That carelessness will have contributed to the Bristolian manager’s recent chippy mood, which was again in evidence after his team were beaten 4-1 at Stoke in their own F.A. Cup replay on Tuesday. Holloway was forcefully outspoken in his criticism of referee Anthony Taylor after the official’s first-half booking of Wilfried Zaha for diving.
Adding to the 49 year-old’s ire is the constant speculation over the Palace future of his most valued assets, Glenn Murray, Yannick Bolasie, and chiefly Zaha. After that defeat at the Britannia Stadium, Holloway was unable to suppress his frustration at having to continually field questions about his brilliant 20 year-old Ivory Coast born winger. His response to the latest enquiry about the England cap’s future was typically colourful;
‘Christ sake, write about something else. I’m sick and fed-up of reading about him (Zaha). Last Thursday didn’t help him, did it (when reports surfaced of a £12m bid from Manchester United). If it happens it happens. If it doesn’t it don’t. Try (to) get other stories.
‘And as for (the) little programme on telly where you’re counting down. Just go get a job. Get a life. However many days, and however many hours are left till this stupid, pathetic window, that forces people to have to do things. It’s not very good is it’.
Holloway’s outburst does not speak of a man who is enjoying his latest challenge. When he took the reins at Palace the side were lying 3rd in the table and in the midst of a staggering eleven match unbeaten run – eight of those being wins. This was the first time the ex-Bristol Rovers midfielder had stepped into a situation that came with expectation attached. The Eagles remain within touching distance of Hull City, and the second automatic promotion spot which is being fought over by as many as five rivals, with Cardiff City seemingly set to top the table.
Holloway has very recent experience in his previous assignment at Blackpool of living with frenzied conjecture about his key players. Just a month before he left Bloomfield Road, Holloway was warning suitors off Tom Ince, proclaiming the wideman’s talent to be equal to that of Arsenal and England players, Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Every boss wants to retain his finest performers. It is those match-winners who enhance chances of success, and in turn help to forge a managerial reputation. Nonetheless, Holloway understands as well as anybody that personal ambition will win out, as he demonstrated in moving to Selhurst Park, and five years earlier when leaving Plymouth Argyle for Leicester City – a decision he has since admitted regretting.
Freedman was the last man desperately trying to keep Zaha away from the clutches of Premier League giants, and was no less pragmatic than Holloway. Four days ahead of his defection from Palace the 38 year-old said;
‘The day will come when Wilfried is ready to leave us for the Premier League but that is not today. With a bit of luck we’ll all get there together and he won’t need to leave’.
Ultimately, Holloway and Freedman are two men steeped in football and desperate to achieve all they can. A comparison of the embryonic stages of their latest roles arguably has Freedman ahead on points. That impression could change quickly if Palace can shake off their recent tardiness and unwelcome distractions and see off the Trotters on Saturday. It would not be a shock though if Wanderers achieve their second significant win away from the Reebok in a week. The only certainty is that Crystal Palace v Bolton Wanderers will be a pulsating clash, played in front of two revved up sets of supporters crammed into one of the English game’s most antiquated but atmospheric arenas.
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