Safe Again: The Crystal Palace 2010-11 Season Review

When Crystal Palace completed a tumultuous 2009-10 campaign at Hillsborough, a 2–2 draw with Sheffield Wednesday, South Londoners thought the new season couldn’t have been any more eventful.

It became clear that was not the case.

The summer of 2010 looked very promising for The Eagles. Incoming manager George Burley promised to deliver experience and a winning attitude to Selhurst Park. Burley had experienced success at most levels of English club football, and new ownership seemed committed to an improving season from last term.

Palace was victorious in its first league match of the season, defeating Leicester 3–2 as the turmoil of a season past looked to be safely in the rear view mirror. However, a run of four consecutive losses followed and the start of another bottom-table embattled season was be underway.

In fact, Palace only collected 17 points in until the end of the year as a long winter for supporters seemed evident.

On New Years Day, The Eagles faced South London rivals Millwall at the Den. A 3–0 dominating result for the home side left Palace in the 23rd spot, deep in the second-tier relegation zone.

That standing was enough for Palace administration, as Burley was dismissed after the game. What looked to be a start-up season with the hope of eventually building a successful club capable of promotion came to a sudden halt.  In a statement a few days later, CPFC 2010 Co-Chairman Steve Parish admitted that Burley was a poor hire.

Longtime assistant manager Dougie Freedman took over caretaker manager duties.

There was no rest for the team as it had to play a vital match against fellow strugglers Preston North End on January 3. New transfer Steffen Iversen netted the only goal of the match in the second half. Freedman was victorious in his debut in a win that could be viewed as one of the most important triumphs for Palace in 2011.

Palace completed a few transfers during the January transfer window in order to strengthen their attack including the aforementioned Norwegian international Steffen Iversen and upstart Milton Keynes Dons forward Jermaine Easter.

Iversen picked up two goals in 17 appearances for Palace – albeit mostly as a substitute with the most crucial goal coming in the Preston North End matchup.

Palace became slightly better under Freedman, with the most important statistic of Palace earning points in nine consecutive home games at the start of Freedman’s takeover.

With that run, Palace would climb past Sheffield United and Scunthorpe United out of the drop zone as safety into next year's Npower Championship seemed visible. The end of the home unbeaten streak –a shocking 1–2 home defeat to Scunthorpe – endangered Palace momentarily.

The defining moment of Palace’s season was the day after Easter when the entire Championship was in action. A second minute goal by Neil Danns gave them a 1–0 victory over Leeds United all but keeping them in the division. They secured safety five days later at Hull City.

Palace supporters could breathe a sigh of relief late in the season for the second straight year. Palace finished its season with a  0–3 home defeat to Nottingham Forest. But its strong finish placed them 20th in the Npower Football League Championship ahead of Doncaster Rovers, six points safe from the drop zone.

While Danns’ goal would not take goal of the season honors, it is the one that kept them in the second tier. With that, Palace will look to improve next season perhaps looking at a mid-table finish.

The roster improvements have begun already with the signing of prolific Brighton & Hove Albion striker Glenn Murray. Freedman – now installed as permanent manager – will look to improve the roster even more as the team looks to push towards a higher finish in the Championship next season.

Key ingredients are still in place with keeper Julian Speroni and midfielder Darren Ambrose. The Eagles will also look for improvement out of youngsters Sean Scannell and Wilfried Zaha.

While Palace supporters aren't expecting a Premier League promotion clinching campaign in 2011-12, one thing they are expecting is not holding their breath until the final moments of the season.