Do Crystal Palace fans secretly want their club to be more like Brighton?

Scott McCarthy, of wearebrighton.com, explores the key differences between the two rivals ahead of Monday night's showdown
Roy Hodgson has received plenty of criticism from Palace of late after a poor recent runRoy Hodgson has received plenty of criticism from Palace of late after a poor recent run
Roy Hodgson has received plenty of criticism from Palace of late after a poor recent run

Brighton host great rivals Crystal Palace at the Amex and it is hard to think of a Seagulls versus Eagles game which has taken place in the recent past when the Albion have come into it in such good health compared to their arch rivals.

Graham Potter’s side are unbeaten in six Premier League games, their best run in the top flight since 1981. Included in that little sequence are victories over Spurs and Liverpool and only one goal has been conceded.

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After a difficult first half of the 2020-21 campaign, everything seems to have clicked since the turn of the year.

Palace, in contrast, find themselves in disarray. They lost 3-0 at home to Burnley at the weekend and Roy Hodgson named only seven substitutes out of a possible nine.

A large proportion of their supporters have had enough of Hodgson and the club doing nothing other than treading water each season; too good to go down but with no idea of how to progress into being a side who can regularly finish in the top 10.

Eight years into their current spell as a Premier League club and things at Selhurst Park look staler than a month-old loaf of Hovis.

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Palace’s trip to the Amex therefore has the look of a home banker, to outsiders anyway. Secretly, I expect there are a lot of Brighton fans like myself who are fully expecting Brighton’s new-found form to completely desert them when it matters most.

Years of experience ingrains this into you. What would be more Brighton than going six games undefeated and recording five clean sheets in that time, only to then go and leak two goals against a dreadful Palace side?

Should the predictable happen and Palace be the opponent who end Brighton’s mini-run, then it will not be the end of the world. 90 minutes of football does not detract from the massive difference in prospects between the two clubs currently.

Speak to a Palace fan and they will reel off a list of complaints about their club. There is no long-term plan at board level for becoming more than a side who just survives every season. They want a manager with a more attacking, expansive outlook than the solid-if-unspectacular Hodgson.

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They want the players excelling in their good academy sides to be given a chance in the first team. A particular bone of contention on that point is Hodgson not naming a full complement on the bench.

He may not have enough senior professionals to fill the positions, but there is no excuse for not using that opportunity to give development squad players experience of the first team environment.

And finally, they want an overhaul in transfer policy. Rather than chucking big wages at older players who only go to Selhurst for a payday, they want Palace to sign some of the best exciting youngsters who will pull on the red and blue with a point to prove.

Players like that will make Palace a good side and then they can be sold for vast profit, strengthening the club’s financial position. Who knows, that new Main Stand at Selhurst (which looks suspiciously like the Amex’s West Stand) might even get built one day.

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When you hear what Palace fans want their club to become, the first conclusion is that they are entirely sensible suggestions. The second conclusion is that they essentially want their club to become… Brighton & Hove Albion.

No Palace fan would ever admit that, of course. But Tony Bloom has publicly stated that he wants to turn the Albion into a top 10 Premier League side and the way it will be done is by hovering up young players from across Europe and turning them into individuals who can excel in the Premier League.

Brighton have one of the youngest squads in the top flight as a result and Potter’s style of football – when it works – can be a joy to watch. The Albion should be inundated with offers for the likes of Yves Bissouma and Ben White this summer, if they are sold it will be for massive fees.

There is already a clear line of succession – Jakub Moder and Moises Caicedo to replace Bissouma, Matt Clarke, Leo Ostigard, Haydon Roberts to replace White - which means Brighton are well stocked to cope with the departure of their best players. Compare that to Palace, who would be nailed-on for relegation without Wilfried Zaha.

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The Albion might lose to their great rivals in the 145th meeting between the sides on Monday night. Look at the long-term picture though, and Brighton are miles ahead of Palace.

Only twice in the past 35 years have Seagulls finished higher than Eagles, in the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons. The second of those was completely undone by defeat in the playoff semi finals as Palace won promotion to the Premier League.

That will surely change soon. Brighton look to be on the up, Palace do not seem to be going anywhere.

Crystal Palace fans want their club to become the next Brighton & Hove Albion. Praise of what is happening at the Amex currently does not come any higher than that.