Promotion a real possibility?

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Eagles are making a mockery of the bookies’ odds

As I write this, Crystal Palace currently sit top of the pile in the Championship, something us Eagle fans are not used to seeing.

Last season we finished 17th, the season before that it was 20th and the one before that resulted in a last day survival at Hillsborough after just managing to stay in the league. Now after stats like that it is no wonder many of the bookies and pundits had us as relegation contenders for this season and after three games in and three loses they’re reasoning for this seemed as if it had been justified. Oh how wrong they were.

Steve Parish and the manager at the time, Dougie Freedman, both said “judge us after the transfer window”. With the losses of players such as Anthony Gardner, Sean Scannell and Darren Ambrose many of us Palace fans saw a much weakened squad compared to the previous season. But the board and manager did not panic and brought in players with real quality such as Damian Delaney who has helped organise a defence which was leaking goals left right and centre.

The signing of Joel Ward at right back from Portsmouth has led to many fans forgetting why they were so worried after the sale of Nathaniel Clyne to Southampton in the summer.

The introduction of Andre Moritz on a free transfer has added more depth to the attacking midfield position and more fluidity to our play.

sensational

The purchase of Yannick Bolasie from Bristol City for a mere £300,000 makes me wonder how his former club let him go. The winger, in my opinion, would be getting much more credit if it was not for the sensational form of the man on the other wing, Wilfred Zaha.

Zaha is getting all the plaudits in this squad and why not. He is arguably the best player in the league and by far the best player I have ever seen at Palace. It is no wonder teams like Arsenal and Spurs are supposedly lining up bids in January for the 19 year old.

Glenn Murray is also in sensational form at the moment with thirteen goals to his name already.

And now with Ian Holloway in charge, a motivator who has seen it and done it, the club must surely have a real chance of promotion.

The team are currently on a twelve match unbeaten run with many notable victories on the way such as away wins at Bolton, Wolves and Leicester and home victories versus Cardiff and Blackburn. The most recent win was on Tuesday where we destroyed Ipswich 5-0 at Selhurst to go top.

It’s not just the wins that are impressive; it’s the way we are playing. There is a real attacking intent throughout the whole team. The midfield can break up play and release the wingers who are both blessed with frightening pace and skills.

They can then supply Glenn Murray who is on fire in front of goal. It seems a simple way to play but it is becoming so effective for the Eagles. If the team can try and stay injury free, keep hold of Zaha come January and maybe add another striker as back up for Murray then there is no reason why Ollie’ and his side can’t be in the mix up.