Just two games left in a season most Eagles fans won’t want to end. For our penultimate match we head up to Wolverhampton.
To hear how the Wolves fan base is feeling about the game, and the season as a whole, I caught up with the team at Wolves Fancast.
TEB – How do you feel about the season? Given the uncertainty about the manager and injuries etc you must feel pretty satisfied?
WF – An 8/10 season. The pessimism leading into game week 1 to where we are now is incomparable. An influx of injuries at key moments has soured what could have been a dream season. Hopefully our owners learn from their mistakes…
TEB – Who is your performer / unsung hero of the season?
WF – Gary O’Neil has outperformed any initial expectations. He’s built a bond with the supporters and the players are clearly playing for him. Statistically, you’d look to one of Cunha, Neto or top goal scorer Hwang for player but all in all, they’ve all performed well this season and the optimism internally is high when discussing any squad player.
TEB – For any Palace fans who haven’t seen much of Wolves this season, how do you think you’ll line up/ style of play?
WF – Everyone knows their role, and fast in the turnover. Players like Cunha and Ait Nouri are key in the build-up, where the spine of Dawson, Kilman / Lemina and Gomes keep us resolute and aggressive.
TEB – Who’s your current pantomime villain?
WF – VAR is our most hated villain. Whether it be the process or whoever is in charge at Stockley Park on our matches. What could be an additional strength as the best league in the world is fast draining the sport we love the most.
TEB – If you had a magic wand, which palace player would you have in your squad or line up?
WF – Based on his current form and Wolves’ long running craving for a proper number 9, it has to be Mateta. Olise and Eze are, I expect, the usual answers to this question, but Neto and Olise are both as good as each other, yet both injury prone, and as good as Eze is, we’d just rather have Cunha.
Q – More broadly what changes are you hoping for in the summer?
WF – We need to finally get rid of transfer flops like Fabio Silva and Goncalo Guedes, whilst hopefully improving our overall squad strength. I’d hope also for a greater emphasis on bringing through Premier League ready academy players.
TEB – What’s your perspective on Palace from the season so far?
WF – As always, making up the numbers. The oldest football club in UK history and just one Zenith Data Trophy to boast about. Things needs to improve. Glasner looks to have brought some excitement with one step forward and a more aesthetically pleasing style of play, but is this a new Palace era, or will summer outgoings of Olise and Eze be yet another two steps back in the history of the club?
Q – Prediction for the game?
WF – I think this will be a high scoring game as both teams look to end their seasons on a high whilst neither having anything to play for. Palace may have the edge on the day with more squad availability being the catalyst on the day.
Q – Anything else?
WF – I’m still hurt over David Hopkin in 1997 play-offs so please just ignore my bitterness above. Good luck for Saturday, and see you next pre-season in the USA.
TEB – Cheers! Here is to a great game and preseason! To hear more from the lads at Wolves Fancast you can follow them on X.
