Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
After yesterday’s Semi Final in which Anthony Martial scored a dramatic late winner, Alan Pardew knows that a win for his Crystal Palace side Today would mean a repeat of the 1990 Cup Final which one of the best finals in modern Cup history
Their opponents Watford will also know that they are one game away from their first final since 1984 when they lost 2-0 to Everton and Elton John cried tears of pride from the stands (shame it wasn’t a 3sum of goals hint hint)
Both sides it’s fair to say have been focusing on the Cup a bit too much as of late. Palace lost away at Old Trafford on Wednesday while Watford were thumped by West Ham on the same evening.
The similarities don’t just stop there as both teams have seen their form nosedive in 2016. Both teams were in the heady heights of the Top 6 early in the season but that has long been forgotten as this year has been a year too forget for both sides with only the Cup being a shining light and a welcome distraction from Premier League action.
Palace went on a miserable run which saw them go 3 and a half months without a League win while the goals that launched Watford high up the table early in the season have all but dried up
For Watford Manager Quique Sanchez Florez but the season as a whole has no doubt been a success as the main objective this season was staying up, that has been reached but it has certainly been a season of two halves
Again the same could be said for Palace but there is arguably a bit more pressure on Alan Pardew to deliver. The Eagles’ season would have promised so much more especially where they were placed by October so a Cup win is probably required to appease a slightly unsettled fanbase and paper over the cracks or this season.
There really isn’t a lot to choose between these two sides and for that reason I think this one is going to extra time and maybe even penalties. Who will win it, you’ll have to toss a coin for that but two evenly matched sides should offer up a decent encounter this Afternoon. Prepare yourself for Extra Time and get a few more beers in.
Papa Johns – If your team scores twice then it’s half price
