Well, as Easter weekends go, that wasn’t half bad, was it?
The equaliser before half-time set us up perfectly for the second half, with Palace playing some of the best football I can remember for a while.
Let’s look at some of the key takeaways from yesterday’s game:
Roy Hodgson, I owe you an apology.
It is no secret that, alongside many Palace fans, I was happy to see Hodgson depart at the end of the 2020/21 season. It was widely understood that to take the club to the next level, we had to twist on our manager. Or so we thought.
I continually said during Vieira’s 12 game winless run that it was totally unacceptable that he was not getting goals from a team with our attacking quality.
However, from what I saw yesterday, that is what we have been waiting for all season. Hodgson identified that it wasn’t working at halftime, and clearly told the players to go and take the game by the scruff of the neck. After that, we were simply joyous to watch. The attacking players, particularly Eze and Olise, were on another level.
It reminded me of, well, when we played that kind of football under Hodgson himself a few seasons back. The 5-0 win at home to Leicester in 2018 always springs to mind as some of the best football we have played since promotion in 2013.
Yesterday was, as some would say, “Prime Royball”, and it was absolutely fantastic to watch.
Michael Olise shines once again.
When you look at the £8 million fee that we paid Reading for Olise, it continues to look like an absolute steal. The 21-year-old became the youngest player in the Premier League to complete a hat trick of assists in a game yesterday. The youngster almost grabbed what would’ve been an excellent solo goal towards the end of the game, breezing past Pascal Struijk, but it flew over the bar.
That aside, his general play was just sublime in the second half. He linked the play so well and caused Leeds’s left side constant problems. Hodgson after the game said, ““He’s an enormous talent. There is a great possibility of having a great career and wonderful future, and we can only hope at Crystal Palace we can give him a platform.”
Of course, there are still aspects of his game that need work; however, he seems to be gaining confidence with every game he plays. We have quite the player on our hands.
Is it time to pass the baton from Vicente Guaita to Sam Johnstone?
Despite our brilliant second half performance, the story was very different in the first 45 minutes. Our defence was lethargic, and we didn’t look to create a huge number of chances. There was only one real positive – Sam Johnstone. His saves kept us in the game, and he looked calm and collected commanding his box.
Watch Sam's best saves here⬇️
It was announced in January that Guaita signed a one-year extension until June 2024. The Spaniard has been a loyal servant to the club since joining in 2018. However, I feel that with Johnstone being 6 years younger and an ex-England international, we should be looking to give him the nod over Guaita, should his form continue.
Furthermore, Joe Whitworth looked very impressive in his two appearances against Brighton and Arsenal respectively. At just 19-years-old, he still has a long way to go; however, having him challenge Guaita for the number 2 spot may really help push his development.
Looking forward
It really is amazing what a few wins can do for the overall mood of the club. Hodgson reminded us in his post-match interviews that we are not out of this yet, and with another crunch tie away to Southampton next Saturday, we await another tough test. However, there is no reason we cannot finish this season strongly. Our fixtures are favourable, and with performances like our last two, there is no reason to not have some quiet optimism.
Enjoy the rest of this bank holiday Easter weekend – Up the Palace! 🔴🔵
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