I quite enjoyed this, from today's Fiver
AT LEAST THEY TRIED
Crystal Palace have always had progressive tendencies. Often this has been manifest in the club’s clobber: the modernist CP logo of the early 70s; the time they wore their numbers on their sleeves; the white shirt with iconic blue-and-red diagonal sash. Other times it becomes apparent in their style of play, as anyone who recalls the fun side built by Terry Venables back in the day will attest. No doubt the fact that the self-styled Team of the Eighties got themselves relegated from the top flight in 1981 and didn’t get back until 1989, the entire decade they were supposed to define having passed them by, will be painted by some as hubristic failure on an epic scale. But only by cynics whose price-to-value ratio is all out of whack. At least Palace aimed for the stars. At least they tried.
More:
Crystal Palace to appoint Roy Hodgson after sacking Frank de Boer
That frontier spirit never dies, and this summer Palace took another brave new direction, this time deciding to turn themselves into English football’s answer to Ajax. It was the only logical progression after the Tony Pulis, Alan Pardew and Sam Allardyce eras. But sadly, grand hopes have once again turned to dust in short order. Having given their ambitious root-and-branch project nearly 370 minutes once you factor in stoppages, the plug has been pulled on manager Frank de Boer, whose 77-day, four-game reign, literally pointless in more ways than one, makes transient Charlton sensation Les Reed look like the lovechild of Lord Ferg and Guy Roux.
De Boer could be forgiven for wondering what the hell just happened back there, and whether he’d have been given a little more time had Christian Benteke not blasted over at Anfield from six yards, or if Scott Dann managed to score at Burnley yesterday by guiding the ball home from tap-in range with the top of his confused face. But Palace couldn’t wait forever for results to improve, and so they’ll replace the only man to win four consecutive Dutch titles with a bloke whose career highlights consist of losing the 1997 Euro Vase final, losing the 2010 Euro Vase final, signing Paul Konchesky for Liverpool, and going on a lovely boat trip down the Seine because it’s only Iceland next.
Some may argue that the imminent appointment of Mr Roy demonstrates a lack of joined-up thinking, especially as chairman Steve Parish was active on social media atrocity Twitter last night, calling for “some sense” and for everyone to “stick together”, what with the season being just four matches old. But as far as The Fiver’s concerned, this episode is yet another commendable example of how Palace are always thinking, always looking forward, always prepared to bravely explore another new avenue. And at least they’re trying!
I thought we played well at Burnley if one of our chances had gone in 
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