For Crystal Palace fans, it is never wise to talk too loudly about the great performances of one of the club’s players.
If they do, they often find that no sooner do they sing the his praises, then the player moves on to bigger and better things.
The latest, and arguably most high-profile, example of this was John Bostock. Bostock was supposedly “the boy Barcelona couldn’t buy”, but after his considerable talent became too difficult a secret to keep he ended up signing for, well, Tottenham Hotspur.
As the brightest graduate of the club's exceptional academy, seeing the 16-year-old leave after only a handful of first-team appearances was a bitter pill to swallow for all Palace fans.
Which is why you won’t hear too many Selhurst Park regulars crowing about the recent performances of Julian Speroni. The Palace ‘keeper, perhaps “the man even Middlesbrough could buy”, has been simply outstanding this season—despite seeing his team slump to a disappointing start.
A £500 000 signing from Dundee in 2004, the 29-year-old Argentinean stopper hasn’t always enjoyed the greatest of times in South London.
When he joined Iain Dowie’s newly promoted side, he was earmarked for the No. 1 jersey as the club sought to maintain its Premiership status. Unfortunately, an uncertain start and one nightmare blunder against Everton later, Speroni found himself relegated to the bench—replaced by the Hungarian trouser-wearer, Gabor Kiraly.
Palace too would be relegated at the end of the season, but the fall to the Championship did not improve Speroni’s first team opportunities. Only when Kiraly left, at the end of the 2006-07 season, did the South American finally get another chance to shine.
And shine he has. The ‘keeper, resplendent with trademark ponytail, has been a vital cog in the Palace machine since the beginning of the 2007-08 campaign. Demonstrating his incredible shot-stopping from the first whistle, his command of the area has only grown as fans laud his ability to deal with crosses and shots alike.
After initial errors became ever more infrequent, it soon became evident that Speroni inspired faith and confidence in his back four, a trait that spurred Palace onto a surprising Play-off berth.
All in all, Speroni's impressive and consistent performances did enough to win Crystal Palace’s Player of the Year Award—and many agreed he had reached the peak of his powers.
Apparently, however, they were wrong. This season the Argentinean has only got even better.
After six games, Speroni sits proudly atop the player ratings on one Palace fansite, with his 8.47 average rating almost a whole point clear of the next best first team regular.
After Palace’s first win of the season on Saturday, a 2-0 triumph against Swansea City, the Eagles ‘keeper was awarded a 10 for his match performance by The Sun, the newspaper recognising his outstanding contribution to the Red and Blue cause.
Palace have conceded eight goals in their opening six games, but without Speroni you feel it could well be double that.
Palace manager Neil Warnock, never one to hand out praise to his senior players unless it is truly deserved, is acutely aware of the gem he has inherited:
6 comments Last one added 9 months ago — Leave a Comment
Jon Marum 9 months ago
Julian Speroni? This cant be the same Julian Speroni who was a calamity for the first few games of Palace's last season in the Premiership can it, Alex?
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Alex Dimond 9 months ago
As far as I can tell Jon, it appears to be! Many Palace fans believe the original Julian Speroni was replaced with Peter Schmeichel or Gordon Banks after some elaborate "Face-Off" style experiment, but no one from the club has every confirmed or denied it. So we have to assume he is the same 'keeper who got mugged by Kevin Campbell in the most foolish way ever.
He is absolutely quality now, though - our best player by a long way. Best player in the Championship? Quite possibly.
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Jon Marum 9 months ago
Haha well fair enough. Perhaps I need to check palace out a bit more then because I am failing to see how Speroni can have turned it around so drastically.
That performnace against everton in was it august 2004 was in the top 5 worst of all time!! And now you're advocating his call up to the national side?!
I guess I'll have to take your word for it, Alex. You're normally good for it!
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illya mclellan 9 months ago
players are known to improve over time, its been four years for god's sake.
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Tom Fitton 9 months ago
Speroni is absolute class. I also wouldn't swap him for anyone in the PRemiership.
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Thomas 9 months ago
i'd keep him
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