Alan Smith - How Many Of You Will Back Him

[Eagle]

That's the question.
Since Coppell has left many of you are saying you want Smith to F*** off, we don't want him here, Jordan's a liar since he's gone back on his word, but did he?
After hearing interviews and reading articles it really does seem that it was Coppell's choice to leave and not Simon's. Ok Jordan agreed in the end but if Steve wasn't up for the job any longer then it was probably best that he stood aside.
But, to start having a go at Smith by saying he stabbed him the back and everything is stupid, i'm sure Coppell is delighted that his good friend has taken his place as the new manager. After seeing Coppell in the interviews he didn't look bitter at all and said not to start blaming Simon.
I feel Alan Smith wasn't a bad choice at all, when he was with us from 1993-1995 he was quite succesful, we ran away with the First Division championship, many of you say anybody could of done that with the squad we had, but who was the person who bought these players through, it was Smith himself.
Ok we went down the season after due to the fact i believe we had a chairman in Noades who wasn't willing to back the manager, and if i remember then the fans were up in arms about Smith's departure then like you are with Coppell's at the moment.
All i say is please don't barrack either Jordan or Smith, and i'm sure Coppell wouldn't want us to either, Jordan has done what was in the best interests for the club, Coppell's own words, and appointed Smith who was liked by the fans not so long back and he gets his sides playing good attacking football.
So how many of you will back Smith, i certainly will be.

[RUSSELL]

I agree...lets give him a chance, I'm just glad we've still got a club to support!

[Sandy of Cornwall]

Yep.

[Andy in Rome]

Like it or not, Smith will be in charge come the first game of the season.

Although I'm saddened by the departure of Coppell and will always have the greatest respect for the man, once the team kicks off the season, my main concern will be on whether we get the results, not on whether we would have done better under Steve.

If Smith starts to churn out a string of decent results, I'll be happy to support him. If the team shows no noticeable improvement, it's then I'll begin to wonder what the point was in getting rid of Coppell.

[James Verrinder]

Nobody is bigger than the club so despite what we all feel about SC going we should support Smith to the hilt.

[Snorwood Eagle]

Yeah, give the guy a fair chance!

[Les Butler]

It leaves a real bad taste in the mouth , but what choice do we have ? ( And Don't they know it ).
So once all of this has died down a bit , yes.

[Maidstoned Eagle]

He's the Palace Manager, of course I'll back him!

[Chocky]

White shoes white shoes white shoes white shoes white shoes white shoes white shoes
da da da da der der dre da da white shoes white shoes white shoes de de dum dum doo.

Oh alright then, Alan Smith's red and blue army he sings with a slight hint of reluctance and nervousness.

[Kevin T]

Of course I'll back him. Why wouldn't I. Won't do any good not to.

[Bajsmannen]

I will support any Palace manager!

[East-End Eagle]

He gets my full backing, I was upset at Coppell's departure, but I was certainly not surprised, I'm sure he said something about not looking forward to another 9 months of uninteruppted work or something. I think Coppell is a tired man, and who can blame him! He will always be remembered by us all, but for now....GET BEHIND SMITH, JORDAN, and the BOYS and lets aim for that obscure mid-table position and put all this behind us........

[Ian of Chatham]

Smith Ou...no go on I'll back him. as someone mentioned earlier he'll be the manager at the beginning of the season regardless. I still ask the question "Why Smith? though.

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The voice of reason

[Passport]

If we don't back him and give him a fair chance we're mugs. He did OK when manager afterall.

Judge him at the end of the season.

[Spread-Eagle]

110%.

Good to see common sense prevailing. No matter what anyone's opinions of individuals, at the end of the day we're all Palace and the manager and the team deserve the kind of support that pulled us through the past couple of years.

[Ian of Chatham]

Sorry Passport but do you really believe he's going to last that long?

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The voice of reason

[This message has been edited by Ian of Chatham (edited 02 August 2000).]

[Swampy Eagle]

We owe it to the player to give him & them a fair crack at it. At least this season, unless things goes terribly wrong ie Christmas arrives and we are still looking for our first win.

.

[Swampy Eagle]

Sorry that should read... players !!

Looked a bit daft

[Passport]

OK, judge Jordan at the end of the season.

[Sandowneagle]

As fans we must back Smith. But God help Jordan if we start off badly.

[TAK]

If he does well so does Palace - He gets my full support...


...for now.

[winners]

I think the Smith can f**k off comments were an immediate reaction to the news of coppell leaving. Lets face it we were all a bit shocked. Deep down, i think 99% of supporters will be behind Big 'AL', and 100% behind the team!

[dangerous]

This whole situation stinks. Coppell was the man for the job and to sack him two weeks before the season starts is just plain stupid. I bet Smith goes out and signs either Armstrong or Salako. Both are a complete waste of space.

[AJ]

Yep

[Chocky]

Smith has just been on Sky Sports saying that he's just walked into a "tip" of a club and although he won't be selling any of our best players, he will need until Christmas to get the squad into winning ways.

But we won our last two league games! http://64.65.14.178/ubb/supergrin.gif

[mikestock]

I'll back smith. personally i don't think that much of him, but i'm willing to take a wait and see attitude. I didn't think we'd do that much this season anyway. Look at what happened to portsmouth last year when they came out of administration, i predict a very similiar season for us.

Smith did an OK job last time he was here (i know he won the championship but we had the best team in the divison by a mile) so hopefully he will again.

p.s. there is no way we'll sign armstrong, spurs will want a couple of million and he'll want massive wages.

[Dillenger]

Now the shock's wearing off, I'm feeling quite positive about the change. I reckon there's a lot of truth in Coppell being drained and needing a break, and Smith'll certainly be determined.

To be brutally honest, a coaching team of Smith, Houghton & Cockerill does seem better than a knackered Stevie Coppell and Mr popular, Brian Sparrow.

We shall see.

[APR]

You have got to give the guys a chance !

Smith is the manager now, like it or not,and we really have to see how well the 'management team' fit together.
Maybe the players need a bit of a gee up, and this might help to get them going ?

The club really is bigger than any one man.

[Evil Eagle]

Eagle
At the end of the day it not a question of wheater we should back Alan Smith or not, O course we back him because he the manager of our beloved club. And it Crystal Palace interest we all have at heart here.

It just that recieving the news of Steve Coppell leaving has come as a shock to not only Palace fan but football supporters all over the country. When I first hearded the news my only intention was to go directly to Selhurst Park demanding some answers, which is what I did after work and to my surpise Alan Smith came out and faced the few Palace fans who was doing the same thing to explain his side of the story. After speaking to Alan Smith and asking him a few question I do believe he does have Palace at heart and also has a point of being the only man for the job at the present moment. There is no whitewash at Selhurst Park and Alan Smith and Steve Coppell still remain friends according to Alan Smith.

The bottom line is that we will back any manager of our club regardless of who they are except if it Alan Mullerby, because no one is bigger than Crystal Palace FC. It time we all start to look to the future.

[pintofduvelplease]

I don't like the appointment of Alan Smith, nor have I much faith in his coaches- Cockerill and Houghton.

I also don't like the look and sound of Mr Jordan-purely subjective I know, but watching him sitting there at the press conference in his red jacket and listening to his robotic mantras about death, he looked every inch the hard-faced humourless businessman he clearly is. He also seemed incredibly young,(about 16 minus the goatee)
and had cold staring eyes.

Coppell has played the game at the highest level, he has some credibility with the players for that very reason, Smith never played the game professionally, (correct me if I'm wrong) and neither looks nor sounds the part of a football manager.

I believe he has been installed as some sort of puppet figure, that can be manipulated by Jordan, who will be busy pulling his strings behind the scene.

Has this ever been a happily run club? Did we ever have a chairman who let the manager run the team? There must be something that puts off established names coming here, hence us being reliant on reappointing old faces, when the manager's job becomes available.

I don't think Alan Smith will do well this time around, he has no real proven or long-term track record as a manager, and lacks charisma. I also think Jordan will depress the players, who wanted to play for Steve, I think they will feel the opposite about this lot.

I would have liked us to appoint Ian Evans as manager.

[Belly]

I'll be backing him 100% ,just as i would whoever was to come in.the important thing here is the football club,and if alan smiths been chosen to manage the team, then so be it.i know emotions are running high at the moment over steve copple, but some of the comments posted are quite frankly very childish and embarrasing.we've just spent god knows how long fighting total shutdown ,we survived by the skin of our teeth,this is the start of a new era (even though we've gon back to go forward).lets just give the bloke a chance at least15-20 games,then if theres no improvement then voice your grieviences.

[Brett]

Personally, I am now looking forward to the season.

Steve Coppell has been a God to me since I was just six years old. I only ever remember Palace with Steve Coppell. Palace to me was Coppell, then Cannon then Bright.

The highlights of growing up, (behind the 'normal' ones) were Blackburn play off, winning at Anfield and Old Trafford, Cup semi and final, and Wembley play off 97.

This was Coppell's achievement, and he has played a big part in the years of mine growing up. But times change.

The most exciting team I have seen was Smiths when we walked the Football League.

Even the greatest managers have run their course at a club. Capello at Milan, Cruyff at Barca, and Clough at Forest. They needed a break to rechrge and review themselves. Their clubs were becoming stale.

The appointment of Smith is a bold and a brave one. But it is positive. We are on an upward curve now and we need a fresh injection of hope, not continual dwelling on Noades, Goldberg etc.

Houghton too is a guy Im chuffed to see back. His enthusiasm is infectious and he is looked upon well by the fans.

I have hope - and I hope you back Jordan who DOES have Palace in his best interests.

Thank you Steve Coppell, you mean more to me than you will ever know. Thank you so much.

[BIG LETTER!]

Firstly, I don't think it is possible to tell if Coppell is bitter about the affair, its in his nature to speak well of people.

Secondly, I sincerely hope he hasn't been badly treated.

Thirdly, I think Coppell has doen a great job, but the time was right for him to move on.

Fourthly, I honestly believe that Smith, Cockerill and Houghton is a better prospect than Coppell and Sparrow.

Fifthly, I support the club and not the personalities, so yes, of course I back Smith, for as long as hes in charge (just please God, no more of his "I got it right for the first 88 minutes, just forgot the last 2" type speeches though).

[Gooders]

I am gutted about Stevie going - especially the way it was mishandled.

I have little faith that Alan Smith is the right man for the job. Almost zero.

But he will get my backing because he's Palace's manager and I want Palace to succeed, just as Steve Coppell does.

Woe betide him and Jordan though, if results do not pick up VERY quickly. If he/they think they have until Christmas to sort us out they are going to get a rude awakening.

[wedgetail]

I support Smith as he shows he deserves support, but he has to show that what he has learnt since last time. Ray Houghton is a good choice.

[SE .Kent]

I suggest you look at last weeks posts - many people have highlighted the fact Steve seemed to have lost his grip - indeed things started to go wrong towards the end of last season . I have to say that some of the players recently have not given Steve the respect he deserves ,they certainly did not perform . The choice of Sparrow was a real bakward step and the call for Wrighty quite sad . I for one prefer to see Steve leave with his record as hero in tact - many of us worried that it could have all gone wrong by Christmas.
Smith is here for the same reason as Steve they have a strong affection for Palace - give him and his 2 capable coaches a chance and get behind the team.

[palacenut]

I think we will know By Xmas what he is like, or Simon will get rid of him too.

[Paul Jeeves]

But no matter what is said here and now, when (not if) Jansen knocks in Blackburn's first goal within the first 10 minutes of the season the chant "Stand up for Steve Coppell" will ring out. As it will no doubt prior to KO. As soon as things go a little wrong it will be v difficult to remain supportive of white shoes.

[Skid Row]

Never have and never will like Alan Smith. Surely there was someone better out there to take over the reins. Surely. http://64.65.14.178/ubb/frown.gif

[willie wallace]

We must get behind him, regardless of what you think of his coaching abilities, he is our teams manager, simple as that. I think he will need time to sort things out, the playing side of the club is an absolute disaster, we all know that. As for Steve Coppell, he will always have a special place in my heart, but he needed to go, he needs to take time out after the strain he has been under over the past couple of years.

[SEVENOAKS EAGLE]

i would love to back smith,go back now smith we know what you can do, no thanks

[tomario]

Though I am still in shock over what has happened, and I still love SC to bits, we should back Alan Smith and the team to the holt,

[interested in sydney.]

Agree with my fellow Aussie Tomario. You support the club and its manager no matter who.Now Jordan is worse than Noades? Good job Noades did not buy the club back as Sc would have gone and he would have been manager. I know we have had worse managers than Smith , Mullery to name but one. Get behind him .

[paf]

I'll back Smith, no problem, nice bloke, few doubts over his ability following his spell at Wycombe, but he's a Palace man and I'll give him my support.

My problem is with Jordan, as I think most peoples is, they just havent realised it yet and are venting their anger towards Smith.

[RednBlue]

SE .Kent hit the nail on the head. After eighteen months under seige Steve deserves a break - he's earned it. Whether Alan Smith is the right man, only time will tell, but he and the team have my full support.

But Steve Coppell is and will always be a Palace legend, and as Ray Bateup says, how nice it would be if He and Alan Smith could lead the team out together for the first home game.

[Bob S]

This is a dumb thread really. What are we gonna do? Stop supporting the team???

Hardly.

[Egg Sample]

Well I know a few who are NOT Happy, and if it transpires that Coppell was treated like ****e, and set up with Smith waiting knowingly in the weeks, as some suspect, then there will be a few less supporters.

[Spread-Eagle]

Originally posted by Egg Sample on 08-03-2000 10:41 AM
Well I know a few who are NOT Happy, and if it transpires that Coppell was treated like ****e, and set up with Smith waiting knowingly in the weeks, as some suspect, then there will be a few less supporters.

I don't know where you get your ideas from sometimes. When are people going to understand Alan Smith wasnt contacted about the vacant managers position until Sunday night. Before that he had never met or even spoken to SJ in his life. However Steve was treated its not fair of us as Palace fans to take it out on AS who also cares deeply about the club.

[Tor]

Stupid question, really.
We're Palace-supporters, aren't we? Of course we'll back Smith.

Sure we loved Steve, but it's Smith now, so get used to it!

[2 Under]

I can`t beleive people are slagging AS off so much. He spent 10 years at Palace, working miracles with the youth team, and then assisting Steve well, and finally having quite a sucessful spell as manager. Some people have even said that they are only prepared to give him a couple of games -great attitude boys! I bet some people will get on his back if we lose to Blackburn, even though a week ago people were saying that they thought we would lose by about 6 goals!
And he is not Jordans mate, and he didnt stab Coppell in the back.
Anyway we all know we`ll get behind the players and the management team as soon as the season starts...

[Matty]

Originally posted by Maidstoned Eagle on 08-02-2000 05:32 PM
He's the Palace Manager, of course I'll back him!

Absolutely. There's no question. I even backed Vegetables because he was Palace manager.

But I rate Smith higher. He's done well for us in the past. I hope he does again.

[Egg Sample]

Just to clariy I am not anti A.S. I've just emailed a reply to a BBSer. this is what I said/ Just my point of view, but I know a few who share it;

hihihi
haha, well it's just my attitude to life at the moment I suppose - too
long working in the City with arrogant, selfish, greedy morons. To me
S.C. was a breath of fresh air in football, a game which has become an
industry and is becoming so less attractive. I would hate CPFC to beome
a Chelsea or Arsenal. That is probably not going to happen anyway, but
what I'm saying is I don't want success at any price. To me, S.C. was a
fair, honest person. Certainly not the best manager. Of course I (nor
probably many others) know exactly what has happened. But it smells very
fishy. And in those circumstances I have to stand by (or at least give
the benefit of the doubt) to those that deserve it. In this case S.C.
His loyalty and commitment surely deserves better than what appears to
have been a sacking.(albeit trumped up as a mutual decision)

I have nothing against Alan Smith. But S.J. just reminds me of the sort
of person that I don't like. I hope A.S. knows what he is doing. I hope
the players and fans do get behind him. I certainly wont demonstrate
against them. BUT I can see the situation where many people will feel
let down and just wont go (especially if the team are not doing well)
The support and loyalty last year was in part because of S.C. Without
him it won't be as good.

[Spread-Eagle]

Well said 2 under, I couldn't agree more.

[Regal Eagle]

Why people are slagging off both Alan Smith and Simon Jordon is a mystery to me. SJ saved this club from the hands of Patterson and Lim. He put up his money. He owns the club. He appoints his staff. Has anyone a bad opinion on his new Human Resources manager? Lets hear it!
Ok Steve was the hero for all of us but now he has gone. God I remember last season the moans about Steve not playing Rizzo, and that Steve was a useless manager. Many moaned about him coming back last time. It never changes with us lot does it.
Palace are never boring on or off the field. That's some of the appeal for me.
Like others I will wait and see, and judge both Smith and Jordan on their progress or lack of it to get us back in the Premier league.
After all I had doubts about Tony and look what he has.........oh well!!!!!!

[Gizmo]

What a stupid question to ask of course l will support him as our new manager we will not only be turning our back on him but surely it will have a bad reaction for the players also, and that`s out of order

[Laurie]

It is not a stupid question. You can't back ANY manager taking over Palace. I stopped going for 2 years when the anti-christ Mullery took over.That was my protest and that of thousands of others. I have never liked Smith, I thought we won the 1st div championship in spite of him trying to ruin it with his long ball tactics.The following season, with arguably our best squad ever,found him out and we know what happened. I'll still be going next year, but as for 100% support for Smith, not from me I'm afraid.

[Rev.B]

The point is that each individual action by Jordan has to be judged separately. So what if he saved the club? If he then goes and messes it up by his subsequent actions, would you like us to sit idly by and watch it all. Don't forget that a bit of apathy has already nearly cost us the club once!
I would say he has certainly not considered his options in the extremely fast appointment of Smith. I'm sure with reflection, a proper search and, the taking of references from people in football, a better manager could have been found.
Alternatively if he has taken time, then that would indicate that he was planning to remove Coppell all along. Something altogether more sinister...

[RUSSELL]

We have only got just over 1 week before the start of the season so Jordan couldn't take that long over appointing a new manager could he!

[rashid]

on balance it is a stupid question. I personally do not know anyone who is remotely comfortable with what has happened this week, nor anyone who really would have chosen Alan Smith- but there again who would have been fit to replace SC? the point is that AS is the manager now-Fact. I do not see how anyone can in reality support the team and not the manager. if someone really cannot get behind both then perhaps they should stop coming. I do not profess to know SC or indeed anyone else in authority at selhurst, however I cannot believe that SC the no.1 fan would endorse action at the ground which would undermine his successor. This is the time to rally round and support OUR club. Do it FOR Steve Coppell. Everyone has a decision to make-either you are in the tent p*****g out, or outside p*****g in. If the latter, p**s **f now. There is another club at Selhurst short on numbers.

[Rev.B]

Ok I'm not slagging Smith. I'm more concerned with the way Jordan is acting. So what if, Jordan turns round now and starts singling out players that he thinks don't pull their weight. Mullins has supposedly looked poor in preseason. The threat is there now that we will get rid of people that can be valuable to us. Its just like with Venables getting his own men in, and dumping our favourites who would have done a better job.
Its' not supposed to be his decision! I really am starting to worry that his hands on approach will mess things up.
He is doing things way too fast. We aren't supposed to be desperately trying to get back to the premier league his season, but slowly building a team that will last.
I don't trust Smith to stand upto Jordan. It is Jordan's club now and he will call the shots. He's made that clear.

[Gizmo]

Originally posted by Laurie on 08-03-2000 04:22 PM
It is not a stupid question. You can't back ANY manager taking over Palace. I stopped going for 2 years when the anti-christ Mullery took over.That was my protest and that of thousands of others. I have never liked Smith, I thought we won the 1st div championship in spite of him trying to ruin it with his long ball tactics.The following season, with arguably our best squad ever,found him out and we know what happened. I'll still be going next year, but as for 100% support for Smith, not from me I'm afraid.

[Gizmo]

Originally posted by Laurie on 08-03-2000 04:22 PM
It is not a stupid question. You can't back ANY manager taking over Palace. I stopped going for 2 years when the anti-christ Mullery took over.That was my protest and that of thousands of others. I have never liked Smith, I thought we won the 1st div championship in spite of him trying to ruin it with his long ball tactics.The following season, with arguably our best squad ever,found him out and we know what happened. I'll still be going next year, but as for 100% support for Smith, not from me I'm afraid.
l repeat it is a stupid question
to not support the manager is not to support the team to which l might add is why we go in the first place

[anti-addick]

Very sad about King Steve, hopefully there will be a fitting permanent tribute to him at SP but after all we've gone through let's not let Palace fall down again - King Steve would want it that way.



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Support Crystal Palace Internet FC !!
http://www.cpifc.co.uk

[SIKO]

Fortunately I havent been on here, and although only a day, it seems like a lifetime. So I have had to pay catch up. Initially I couldnt beleive Coppell was going, and being replaced by AS. BUT it has happened, and SJ now beleives he has made the right choice. Looking at it from a logical point, do you really think SJ would actually sack Steve, because he would know what would happen if supporters found out that is what happened. Concerning supporting Smith, yes I agree his success was built on what in effect was Coppells team, but he didnt really have enough time to develop his own team, and I also agree his time at Wycombe was very poor. However, that was in the past, and nothing you can do will change what has happened. Lets be honest, he has been offered a job, and only an idiot would have turned it down.
Tom Farmer, who started Kwik-Fit, a very successful company. BUT prior to that, he also started another tyre company, which failed miserably, and he isnt alone. Many people start companies, which go tits up, only to come back later on, start up a company doing the same thing, but go on to become very successful. They learn from their mistakes, just as Im sure AS has.
I am deeply upset with what has happened to Steve, but as other people have said, he would probably be very disappointed in us if we didnt get behind AS. A few months ago, we were facing disappearing from the league, and that is alot worse than what has happened now in my view. I support Palace, so I will still go to the games, because my club and the players could do with my support. I dont support an individual manager, although with Steve it came pretty close. Steve hasnt said he was sacked, and it looks like it was his choice to go. AS may have a poor past record, but I will give him the benefit of the doubt until I feel he warrants critisism. Those boycotting the game, thats your choice, but if Palace do become successful, what then?. If Steve comes out and says, I resigned, because I had enough what then? Again my opinion, but by not coming to watch the CLUB you support, because of this, is very fickle, along the same lines as the South London Man Utd supporters, but this is even more relevant. Goldberg nearly caused the demise of CPFC forever, if enough of you boycott Palace, the revenue drops to such an extent that Jordan cannot sustain it, and we go back into liquidation, then what will be the differences between you and Goldberg.
This may seem like an attack, but these are just MY opinions, and apologies in advance if they offend anyone.

[LP]

Coppell is our greatest manager and obviously it is difficult to come up with words to discribe what he means to all the fans. He said that Crystal Palace is a part of him, this isn't some Sasa Curcic style soundbyte, this is undoubtedly the truth.

However I feel that maybe it was the right time for him to leave. For the last 18 months he's been his own boss. It may sound weird but in a strange way the pressure wasn't really on him. If he kept us up then he was a hero. If we'd gone down then noone would of held it against him.

Now suddenley he's got a guy in charge who's ambitious and expects a return for his 11 million. Could we really expect Coppell to view the Palace job in a fresh faced ambitious way? Could he of dropped the players that he forged such a trust with, during difficult times? I feel it is doubtful. We love Coppell, but it was time to move on.

Whether Smith is the right man for the job is a totally different issue. I always liked Smith and was sorry to see him go last time. I felt that he always paid the price for standing up to Noades' failure to invest in the team, at a time when we so needed it. People have critisied Smith's record in his second season in charge. Yet what could he do with Pitcher, Preece and Wilkins?

However whilst I sympathise with Smith when it comes to his previous spell at Palace, I'm not sure 5 years down the line that he is the right man. I would of gone for a young manager with loads to prove, not disimilar to Coppell when he first took charge. Anyhow I will support Smith, even if we have a bad start to the season. He must be given time as the club is in a mess.

[Adrian]

This must rank as the thread with the longest length postings ever. Not surprising really since people have a lot to get off their chests.

By contrast, to keep it short, I would say the following:
1. We are getting things out of perspective. There simply isn't any evidence so far to cause us to have a go at Jordan. These are very early days for him. He must be allowed to do what he thinks fit without all this "mark my words, we'll rue the day he took over" stuff. Just have patience: wait a month - wait two, watch the games, stay with it but give the bloke a chance.

2. Smith: as for saying his success was built on Coppell's team - I think that's a bit rich. Smith joined Palace in 1983 and built the youth squad that became Coppell's (and others') teams. After Coppell, Smith is one of the most important figures in our modern history - he was certainly the architect of most of our success in the eighties. Those of you content to slag him off for his time at Wycombe (AS himself regards it as Wycombe's most successful period up to that point so someone's telling porkies) just remember his triumphs at CPFC, recognize that he's acknowledged as one of the game's tacical experts and ask yourself why the media are for ever asking for his opinions, comments etc.

If he fouls up, then so be it. Nothing we can do about it: but for now, just get behind him, stop whingeing and give him a chance.

[ajp]

What is all this anti Smith talk about then! I think it's just a knee jerk reaction to Coppells departure. Personally I think SC is the greatest and was singing his praises at the end of last season as loud as anyone. But I think that Coppells time to leave had come,we can't afford to get sentimental about this can we? With the season only weeks away we had to get someone in quickly and with Smith knowing the ins and outs of the club so well he surely with Houghton and Cockerill behind him is a very good choice for manager.

Alan Smith must be given patience, remember we'd have given it to Steve and Alan deserves the same. This is a tricky situation, he's inherating Coppells players and it will mean that it's going to take a while for things to come good. The appointment of Alan Smith is good for our football club and we must support him!

Finally how anyone can criticise Simon Jordon at this stage is beyond me, if it wasn't for this man, who's spend in excess of 11 million buying the club we might well not even have a club left now!

[Clapham Grand]

"Finally how anyone can criticise Simon Jordon at this stage is beyond me, if it wasn't for this man, who's spend in excess of 11 million buying the club we might well not even have a club left now!"

Exactly : some football fans seem to have very short memories! Let's get behind Smith and hope that we don't suffer a record scoreline on the first day of the season.

[Marco]

Originally posted by Clapham Grand on 08-03-2000 09:32 PM
"Finally how anyone can criticise Simon Jordon at this stage is beyond me, if it wasn't for this man, who's spend in excess of 11 million buying the club we might well not even have a club left now!"

Exactly : some football fans seem to have very short memories! Let's get behind Smith and hope that we don't suffer a record scoreline on the first day of the season.



Couldnt have putit better myself

[Ian of Chatham]

Record scoreline? what similar to the 6-1 home defeat to Liverpool under Smith last time round - OK not a record but it was a very huge collossal loss all the same.

ajp, What I've said about Smith isn't a knee jerk to Coppells departure, it's because Smith isn't the best manager we could have got to replace him. If he was that good then how many other teams have been fighting tooth and nail to offer him their manager's position over the last four years ever since he got the shove from Wycombe? Answer - None, zip, zero, zilch, absolutely b'ger all. We are experimenting with someone and hoping that they repeat their past glory and that's not fair on the players, the fans and Smith himself. OK I will support him, I've not said anything about calling for his head from day one, nor have I said anything about boycotts etc I will sing Alan Smith's red and blue army etc but I'm sorry if I don't toe the "Smith is the best option for the club" party line, no matter how much stick I'll risk getting on here.

Also I'm not critising Jordan personally, not just his choice of words to describe Steve's sacking or resignation (mutual consent, which is just a cop out to hide the real truth) but that's down to the same bad PR used by a lot of other football chairmen. If Coppell had to go why doesn't he say that he sacked him or if Coppell resigned, why didn't he (Jordan) say that was the case, also I don't think much of his replacement, but although I'll back him I'll have severe concerns about the future if we languish at the bottom of the table which is likely to be the case.

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The voice of reason

[This message has been edited by Ian of Chatham (edited 03 August 2000).]

[ajp]

Ian of Chatham. You say that Alan Smith is not the best choice. Maybe though there is no best choice, just a selection of different choices. I think it's important to add though that our options for manager are limited. So the priority is we firstly want someone who's commited, Alan Smith is certainly that. We need experiance and again I think Smith fits that mould. OK so Smiths success in management might only be restricted to Palace(whatever people say winning that title in 94 and two semi finals on a very tight budget the following season is certainly success).

But Smith wouldn't be the first player/manager at this club to only succeed here would he! Also Smith was a top coach at Palace before his managment period and has done well with the youth set-up at Fulham recently. I also feel that so close to the season we need to bring someone in who knows the club, again Smith certainly does. The backroom staff of Houghton and Cockerill also sound promising and give us possible successors to Smith at a later period.

Who ever the mamager is this coming season it is always going to be one in which the main priority is consolidation. So I believe that Jordons choice of an experianced appointment, instead of say the gamble of a younger manager is probably the best at the moment.




[This message has been edited by ajp (edited 04 August 2000).]

[Ian of Chatham]

Sorry but I'm haven't finished when it comes to Smith. I have nothing against him but he was hopelessly out of his depth last time and he'll prove to be the same this time, I think it's a bit unfair of Jordan to put him in the poisoned chalice to be honest. A lot of people have mentioned that we should forget about his disasterous spell at Wycombe, obviously Jordan for some reason or other has just done that by overlooking that episode on Smith's CV. Also a lot of people on various threads have said we were unlucky to finish 4th bottom in the 1994/5 season when four went down but looking closely at that season I reckon we were lucky to finish as high as that, we were rubbish at some stages of that season and failing to score a single goal in 13 hrs of football as we did between November 94 and January 95 would have been enough to relegate us on it's own, as it so happens we should thank Leicester and Ipswich for being so useless from the beginning of the season and got cut adrift in the table very early on and Norwich for having a fine second half of the season for the fact that we finished that high up any other season if we played like we did that we would have ended up in the bottom three and relegated no argument. That season Norwich were seventh in December and ended up finishing 20th and going down.

In the unlikely even that we get off to a reasonably good start this season and are comfortably in mid-table then all my worries about Smith would be totally unnecessary and I'll shut up, but in the more likely case that we get off to a bad start then I'll give Smith about 25 games this season to prove us all wrong and during that time I will back him, even though it will be nervously. The 23rd and 25th games of the season are away to Crewe and away to Gillingham respectively, and if we are still struggling and we are either in or hovering just above the relegation zone by December then both those games are vital relegation yardsticks, if Palace win both of them or get four points total at least from those two games then I reckon Smith stands a very good chance of at least keeping us up and possibly a mid table finish, but if we lose at both Gresty Road and Priestfield then Smith should either resign or get the sack, hopefully Jordan would then realise his mistake in appointing him in the first place and go out to recruit the next manager to succeed him properly by considering all the options carefully as he clearly failed to do this time.

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The voice of reason

[This message has been edited by Ian of Chatham (edited 03 August 2000).]

[Skid Row]

Anybody want to take their comments back?

[Nobby]

This thread is one of the few "revival threads" that is well worth reading again. It is extraordinary how many fans KNEW it was a bad appointment (though, as good supporters were prepared to back him). Unfortunately, they knew more about Palace and football in general than Simon Jordan did.

Of course, there was Brett who shared Jordan's belief that Smith was an inspired choice, but then we can't ALL be psychic, can we? http://www.cpfc.org/ubb/wink.gif And I'm not sure they're still seeing things eye to eye. http://www.cpfc.org/ubb/biggrin.gif

<FONT COLOR="#800080" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">This message has been edited by Nobby on 17 April 2001 at 03:36</font>