CollinsBeans BIG end of season review 2012/13: Part 1

With Kevin Phillips firing home from 12 yards (not the first self indulgent Crystal Palace reference that will be made), it brought to a close another dramatic and unsurprisingly controversy filled ten months across 2012/13. From biting to Bale and from Van Persie to vorsprung durch technik, this is CollinsBeans definitive review of the season that was. 

“To boo, or not to boo...that is the question”

In football, as in life, people get frustrated when things aren't going their way: anger is a natural emotion. What's more, if we lived in a world of never ending support and blind loyalty people could quite happily coast along, things can stagnate. Without criticism, how would anyone ever be held to account? As ever, it’s how we chose to voice opinion that is crucial: criticism should be constructive rather than abusive.

Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics: formulas and formations in modern football

Stats can be used to ‘prove’ anything but football’s obsession with facts and figures threatens to kill all the individuality of the beautiful game

Retro rant: Worth it for a bag of crisps

The news this week that Crystal Palace are set to invest again in their vaunted academy to improve the facilities to achieve ‘category one’ status to protect their home grown players reignited some passionate thoughts we’ve had on the subject. Check out this trip down memory lane (originally posted July 2008) for thoughts on young players and how smaller clubs get a raw deal   

You're not wanted here

Is it right or wrong for the Chelsea fans to be driving Benitez out?

The King is dead. Long live the King.

Saturday’s return of Crystal Palace legend Dougie Freedman may have opened a few raw wounds, but ultimately proved that the club moves forward with all of its support firmly behind Ian Holloway  

The BIG Debate: When is an advantage NOT an advantage?

Manchester City’s opening goal against Arsenal today caused controversy for the fact that City were deemed to have had their cake and eaten it. Should they have had a free kick after advantage had been played? If the game wants to see attacking play rewarded then they should.    

Famous 5ive: Magic of the Cup

Third Round weekend is meant to be special, but is that still the case? Here are five potential ways to help bring back the magic of the cup when ultimately money talks  

More than just a game

Crystal Palace’s 3-0 victory over Brighton meant way more than just 3 points

Best in the world?

With Chelsea set to jet off to the other side of the world this week, we take a retro look at the Club World Cup, and it’s interesting to note that problems with the tournament identified by us way back in 2008 still hold weight going into this year’s edition

A short review – A Life Too Short: The Tragedy of Robert Enke

Some brief thoughts on Ronald Reng’s thought-provoking book

Cult Hero: Wilfried Zaha

"Potential-wise Wilfried represents the biggest talent to come from the Palace youth system...He is probably the best prospect we [Palace] have had in terms of what he could go on to achieve."

Gunning for what?

How Arsenal’s confusing strategy has turned them into a caricature of themselves

Has football got its priorities right?

No one likes to see a dive, but is it really the worst thing happening in the game?

Anger Management

Modern football is the world of instant outrage; everyone is angry and upset about EVERYTHING. The worrying thing is though, that while people get wound up about the smallest things, they seem to miss the bigger picture

We are all just Kean to move on...

It's fair to say that Steve Kean's reign at Ewood Park could be described as somewhat tumultuous, but where Blackburn go from here is vitally important to seeing if fans can rediscover their connection to the club. Rovers fan Gareth Thomas takes you through his thoughts on the way forward

Brits on Tour

Friend of the Blog, Gareth Thomas guests on CollinsBeans to give us the low down on just why some Brits tend to reach for their passports and why perhaps more of them should. Come inside to join him and Danny Dichio on a whistle stop tour of Brits abroad.

Behind enemy lines

Games against your local rivals can make or break a season, as Crystal Palace are hopefully finding out

CollinsBeans Champions League Preview 2012/13

Yes, its back, the big one – the tournament they all want to win. CollinsBeans provides you with all you need to know and a handy cut out and keep guide to this season’s Champions League. What are you waiting for? Come in and see...

Reasons to be (slightly more) cheerful

Some bright new signings, a change in ideology and of course three points – the season starts here for Crystal Palace!