Team of the eighties

I found out my CAC calcium score was 756, so I'm wearing a blood pressure monitor right now and I'm dead serious when I say get that calcium test — it might just save your life. I wanted to get that off my chest before the football chat because if my rambling stops one person ignoring borderline cholesterol from doing something, it's worth it. On the footy, I'm fuming: that press conference was a shambles, Dean Henderson defending the indefensible, and the players trotting out the usual nonsense about trying their hardest — come on, you get paid for this. Sarge isn't doing what's needed, we're undisciplined, exposed, and when we play like this we should be in double sessions until we can't move; Wharton should've been dropped ages ago. I don't care who comes in as long as it's better than Sarge — I'd take Sean Dyche for organisation, Thomas Frank is a lovely dream for later — but right now we simply have to stop leaking points or the club's problems will explode if we go down. Stay healthy, sort your checks, and for the love of Palace, let's start demanding better on the pitch — come on you Eagles. I want to start by being blunt: I was wearing a blood pressure monitor for 24 hours because of something that's been nagging me for years — borderline high cholesterol. I asked for a CAC test, the calcium scan that tells you how blocked your arteries are. My score came back at 756. Yeah, 756. If you think you’re OK because your GP said ‘borderline’ and you’ve been training or trying to eat right, take this seriously. I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, I run loads, yet here we are. I’m telling you because if that small bit of my rant saves one person from a heart attack, it’s worth it. Get checked properly — push for the CAC if you need to — and don’t shrug it off. Now onto Palace, and I’m furious. The press conference was embarrassing: Dean Henderson defending the indefensible and Sarge acting like we haven’t lost our heads defensively. We got opened up against Hoffenheim, could’ve been 2–3 down, and the excuses about needing family time when we’re being embarrassed on the pitch are laughable. Discipline is poor, the system is wrong, and Wharton still looks lost — he should have been dropped ages ago. Steve Parish flying off to New York when the club looks like this? I’d be embarrassed for him. We need a different manager — I’d take Sean Dyche for organization now, Thomas Frank can wait as a longer-term dream — but for now we must stop drifting and fight to stay in the Premier League.Takeaways:I'm wearing a blood pressure monitor because my CAC score was 756, so I urge everyone to get the calcium test.Even though I train, run thirty miles a week, and don't drink or smoke, my cholesterol still became a problem for me over several years.I don't accept players' claims that they 'try their hardest'—they get paid a fortune, and the fans are the ones who actually care and pay.We need brutal honesty and double sessions right now; drill the defensive errors and discipline until it sinks in because Sarge hasn't fixed those basics.I still think our squad isn't that bad at all; it's the system, the patterns and the way we're playing that are completely wrong.We have to stay in the Premier League; I want a manager better than Sarge — I said Sean Deutsch because he's organised and defensive, and we need points.

What a weird night we had — I still can’t quite work out what it means. We put a reserves-heavy side out, got battered in possession, defended like our lives depended on it and somehow came away with a clean sheet and a quarter-final place. I’ll take that every day of the week. Decori lasted an hour and impressed me more than I expected, Hughes did his usual job, Gusani was alright and Richard was my man of the match. Dean in goal steadied things when needed. When our proper first-choice players came on we looked like we could get a second, but the two games were so different that I don’t think any momentum will carry into Saturday against Tottenham. I’ve even got a tenner mentality about it — I put a hundred quid on them to go all the way — but I’m honest: what works in a cup tie with second-string lads won’t necessarily save us at Spurs. Tactically it was a throwback to backs-to-the-wall football and, call me old-fashioned, I don’t mind if it’s effective. If the players can execute that park-the-bus, counter and nick a goal approach, I’ll back it. But the glaring worry is defence. We’ve been leaking, and it’s not just bad luck — it’s systems, selection and, frankly, management. Win or lose, the takeaway is simple: we defended well enough tonight to win, and that’s worth celebrating, but don’t expect the same display to be a template for beating the better teams coming up.Takeaways:We beat Fulham with a rotated side and I’ll take the win, clean sheet and quarterfinal spot even if it won’t give us momentum for Spurs.I don’t mind ugly, backs-to-the-wall football if it works — 99% possession for Fulham and we score, I’ll happily take that.I’m realistic: Sarge looks out of his depth to me and I genuinely worry he hasn’t got the Premier League chops.We are a selling club and I accept that staying in the Premier League for 13 seasons is progress, not unrealistic top-six fantasies.I’d rather see a pragmatic manager — Hodgson, Dyche or even Allardyce — who can organise our defence and get points on the board.I trust Parish’s long-term judgement more than online petitions; start winning games and a lot of the noise will simply disappear.Companies mentioned in this episode:Fulham F.C.Tottenham Hotspur F.C.Sunderland A.F.C.Crystal Palace F.C.Manchester City F.C.Chelsea F.C.Premier LeagueFA CupFA Community ShieldUEFA Europa Conference League

I don’t want Sage to be the manager anymore — he hasn’t got the leadership, charisma or fire to inspire this team. That 5-0 at Brighton was a proper kick in the balls and showed everything that’s wrong: players celebrating after a hiding, taking their readies and no real fight on the pitch. Our football can look pretty in places but there’s no substance, we’re too open at the back and we’re not getting anything from the captaincy or certain individuals when the heat’s on. If Thomas Frank, Sean Dyche or Eddie Howe were available I’d take any of them over Sage right now — we need someone who can make us a proper Premier League team and protect the bread and butter. I’m worried about dropping out of the Premier League, but I’m also honest about what I see on the pitch and what the board needs to decide. On a brighter note, we’ve got some cracking interviews coming up with Phil Holder, David Lewis and Neil Everett, and I’m trying to line up someone really special for Christmas Day — so keep tuning in, like and subscribe. Come on you Palace.Takeaways:I was gutted after Brighton's 5-0; that dreadful performance felt like a real kick in the balls and showed we have big problems to fix.I don't want Sarge as manager anymore — I get no leadership, no charisma, no fire, and no answers from him.We need substance and defensive solidity, not just flattering, pretty football that keeps letting simple goals through at the back.Wharton's not a captain in my view; he folds under pressure, frustrates the team, and shouldn't be leading us.Players still cash their pay even after poor displays, which underlines a worrying lack of accountability within the squad.I'm excited about upcoming interviews with Phil Alder, David Lewis, and Neil Everett before Christmas — keep tuning in and subscribing.Companies mentioned in this episode:Team of the 80sBrighton & Hove Albion F.C.Beşiktaş J.K.Crystal Palace F.C.Premier League

We need a more defensively minded manager — Sarge has got to go, and frankly, let's not fall to Brighton! I felt we were very lucky to get three points at Nottingham Forest; they battered us in the first half and our defending is still dreadful. With no January signings likely, I keep saying we have to play a system that suits the players we've got, tighten up at the back and start trying to find a clean sheet. Wharton’s touch is off, Walton’s been a worry, and unless we stop conceding three or four goals every game we’ll be having to score five just to scrape results. On a brighter note, I’ve got some great interviews lined up — Phil Holder, Neil Everett and Dave Lewis — who’ll be sharing mad stories and photos from the team of the 80s, so stick around, like and subscribe, and let’s hope we survive Brighton without being embarrassed. We were lucky to come away with three points at Nottingham Forest — I said it straight after the game and I’ll say it again. Forest battered us for long spells, our defending was dreadful and we only survived because we somehow found the goals. I don’t know how we keep doing it, but we keep scoring; the rub is that every match now feels like we need five or six goals just to get over the line. That’s not a tactic, that’s a crisis. I’m frustrated we haven’t sorted the back line since Sarge arrived. He’s had time and yet nothing’s changed: Walton still starts, Wharton’s touch is off, and we’ll probably get no reinforcements in January. Management has to play to the squad’s strengths — right now that means tightening up defensively, not pretending a free-scoring plan will paper over the cracks. I’m blunt about what I think needs to happen: Sarge’s got to go. We need someone who understands how to secure clean sheets first, then build forward play. The Europa League dream was lovely but, as I’ve warned, it’s a big ask for a squad not set up for that level; let’s be realistic and fix the fundamentals. And for God’s sake, let’s not fall to Brighton — that would be a proper embarrassment. We need grit, organisation and proper leadership before we chase anything pretty in attack.Companies mentioned in this episode:talkSPORTYouTubePremier LeagueUEFA Europa LeagueUEFA Europa Conference LeagueManchester City F.C.Arsenal F.C.Crystal Palace F.C.Liverpool F.C.Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.Team of the 80s

The big thing for me is this: the game on Sunday against Forest — and then Brighton — are going to decide whether we keep Sage. I still feel he’s struggling and, if Dyche or even Frank were available, I’d probably go with them because they know the division and might shore us up defensively. It’s a very decisive time for the club’s management and Parish has put everyone on high alert, so there’s real pressure on results now. Oliver Glasner comes back with Nottingham Forest this week and fair play to him — he did a fantastic job for us and we should give him a decent welcome. I’m worried we won’t score a lot of goals, I don’t rate the Europa League above staying in the Premier League, and the Mateta Matata situation is just odd — he’s missing and I don’t think he wants to play for us. Anyway, come on you Palace, and please like, comment and subscribe because I really want to hear what you lot think. I've been thinking a lot about the next few games and how they could define our season. Nottingham Forest coming up means Oliver Glasner gets his welcome back — and I genuinely feel we should give him one. He did a fantastic job for us, even if the way he left raises eyebrows for some; his stock dipped in January then rose again after that Conference League run, and who’s to say he wouldn’t have taken the Forest money? Still, I get why fans will grumble. For me the bigger worry is the immediate run: Crystal Palace and Brighton will tell us whether we keep our manager because defensively we’ve been all over the place. We’re not going to outscore teams every week, so someone needs to find a way to steady us at the back. I keep coming back to Sarge — and yes, I call him out: I’m not convinced. If Daish or Frank were available, I’d seriously consider them; they know the English game inside-out and might shore us up. Parish has been careful with his words and that’s telling — there’s a high-alert vibe at the club. While we celebrate wins and nostalgic returns, our focus should be survival in the Premier League, not the Europa League glory. Oh, and Mateta? He’s gone missing and doesn’t seem keen to play. That’s another bloody complication. Come on you Palace — we need grit now.Takeaways:I want us to welcome Oliver Glasner back to Nottingham Forest with respect for what he achieved.I'm worried about our defensive frailties and think Sarge might not be the right long-term fix for Palace.We should prioritise staying in the Premier League over Europa League adventures; that's where our focus must be right now.If Daish or Frank are available, I would pick them because they know the English game better than Sarge.Parish is carefully choosing his words and I'm convinced the club's hierarchy are on high alert about results and performances.Come on you Palace — I'm behind the team, but Mateta's absence and Sarge's doubts worry me a lot.