful and sometimes unforgiving game that is the Premier League, and in the process representing a respectable value for his price tag.
The former Juventus and Le Havre player capped the night with a goal and an assist, quickly making his doubters miraculously disappear from online platforms.
But again, the Frenchman is only doing that as a result of the seamless blending between him, Herrera and Carrick.
You have this feeling that Mkhitaryan as well complements the balance in the team, and that we missed the Armenian’s speed and creativity at Selhurst Park.
Now, couple these with Ibrahimovic’s resurgence and you have a brilliant formula of how to make opposing fans squirm and writhe in pain every time the Big Swede surges forward.
Yes, we know that inflicting pain contradicts the ethos of the society especially when you have these players gelling together; scenes that are grossly injurious to the opposing fans’ eyes are inevitable.
At this juncture, you are even tempted to think that marking the three Mino Raiola’s clients (Mkhitaryan, Pogba and Ibrahimovic) only amounts to attempting to contain the Red Arrows, which in itself is even beyond the imagination of a sane person.
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