Julian Speroni: Crystal Palace should aim to top six finish
JULIAN Speroni believes a top-six finish is a realistic aim for the Eagles next season.
The 33-year-old was part of a strong defensive unit during the last campaign, but stressed their improvement under manager Dougie Freedman is gradual progression from where they found themselves just over two years ago.
However, he is keen to push on and hopes the team can surprise a few next season, especially if they get off to a good start.
"I'm sure we will want to be aiming for the top six places," he said. "Of course, we want to do better than last year, but I know it's going to be a very, very tough season.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Sunday, May 26 2013
"There are a lot of strong clubs in the Championship, but if we get off to a good start, then we'll see what happens.
"Everybody knew their role in defence last season. We defended from the strikers down to me and that was really important in our defensive record.
"It's a matter of building and moving forward from the experience we had, as it wasn't a good position we found ourselves in two years ago.
"The owners are doing a great job and the players follow, so it's a gradual process, but I think we're moving in the right way."
Anthony Gardner was part of a mean defence last year in front of the Argentine, and with Nathaniel Clyne looking to move on a free, Speroni thinks new signings Joel Ward and Aaron Martin are more than capable to step in at the back.
"We'll find out about Joel and Aaron when we start playing some games together," he said. "I think they're great players and I am sure they can fulfil any role the manager may ask them to do.
"As a team, we'll see how we'll adapt to the new players and how we react, but I think in today's game, nobody is irreplaceable.
"The lads welcomed them very nicely, so I think it's great for everybody.
"All the new signings will be great additions to the squad."
And Speroni revealed he's about to begin training since breaking his finger after 25 minutes against Reading in April.
"Everyone started pre-season last week, but it's been a bit strange for me because of the injury I picked up at the end of last season," he said.
"I had a little pin removed from my finger on Monday, but it was nothing major and I'm hoping to start training next week.
"All pre-season is hard, especially the first couple of weeks, but I'm hoping to start catching the ball again as soon as possible."
Comments
by bromleytim
Friday, August 03 2012, 12:10AM
“you are both right in your comments but all we want as fans is the truth not a load of rubbish from parrish and freedman and all this paper talk about players that we will not sign we only buy from dulwich and margate so lets be up front about it.”
by gelend
Thursday, August 02 2012, 6:01AM
“quite a sensible post but are you parishtheeagle.By not investing at all and just stripping the club of its player assets we will in 2013/14 be playing in div 1 and far from onwards and upwards substitute backwards and downwards.None of us are asking for break the bank signings but surely just some morsel of ambition from 2010 would be appreciated by the eagle diehards”
by petetheeagle
Tuesday, July 17 2012, 10:29AM
“When 2010 first took over I was a bit skeptical, I questioned their priorities but I firmly believe they are definitely taking the club in the right direction. They are fans and so is Dougie.
Football is a lot different to when I began watching it and since Sky got involved money has become more of an issue now, but of course we all know that.
Clubs have got more and more into debt in the hope of winning trophies, trying to gain promotion, etc, but this has come at a price and we have experienced it more than most and it's not a nice feeling. Look at Leicester last season spending enormous amounts to try and get promotion to the top flight, it didn't happen and now they are paying, I think 15k to a player that is in and out of the team. This year Blackburn are spending huge amounts to get back up to the Premiership at the first attempt and they may well do it but what if that fails. West Ham did it by the skin of their teeth and, fortunately for them a lot of their debt has been wiped off
2010 have come in to stop the boom and bust cycle and by all accounts they have had to put 4 million of their own money in just to balance the books for the season just gone, so it made perfect sense to look at the playing staff. Huddersfield came in with a bid for Scannell that could reach 900k and it made good footballing sense because Dougie could not guarantee him a start. He needed a new challenge, it happens. Like him or not, the fact is Ambrose was the top earner and as this was his last season it made sense to cash in on him, with a fee rising to a million and a huge saving on wages. He may well have had a teriffic season if he stayed but there is also the chance of having another poor one like he did the last, by his standards.
The point I am making is that the new owners, for a large part of the season, made Palace competitive, even though the crowds remained poor and at the end of the day, the club made a loss. So when Clubs who have spent massive and yet have failed in their quest for glory and then find themselves hovering above the threat of administration, there will be little ole Palace, not only solvent but moving onwards and upwards.
There are calls from the fans to spend big on a striker, but then we have to pay big wages and to try and get a striker on a free who can get you 20 - 25 goals a season is now harder than ever considering the amount of wealth some clubs have. We may well have someone already in place. It is common knowledge that Wilf will play a strikers role next season and there is no reason why he can't be successful.”