“I wouldn’t swap him [Speroni] for anyone in the Premiership, never mind the Championship”, the Eagle’s manager remarked.
Few fans in the Holmesdale Stand would disagree.
With his true talent finally on display, many around the club have begun to speculate whether Speroni is in contention for a call-up to Argentina’s national side.
While on the outside it may appear the irrational view of biased fans, closer inspection reveals that the former Atletico Platense player may reasonably harbour some hopes of future international recognition.
The Albicelestes do not have great depth at that position, and few in the know would argue that Speroni would look out of depth alongside Sergio Romero or Agustin Orion (the two uncapped ‘keepers, from AZ Alkmaar and San Lorenzo respectively, currently in the squad) as an understudy to Juan Pablo Carrizo—the 24-year-old Lazio No. 1, who himself only has four caps for his country.
The problem for Speroni, however, is that Palace currently are not doing well enough domestically to bring widespread attention to his ability. Presently sitting 19th in the league, you imagine that the Eagles will have to become entrenched in the play-off spots before Argentina's manager, Alfio Basile, will even consider Speroni’s credentials.
Not yet 30, Speroni doubtless won’t begin to worry about his fading international hopes for a couple of seasons yet. He still has plenty of time to achieve all his ambitions with Palace, as long as Warnock can solve the team’s defensive woes.
If he can’t, though, you don’t imagine their will be a lack of Premiership suitors waiting in the wings. Good goalkeepers are hard to come by—after all, if Paul Robinson is a Premiership and international goalkeeper, Palace’s No. 1 certainly is.
Eagles fans know this all to well. Which is exactly why they won’t shout too loudly about it.
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