23 OCTOBER 2013: Crystal Palace have just been hammered 1-4 by Martin Jol’s Fulham at Selhurst Park. Only five months previously, the affable Ian Holloway guided Palace to play-off ecstasy after a 1-0 win over Watford at Wembley. However, without the potency of Glenn Murray (injury) and Wilfried Zaha, Holloway’s naivety was brutally exposed in the Premier League.
The Eagles, just two months into the season, looked doomed and were already five points adrift, having lost seven of their opening eight league games. Yet, following Holloway’s surprise resignation, Tony Pulis did not shriek the challenge and Palace currently find themselves 10 points clear of the relegation zone in 11th. For the first time in Premier League history, Palace look certain to stay up. Here’s why Tony Pulis deserves to pick up the top coach award on Sunday week.
Committment
Whatever about the criticism of Tony Pulis’ turgid playing style, few can fault his commitment and infectious energy on the touchline. A perfect example of this was during Stoke’s match against Aston Villa in September 2010. Just hours before the match, Pulis’ mother passed away and he was given bereavement leave. However, after seeing his team were 0-1 down at half-time, Pulis drove to the Britannia and took his place on the bench for the second-half. Inspired, Stoke went on to the win the match 2-1.
Pulis has brought similar vigour to Palace, uniting the squad under one banner with early brunches before training and improving morale within the club. Crucially, Pulis has eliminated the factions that had developed between those who achieved promotion and those who arrived on the final day of the August transfer window under Holloway. Also, in talking with authority and standing for press conferences, Pulis courts little of the limelight that his predecessor overindulged in.
A case for defence
In the 22 Premier League games Pulis has overseen since 30 November, Palace have conceded just 20 goals and have kept nine clean sheets in the process. It’s been a remarkable turnaround, with Palace having leaked 21 goals in their 12 games before this. While Scott Dann’s arrival in January has been crucial, Pulis has been working with the defensive foundations of his predecessor – namely Julian Speroni, Damien Delaney, Adrian Mariappa and Joel Ward.
Even though Pulis has focused more on tightening up the defence, with deeper-lying central defenders and a less possession-based game, it would be unfair to suggest he has made Palace outwardly negative. After all, it must be noted that despite advocating an attractive brand of football, Palace scored just six Premier League goals with Holloway in charge. Rather, it’s a hark back to the pragmatic foundations that Dougie Freedman successfully laid in 2011-12.
Siege Selhurst
One of the main reasons why Palace finished fifth in the Championship last season was their home form. Remarkably, from a possible 69 points, Palace claimed 47 points (68%). With a boisterous home support in the compact Selhurst Park, Palace could afford to lose a whopping ten games away from home.
Holloway would surely have banked on Palace taking their fortress into the Premier League, but the Eagles claimed just three points from a possible 12 – conceding eight goals in the process – in Holloway’s four home games in charge this saeson. In contrast, under Tony Pulis, 27 of Palace’s 40 points (68%) have been earned at home. Pulis has brought the Britannia factor to SE25 and Selhurst Park has become one of the league’s most intimidating grounds.
Six-Pointers
Even though Palace’s 1-0 win against Chelsea will go down as the club’s most memorable result this season, it was an anomaly. Against clubs currently in the top half of the table, the Eagles have claimed just nine points from a possible 30 (30%). Instead, Pulis has focused his troops on taking points against teams in the bottom half and it’s worked to remarkable effect. In 11 games against those currently in the bottom half of the table, Palace have claimed an impressive 24 points from a possible 33 (73%).
January signings
Twelve months ago, few football fans had heard of Iain Moody but the mysterious sporting director has had a huge say on the Premier League relegation battle. Just a month after being sacked at Cardiff by Vincent Tan – which weakened Malky Mackay’s position significantly – Moody was appointed at Palace’s sporting director ahead of Pulis’ appointment. Cardiff’s loss was Palace’s gain and the Englishman has already struck up a positive relationship with Pulis. Together, the duo brought in Scott Dann, Wayne Hennessey, Joe Ledley and Jason Puncheon (permanently) on the final day of the January transfer window.
While Hennessy is being groomed as the eventual replacement for 34-year-old Julian Speroni, Dann, Ledley and Puncheon have all made an immediate impact. Tellingly, since the trio arrived, Palace have lost just four games. Dann, who was tipped for the England squad after a stellar season with Birmingham City in 2010, has given Palace’s defence the leadership and solidity that it badly missed under Holloway. Ledley’s arrival, at just £750,000, has brought poise and composure to Palace’s midfield. And the tireless Puncheon, arguably one of the signings of the season, has netted three priceless goals since signing a four-and-a-half year deal.
Rodgers has to have it it sewn up……how he’s turned a team with such defensive frailties and so little in reserve into champions elect is a miracle…..
Now now Fran the United fans won’t like that.It’ll be very tight between Rodgers and Pulis
Can people shut up about Liverpool for one article.
aawwww,no need to tell us who u support.still in disbelief???:-P
To be fair he hasn’t done anything with Liverpool’s defence he has concentrated on attack
I’m an Everton supporter lads so i derive no pleasure in saying Liverpool deserve any accolade but u cant tell me Rodgers hasnt done absolute wonders with that team…..
Toffee here too Fran, well said. Our mans not been too bad either.
I’m a toffee too lads I’m not holding that against him but their defence ain’t great that attack has been sensational for most of the season as much as it pains me to give Liverpool any credit I have no qualms to say they deserve to win this year. I must be calming in my old age
He’s good. But he’s no steve staunton.
It’s got to be Rogers he’s took Liverpool from a dump to the top of the league in one season
what about moyes?
David moyes manager of the YEAR Michael you are having a laugh not a chance
His style of football is not the best but he has done a fantastic job in turning whipping boys Palace into a solid unit who are hard to beat. Great appointment by Palace that has kept them in the Premiership. Depends what will happen in race for title and CL to see if he gets manager of the year.
Bruce deserves a mention as well in fairness.
No disrespect to Pulis but it has to be Rodgers. He’s taken a team from 7th to champions league qualification and the real possibility of a title. All against the millions of Chelsea, United, City and even spurs. This is a remarkable feat and is further cemented by the fact his side have played the best football
Lets not pretend liverpool havent spent money too though…..not to the same scale as city n chelsea obviously but sturridge,suarez,henderson,coutinho all cost a pretty penny
Of course but peanuts in comparison to the Chelsea and City over the last 2 windows. Champions league from 7th is definitely better than relegation to safety. 17 other teams do it lol
If you could have a 1,2,3 I’d go with Rodgers, Pulis, Pocchitino. Rodgers and Pulis have been the stand out managers. Pocchitino deserves a mention, he could get Southampton into Europe in his second season there. Everton have been there or thereabouts in the last few season pushing for a European spot, so for Saints to get in there 2nd season back in the Premier league is quite an achievement
Southampton are 12 points off 6th with 4 games left, Europe isn’t looking likely.
Suarez 22m henderson 16m sturridge 10m couthino 8m = 56 m , mata 37 m + fellani 27m =64m . Pulis has done a good job but manager of the year hes only been there for 4 home league games . Rodgers has to be manager of the year for the way hes turned liverpool around considering only 1 player hes signed this season is a regular – mignolet .
Good man Conor ! Well done on clarifying this to the bitter mancs !
Typical pool fan can’t enjoy himself without mentioning united. Ur wrong on ur price for Henderson 16 mil risin to 20 which was what was paid in the end. Liverpool have wasted as much money as the rest. Andy Carroll 35 mil need I say more, Stewart downing 20 mil, aquilani 17 mil, need I go on. And Sturridge cost 12mil not 10
Carroll, Downing and Aquilani were all signed before Rodgers. Not really relevant to this conversation. And bad signing aren’t the point either. Its about which manager has done the best job. Rodgers, Martinez and Pulis for me. Improved their teams significantly from last year/previous manager
I agree just pointing out that mata and fellani have nothin to do with this whole topic but he had to bring it up, not denying Rodgers has done a great job either, if they win league he deserves award , if Everton don’t make champs league then Rodgers should still get award even if they don’t win title
Depending on how the season finishes will determine where the manager of the year award goes, but pulis , martinez and rodgers should be the top 3. Pochetino a close fourth. All have defied expectations in a positive way for their team.
Mr Kelly, can you send this in letter form please to care of Mr Short, Stadium of Light, Sunderland, UK. As an impassioned Sunderland fan I’ve been saying this since October last year, we appointed the wrong manager. Mr Short you better put your hands in your pockets or its going to be a long few years in the Champo!
What’s Ur point on the players Rogers didn’t sign , namely Suarez and Henderson as opposed to Mata and feliani ?
His point probably is that suarez and Henderson have had their best ever season ! Along with sturridge , sterling and coutinho ! Now that is good management !