Welcome Ian Holloway!

Ollie Ollie Ollie, OI OI OI!

Since the departure of Dougie Freedman, a spot was left at the helm of Crystal Palace Football Club. The club was flying high so whoever decided they wanted the job would inherit a brilliant team. To be fair to Dougie Freedman, he had created a brilliant squad. With the likes of Wilfried Zaha and Yannick Bolasie tearing up the wings, and the brilliance of Mile Jedinak holding the team together in the middle, any manager would be in for a treat. Not only that a top striker in the form of Glenn Murray, who finally found his form and his potential in a squad that plays to his strengths. Murray is now the 2nd highest goal scorer in the in the Championship behind Charlie Austin with an impressive 16 goals. Murray has now broken into double figures an impressive 10 goals. He really should have had his second hat trick of the season but missed the second penalty against the brilliant shot stopper, Paul Robinson. I mention these players as they have been outstanding this season but I should also include Julian Speroni, Damien Delaney, Owen Garvan and Joel Ward who have all played a massive part in the club's recent success.

So... Ian Holloway has the job of guiding the football team to the Premier League. I have heard our chairman Steve Parish mention that his main goal is to steady the club, not throw money at it, and that he would like Premiership football. He also mentioned that when people look at Crystal Palace they see a club they assume to be skint, relegation fodder and have zero chance of reaching the Premier League. To be fair two years ago this was the way I sometimes looked at the club, but none of it is true anymore. We need to keep up the momentum and aim for promotion this year, as we have proven we can beat any football team in this league (home or away). Ian Holloway's main goal is to keep the team playing well week in and week out. The team has such momentum behind them at the moment and this really needs to continue if we have any chance of reaching the holy grail of Premiership football. Holloway has already said the kit looks like Barcelona's and he want us playing like them. Passing the ball, neat movement and turning the team from a defensive stance straight into a quick counter attack. To be fair to Holloway he has the perfect team for such a style of football, with the blistering pace and skill on the wings with Zaha and Bolasie and the excellent passing skills of Garvan and Moritz it should make way for consistently exciting football. I have full confidence in Holloway to produce the goods and get us into an automatic promotion spot or at the very least the play-offs by the end of the season.

Our next game is on Tuesday against the team rock bottom of the Championship - Ipswich. Ipswich also have recently picked up a new manager Mick McCarthy; not only that he has steered them to a much needed win away to Birmingham, He was quoted saying, "I just said to them you should be embarrassed that you're bottom of the league. If they'd have worked like that, played like that and blocked things like that then I wouldn't even be in the job". This proves that the game on Tuesday night will be tough, but it will help us see what Holloway is really made of. Yes Ipswich are bottom, and we are simply on fire at the moment but I still expect a tough game. I am also excited to see what squad Holloway picks and if we play any differently to our style of recent weeks. On Holloway... I want to say, 'Good luck Ian, do us proud and make sure we keep up the momentum'. Not only that I want to see us beat a team 5 or 6 nil this season, and I'm sure he is the sort of bloke that will secure such a result.

Holloway is also known for his sense of humor so I leave you with one of my favorite quotes of his:

   “He’s six foot something, fit as a flea, good looking – he’s got to have something wrong with him. Hopefully he’s hung like a hamster – That would make us all feel better. Having said that, me missus has got a pet hamster at home, and his cock’s massive.” – talking about Cristiano Ronaldo.