There isn’t any overwhelming expectation on Crystal Palace to be a big success this season. Nor is there any similar kind of pressure on Patrick Vieira to deliver a top-half finish, despite it being an ambition of the club to establish themselves there soon. Vieira’s principles also marry perfectly with how the club wants to identify itself within the area; helping them to not only attract south London’s best players but keep hold of them too.
Steve Parish said: “My history of this club is we play a low block. When we had Ian Wright, we stayed in the division for a period and when we lost that fantastic talent at the top of the pitch, then we’d find it difficult and fall out of the division. So we need to evolve. We need to find a better way of playing football and it’s happened a bit quicker than we thought it would so far this year and long may it continue.”
Parish was speaking ahead of Palace’s 1-1 draw against Brighton, where his side were largely outplayed on the night, highlighting that although big steps have certainly been made already this season there are still plenty more to come.
