August 9 2009

Selhurst Park

There were quite a few reasons to be cheerful for our season opener with Plymouth Argyle, reckons Jamesey.

A sunny August day, a new season, some useful-looking additions to the squad. I could see no reason to be downbeat and we started the long and winding 09-10 campaign with a hard-won point against Plymouth (1-1, Aug 8).

In recent years it has been rare to kick off the season at home, so that was a bonus. I repeated my minute's applause from the Gills friendly for the late and much-respected Sir Bobby, so he gets a double send-off from me.

It was a slightly disappointing gate of 14,358 although August can be a difficult time of year being a peak holiday month. And, let's face it, any time of the year is difficult in the throes of the worst recession since Hadrian pulled the plug on wall building.

We had four new faces starting or on the bench - Stern John, Freddie Sears, Alessane N'Diaye and Darren Ambrose.

John dislocated his elbow early on, Sears looked very promising indeed with his skill and bustling endeavour while Ambrose came on too late in the game to make much impression.

My own personal favourite, the French teenager N'Diaye, continued his imposing progress and Neil Warnock has given him a three-year contract.

A few spectators around me were calling him "Vieira" or "Patrick" and there is no doubt that when the 18-year-old fills out and puts on a bit more muscle in the next year or so, he will be a formidable attacking mid-field force. Congratulations to Neil Warnock for managing to grab the boy.

And the much-maligned Alan Lee, replacing the injured John, continued to look awkward and lethargic and attracted a fair amount of abuse from the fans.

However, after his beautifully taken header evened the score, he grew visibly in confidence and even started winning one-to-one headers that seemed beyond him until now. If he carries on in goal scoring vein, jeers will soon turn into cheers.

All in all, it wasn't a bad day's work for the Eagles but there are two tough away games (aren't they all?) on the horizon at Bristol City and Ipswich Town.

Last season I directed a lot of criticism at our chairman, Simon Jordan, and I am delighted to say that he has shifted his ground considerably of late.

As well, as stumping up £5m of his own dosh to bolster our finances, he has pledged to attend more games and turn up more regularly at the training ground.

This can only filter down through the ranks and to have an interested and concerned chairman again could be worth a few extra points for us.

Cynics, of course, might say that Simon, being the owner of a club that no one apparently wants to buy, has drawn the obvious conclusion and decided to make what he's got a little more successful on the field and ultimately in the box-office.

Email Jamesey with your comments to jevans3704@aol.com

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