With City locking horns with high-flying Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park this weekend, we chat to Eagles enthusiast James Spiking from Read Crystal Palace to get the complete lowdown ahead of the big game.
1. So Palace host City this weekend in an unusually top of the table clash. Could you summarise Palace’s start to the season?
Palace have shocked some with their start to the season, but many others were expecting Pardew’s side to begin the season with a bang. Palace haven’t gone into games afraid of their opponents and normally start brightly which is very important.
2. A number of signings for Palace in the summer, including the likes of Bakary Sako, Connor Wickham and Yohan Cabaye. How have they fared so far?
The new signings have settled in very quickly which is also another factor of the strong start. Who’d have thought that free agent Sako would come in, score two in two and as a result become the Palace Player of the Month. All eyes were on Cabaye who has majorly impressed. Wickham has come in, done a job and also forced Palace to get rid of Murray so he could get some game-time.
3. Three wins out of a possible four, with that huge result coming at Stamford Bridge before the international break. Did Palace put down a marker with that win?
That win was, and probably will be, the biggest win in the Premier League this season. Let’s not get it twisted, Chelsea, despite their shocking start to the season, are a massive force at home. Pardew didn’t travel up there to park the bus, but wanted to show off the talent at his disposal and it paid off.
4. City too have been in superb form at the start of the season. Which player in sky blue do you see as the dangerman on Saturday given that David Silva is injured?
There’s no doubt that Yaya Toure is back to his best this season following a struggle last campaign. He’s now back to his best where it’s such a struggle to get the ball of him. However, Aguero is as ever a major threat to any team so I think there’s enough there to quieten the cries of David Silva’s absence.
5. What do you make of City’s transfer business this summer?
Efficient and needed. It was clear that a new centre back was needed so incomes someone with such ratings as Otamendi, a player who would be a credit to any team. Sterling is also quite a decent signing and one that always looked like would happen in the long run. De Bruyne is also another big player that is now on the books, and his talent is doubted by many in the Premier League but he now has the chance to prove them wrong.
6. The last time these two sides met, Palace nullified and frustrated City, recording a 2-1 win infront of their home fans. Will Palace adopt the same approach tomorrow or will they be more positive in their play?
Palace will be much more positive. The Eagles now have so much talent in the ranks, and with the form they’re in and the way they played against Chelsea, you can expect them to come out all guns blazing. Add that to the fact that it’s in front of their home fans, there’s the answer!
7. Glenn Murray, a goalscorer in last season’s meeting, has of course moved to Bournemouth, yet Palace still boast a commendable set of forwards. Who will get the nod against City?
There have been rumours that Gayle is going to be given the nod, but then again Wickham has been looking dangerous and is in desperate need of that goal to get him going for the season.
8. Who would you identify as the key man for the Eagles in this game?
The key man has to be Yannick Bolasie who has been a major threat every time he’s played.
9. Finally, can we get a prediction from you? How do you see the game panning out?
I think this could easily end in a goal-fest draw. 2-2, maybe even 3-3.
