[LincolnCanary]

Helginho, on Jul 11 2007, 02:10 PM, said:

This is a very good story. You've done very good at Norfolk, and it looks like you'll continue your good work in London. Though I don't like Palace, I wish you best of luck for you spell there!

Thanks!

I was quite gutted when this actually happened in my game. I'd just sold off a player I'd been nurtering long term to Chelsea for close to £15mil when as I was planning what to do with the cash, the take over occured and I got the sack!

The game is going really well, though, and can't wait to get around to the signing I've just made in the game! That's a bit down the line though.

[LincolnCanary]

Tates first transfer dealing as manager of Crystal Palace actually went very smoothly. Enquiries with West Ham brought back an initial price of £425k. Sitting in the board room attached to the manager's office, Tate and Kit Symons decided whether to proceed with the transfer.

"Well, what have we got that can match him? He's got Premiership experience at West Ham and his Championship experience with Preston is pretty invaluable to us" offered Kit.

"Not to mention his attacking ability; he's got more flair than even some of our wingers".

Nodding, slowly, Tate agreed. He was worth pursuing. "Okay. Put a bid of £325k in. That's close to a sixth of our transfer budget, but as you say he'll be well worth it".

The bid went in. Whether it would be accepted, though, was another matter.

[LincolnCanary]

Tuesday 8th December

The one thing Tate was proud of in his work was his continued efforts to improve his current squad of players on the training ground. He prided himself in pushing his team to the limit; a trait which sometimes earnt him the contempt of the playng staff he had at the club.

As he watched his players playing a training match, Kit Symons approached and introduced him to Tyrone Mears. West Ham had obviously accepted the club's bid for the right back, and he had arrived to discuss personal terms.

"Tyrone! Good to see you. Have you seen the facilities we have to offer? I was impressed when I looked around!".

Tyrone nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Mr Tate. I'm hopeful we can come to some deal quickly. I think Palace could be a good move for me".

Turning training over to Kit Symons, Tate took Mears and his agent into his office. He was expecting high wage demands from a player used to Premiership football. Instead, his demands were near reasonable, only wanting a guarentee of first team football. In an hours worth of what he called light negotiation, he put pen to paper. Tyrone Mears became the first of Alan Tate's signings at Crystal Palace.

He would join the club on January 1st, 2010 when the transfer window opened.

This post has been edited by LincolnCanary: 11 July 2007 - 10:36 PM

[_cruel_]

I'm really enjoying your story.. really... Frequent and quality updates... KUTGW

[LincolnCanary]

_cruel_, on Jul 12 2007, 07:41 AM, said:

I'm really enjoying your story.. really... Frequent and quality updates... KUTGW

Thank you

[LincolnCanary]

Thursday 10th December

"Yeah, Mum," Tate spoke into a mobile phone, shaking his head. "Of course Mr Jordan is treating me well. Yes I know he comes across as a bit of a numpty - but he's a great chairman, Mum!" It was then that Kit walked through the door, carrying a video tape. Tate flashed him a look of desperate thank you, an excuse to stop speaking with his meddlesome mother. "Listen, I've really got to go. No Mum, my Assistant is here with a video we need to analyse. Yes, I'll come visit real soon. Bye!".

"Thank God for you!" Alan exclaimed, smiling to Kit.

"I'm sure she's not that bad," teased Kit, handing him the tape.

"What's this?"

"This is a video of all the loanees we've got out. There's only three; Ryan Hall, to Mansfield, Victor Moses to Gillingham and Pettra Kingford at Morton".

"Are any of them good enough to make it here?"

Kit considered for a moment. "I don't think so. Although you may think different".

Spinning on his office chair, Kit opened the cabinet directly behind to reveal a tv, video suite. It was quite an expensive set up, by the look of it, and Kit whistled in appreciation. "Can it get the Jeremy Kyle show?"

Smirking, Tate left that question unanswered as he began watching the clips of Ryan Hall.

Hall was a left winger with great technical ability. He's got a superb cross and equally excellent ability at dribbling, but his composure and stamina really let him down. He didn't appear to have alot of pace either, being matched on pace by a big burley right back.

Equally, Pettra Kingford had superb technical ability, but again his physical abilities let him down. His strength or rather lack of would make him very vulnerable in this division.

Finally, we came to Victor Moses. Nearly switching off, Tate was sure this was going to be another player technically gifted but physically not so. Instead, Tate watched Moses get the ball passed to feet, and incredibly round a defender with an amazing turn of speed and ability on the ball. He made a powerful low shot to the goalkeeper's right that would've bested most, but this keeper was on form, and managed to get down to bat it aside.

Equally, another moment of brilliance saw Moses play a neat one-two for his partner to get in and score the first of Gillingham's goals.

Tate's mouth was open by this point. It was clear that Moses was an incredible talent; and most importantly shouldn't be out on loan. Watching him dribble from half way to round the left back and slot the ball in the net to make it 2-0, Tate asked Kit whether he had a recall clause in the loan. When he replied positively, Tate said, "Get him back. Quick".

[LincolnCanary]

Palace Recall Youngster

Crystal Palace have today recalled youngster Victor Moses from his loan stint at Gillingham.

Moses had originally joined the Gills for a period of 3 months during late November. He had played three games, scoring four goals, before new manager Alan Tate decided to recall him.

Moses is expected to go straight into the squad for the match against Derby.

[LincolnCanary]

Apologies for the lack of updates as of late.

[LincolnCanary]

BIG MATCH PREVIEW

Crystal Palace have recalled striker Victor Moses for their match this weekend against Bournemouth at the Fitness First Stadium. However, he is expected only to make the bench after two superb performances by both Clinton Morrison and Shefki Kuqi against Barnsley.

Both Bournemouth and Crystal Palace go into the tie without injuries and both are expected to field unchanged sides after Bournemouth defeated Southampton 1-0 live on Sky Sports.

[LincolnCanary]

Moses Performs Miracles!

Bournemouth 0 - 2 Crystal Palace

In a match where Tim Krul produced an excellent performance to secure Palace with the three points, the headlines will surely go to recently recalled youngster Victor Moses, who repaid his manager's faith in him by scoring one and setting up the other.

Moses picked up on a loose clearence from a Crystal Palace corner to float the ball into the penalty area for defender Darren Ward to head home in the 59th minute. Up until then, the match was an even affair with both goalkeepers making some crucial saves.

The young Palace striker then sealed the game for Palace with an astoudning individual effort, using his pace and skill to round a helpless Kevin McNaughton in central defence and slot the ball beyond keeper Colin Doyle. His efforts deserved the goal, and manager Alan Tate was said to be praising Moses to the rooftops after the match.

However, the plaudits must also go to young keeper Krul. His efforts in the second half when Bournemouth appeared to be getting back into the match saved Palace from conceeding. In one such effort, Krul managed a diving, one handed punch to save an almost certain goal in the opening minutes of the game. While Moses performance will set Palace fans talking, Krul's performance should not go unnoticed.

Palace fans will be eagerly anticipating news about star winger David Vaughan. Vaughan was carried off after only twenty minutes after going down clutching his right leg. It is suspected some muscle damage has been done and Vaughan could face a spell on the sidelines.

Sides

Bournemouth: Doyle (6), Butterfield (7), Jacobson (7), McNaughton (6), Craig (6), Clingan (6), Platt (7), Kay (6), Macauley (7), Pittman (7), Murphy (7)

Subs: Saarelma (7), Keogh (7), Hamilton (6)

Crystal Palace: Krul (8), Doumbe (7), Hammell (7), Doherty (8), Ward (7), McAnuff (7), Vaughan (6), Soares (7), Watson (8), Moses (8), Kuqi (7)

Subs: Reich (7)

Star Man: Tim Krul - A superb individual performance that without a doubt saved Palace and earnt them the three points.

This post has been edited by LincolnCanary: 18 July 2007 - 11:24 AM

[Wilko]

Tye Mears, you have made an excellent choice :thup:

This is a good start, very good to see a mix of Reports & Narration. KUTGW

[LincolnCanary]

Tuesday 15th December 2009

Tate: "Play offs not impossible"

Crystal Palace manager Alan Tate set out his ambitions for the club today, claiming that the play offs were not beyond the club's capabilities.

"Yes, I know this sounds a little ludicrous to be saying at this time," explained Tate in an exclusive interview with the Evening Standard, "But I'm aiming for this club to be in the play offs by the time this season has finished". Palace at this point prop up the Championship being bottom of the league.

To achieve that target, Palace are going to need to pick up points against teams like Blackburn, who are this saturday's visitors to Selhurst Park in Tate's first home game of his career. "Blackburn are a great side with some Premiership class players; no doubt we're going to need to raise our game to beat them, but we're at Selhurst and I'm sure our fans will get behind us. We need them to be extra loud and give us the push we need".

A few weeks ago few would have backed Palace to do it; but off the back of two impressive victories at Barnsley and Bournemouth the fans are feeling confident; and it appears the players are too.

"You have to be confident in this game. When I came here, it was obvious the players didn't feel confident. I think I've got that back in their game now". With Palace firing on all cylinders, it's easy to see how Tate can claim he's got that back into his players.

Asked about Victor Moses, Tate sad he had seen Moses play on video, scoring two for Gillingham where he spent just two weeks. He had brought him back as quick as he could, and with Morrison getting injured, Moses was given the chance to shine. And shine he did, earning himself comparisons with former West Ham player Carlos Tevez in the process.

Finally, talk turned to the impending transfer window. With rumour spreading of West Ham fullback Tyrone Mears impending arrival, Tate would only say, "It's true one deal is pretty much wrapped up; and I'm very happy with it. But don't think it'll be the last. I'm formulating a few ideas and watching players. I'm getting an idea of who I want, and I'm really confident you'll see three or four - maybe more - new faces on their way in. You might even see a few departures!"

Few can doubt Tate's obvious love for the game and desire to do well for Palace. With this feel good factor eminating around Selhurst Park, Palace fans will be hoping for a long and prosperous reign under Tate.

This post has been edited by LincolnCanary: 18 July 2007 - 11:51 AM

[LincolnCanary]

Having done his "bit" for the weekly papers, Tate sat in his office pouring through various reports, files and contracts. With a few days to catch his breath, he wanted to examine the staff at the club and their various abilities. It was no coincidence he found this club at the bottom of the league. Of course there are many reasons for why that could be, but Tate took the opinion that one such problem was likely to be staff.

According to Kit, the club had lost it's youth manager, Paul Lowe to Everton shortly before Mick McCarthy had been sacked as manager. His replacement - Darren Hare - again installed by Mick, had so far done a very bad job. The team that had won the reserve league and U18 league the year before were both bottom of the league. Tate called him in, and offered him a mutual cancellation of his contract. Hare reluctantly agreed, knowing he would probably be released if he didn't agree. Gary Issoit, the other youth coach on the books, was similarly let go as well.

Next out of the door was the entire scouting system. Tate had read through various scouting reports and found them to be underwhelming at best. Tate was very fussy over his Scouts, and demanded a high level of commitment from his scouts. He didn't want them to view it as a bus man's holiday. Getting on the phone, Tate spent a good three hours talking with these people, politely informing them their services would not be required.

Having completed the mini staff clearout, Tate lifts the receiver on his phone and puts it to his ear. A small, male voice appears on the other end of the line. "Hello, David. Listen, I'd like you to put out a few adverts for me; I need four scouts, a fitness coach and two new youth team coaches. Would you sort the adverts out? Cheers mate!".

With that, Tate began clearing his office out of old reports, files and boxes. Meticulously going through each file, Tate spent hours and hours clearing clutter from an office. It had almost felt like the office wasn't his; that he was just a custodian for whoever was going to return sometime soon. He wanted a more personal feel to it.

Coming across one box, Tate randomly pulled a file from it, and opened it. It was a scouting file from the recent European U19 Championship. This particular file detailed the Norweigan team; a team which Tate had had his eye on while at Norwich. He remembered one player in particular who had caught his eye. Who Tate had intended to bring to Norwich in the January window. What was his name? Thomas? Terry? It had an English ring to it despite being a Norweigan name.

Scanning down the list, Tate's eyes scanned each word before settling on a particular player; a left winger. Tommy Strand. Flicking through the reports, Tate found Strand's nearer to the back. The scout had been generous; he had apparently had a bad game, getting yellow carded and struggled against Argentina's Alessio Lodi, who ironically was a young right back Tate had signed for Norwich. But the Scout had noticed a great deal of potential, and an awesome ability to dribble and cross. His pace wasn't great, but then Tate had never been one for fast wingers. The only one he had really gotten on with was Darren Huckerby.

Scanning through the report, he noticed the lad was at Lillestrom; a decent side. Would he come to Palace? Sure, he would've come to Norwich, in a heart beat, but Palace were a Championship side. At the bottom of the table. Would a young star like Strand come? Only one way to find out.

Lifting the receiver (which by now was appearing a little worn of use), Tate gave UEFA a ring which then provided him with the contact details for Lillestrom. Crossing his fingers, he made the call.

This post has been edited by LincolnCanary: 19 July 2007 - 10:06 AM

[The Skyler]

Impressive narration! I hope you are not intending to finish of with the story, this one has great potential.

[LincolnCanary]

Transfer Gossip

Palace in for Pair

Crystal Palace boss Alan Tate has placed a combined £1million bid for Norweigan U21 winger Tommy Strand and Watford's Hameur Bouazza.

Both are thought to be avaliable and will complete a move in early January.

This post has been edited by LincolnCanary: 19 July 2007 - 10:29 AM

[LincolnCanary]

The Skyler, on Jul 18 2007, 07:17 PM, said:

Impressive narration! I hope you are not intending to finish of with the story, this one has great potential.

Thanks alot. The positive comments I'm receiving are really helping.

[LincolnCanary]

BIG MATCH PREVIEW

Top of the league Blackburn Rovers are expected to field an unchanged side for the visit to bottom of the league Crystal Palace this Saturday.

However, Palace boss Alan Tate still has star winger David Vaughan and striker Clinton Morrison on the injury list. Marco Reich is expected to replace Vaughan and youngster Victor Moses is expected to maintain his so far successful strike force alongside Shefki Kuqi.

[LincolnCanary]

20th December 2009

Rovers Slip at Selhurst

Bottom of the league Crystal Palace came away with a point against top of the league Blackburn Rovers, but probably deserved all three points in a tightly contested affair.

After receiving the rapturous applause of the crowd at Selhurst Park, Tate was forced to make an early substitution as defender Darren Ward injured himself during the warm up. Right back Paul Caddis was brought on to replace him, with usual right back, Mathias Doumbe moving into a central defensive position.

The early moments of the match belonged totally to Palace who dominated possession with midfielders Tom Soares and Ben Watson dominating the midfield area. A sneaky pass out to Jobi McAnuff created an opportunity for youngster Victor Moses who was well positioned to capitalise on a pin point cross from the Jamacian wideman. Had it not been for a last minute clearence from Kevin Pezzoni, Moses would surely have had the goal at his mercy.

However, Palace fans didn't need to wait long for the goal they deserved with striker Shefki Kuqi slotting home a neatly placed cross from stand-in left winger, Marco Reich. Reich - who had received a terrific pass from on form Steven Hammell - created some space before crossing a ball to find Kuqi's head, who neatly placed the ball into the top corner.

The rest of the first half was dictated by Hammell, who continued terrorising right back Ryan Nelson. Nelson struggled the entire first half to cope with Hammell, and was clearly glad for the half time. Manager, Mike Newell, made two changes bringing off ineffectual veterens Jason Roberts and Robbie Savage for Mauricio Pinilla and John O'Shea. Blackburn went close with McCarthy on several occasions and Palace defender Mathias Doumbe was yellow carded for a harsh tackle on the big South African.

After the break, Blackburn got back into the game and dominated possession. A quick one-two between McCarthy and O'Shea released McCarthy on a surging run, which the Crystal Palace defence was simply unable to stop. McCarthy slotted the ball under Tim Krul. Matias Doumbe appeared furious with the referee, claiming the pass releasing McCarthy was well offside. Earning himself a second yellow for dissent, Doumbe was sent off sealing any hopes of Palace coming back.

Shortly after, Palace's misery continued as left back Steven Hammell was scythed down by Ryan Nelson. Nelson, who had had a rough time, was yellow carded - much to the anger of Palace manager, Tate. Tate was furious with the refereeing team, and was later said to be considering a complaint to the FA. Hammell was replaced for the final 20 minutes by Gary Borrowdale.

Overall, though, this was an excellent game between two sides very eager to get the points.

Sides:

Crystal Palace: Krul (7), Caddis (7), Hammell (8), Doherty (7), Doumbe (6 - Sent Off), McAnuff (7), Reich (7), Watson (7), Soares (7), Moses (6), Kuqi (7)

Subs: Borrowdale (7)

Blackburn: Enckelman (6), Nelson (6), Taylor (7), Pezzoni (7), Khizanishvili (7), Flamini (7), Reid (7), Savage (6), Pederson (7), McCarthy (8), Roberts (6)

Subs: Kelta (6), O'Shea (7), Pinilla (7)

This post has been edited by LincolnCanary: 19 July 2007 - 12:46 PM

[LincolnCanary]

"Referees Must Improve": Tate

After watching Palace lose a 1-0 lead to a controversial goal, having defender Mathias Doumbe sent off and losing one of his star players to injury from a reckless tackle which earnt Ryan Nelson just a yellow card, Crystal Palace manager Alan Tate came out on the attack against poor refereeing standards.

"Webster was a disgrace; he failed on every level of refereeing responsibility"

Tate conceeded that Doumbe was stupid to argue with a yellow card already to his name. However, Tate felt the goal was quite considerably offside and felt that Ryan Nelson deserved a red card for his tackle on Steven Hammell. Hammell is suspected to have broken a bone in his ankle and faces three months on the sidelines.

"McCarthy was clearly offside when O'Shea returned the ball; just watch the replays! The goal shouldn't have stood".

Tate is not so angry about the goal incident as he is the yellow carding of Ryan Nelson. "He's seriously hurt Hammell; that much is obvious. The tackle was very reckless - in the olden days, a player could be fined alot of money for tackles like that. Alot of money indeed. Instead, he's just got away with a yellow card. It's a disgrace, and I for one don't look forward to the day where Colin Webster will referee our games again".

"Referees should, above all else, protect the players. Colin Webster didn't do that, and I fully intend to complain to the FA".

Whether or not the FA will take action against either Colin Webster or Alan Tate for his outburst is unknown, but it's likely that we've not heard the last of this incident.

This post has been edited by LincolnCanary: 19 July 2007 - 12:44 PM

[LincolnCanary]

The training field looked a little bare with the injuries that had accumulated over the past week. Coming into the busy December period with left winger David Vaughan, striker Clinton Morrison, defender Darren Ward and left back Steven Hammell all out injured was not the way in which Tate had hoped to enter this period. Next up was a nasty visit by fellow strugglers Luton, on boxing day. That was just five days away.

What he needed was a loan signing. Someone to protect against further injuries, and someone to fill the holes appearing down the left wing.

He had heard that Liverpool were looking to sell attacking left back Stephen Warnock. Warnock was a player who had often been on the fringes of the Liverpool squad and had even earnt himself an England cap when he had performed particularly well some time ago.

Asking Kit to make the call to Liverpool while he watched training and oversee the negotiations, Tate turned back to training.

With Doumbe suspended on top of his injuries, his team was going to look a little patched up. McEverley would probably make his first appearence under Tate alongside Doherty in defence. His left back would probably be Gary Borrowdale, with Caddis probably continuing at right back.

In midfield, it was likely the wingers would continue to be McAnuff on the right with Reich on the left. Watson and Soares would continue in the middle. Or at least, they would've. As he thought that, things went from bad to worse; Soares went down heavily after a fairly routine challenge from one of the younger players. The physio rushed over, taking his time to assess the injury. As Tate watched anxiously, the physio stood up, turned around and shook his head in Tate's direction. That was a bad sign. Soares was going to be out for the week as well. Possibly longer.

Carl Fletcher would be his replacement. But even so, it left Palace even further stretched.

Up front would be strikers Moses and Kuqi. Morrison was getting close to returning, but Moses had scored two in three games, so even if he was fit Tate would be reluctant to replace the youngster obviously doing well.