An essential quality for a Palace fan is optimism, and I find myself looking forward to the new season with higher hopes than ever before, believing above all in Steve Coppell's ability to continue to improve the side. Having stayed up a shade comfortably, he knows too much to become complacent, and has already made two excellent purchases in Glyn Hodges and John Humphrey, strengthening two of the weaker positions. I say that with all due respect and affection for Phil Barber and John Pemberton, but to stay in Division One, let alone to challenge for honours, Palace must buy better quality players wherever possible. Both Hodges and Humphrey happen to be players who I have wished were on our side before, and if there are no

more changes made before the new season, it is still an exciting prospect. However, it still seems that Coppell wants to buy a top class centre half, and if he manages that then I truly believe that Palace can become established as one of the top teams in the First Division; but then I have said that before.

For half a season in 1979, Terry Venables appeared to have built a team capable of living with the best, but they plummeted into oblivion only the following year. Bert Head's team had a similarly brief spell of success in 1970, only to decline rapidly over the next couple of seasons and land in the Third Division. The evidence of Palace's past attempts at storming the First Division suggests that the second season after promotion is the crucial one, and what happens in the year to come could make or break Palace for the foreseeable future.

Logically, the new staff should bring improved results, but I anticipate that the vital question will be whether the midfield axis of Geoff Thomas and Andy Gray can fulfil the potential that they have shown in the past, and set up a productive combination with Bright and Wright up front. I think that they can, and that Palace will finish in the top six before winning the F.A.Cup.

See you at Wembley.

Chris Winter

August 1990

South East London