Palace to solve Chinese puzzle | Oxford Result and Reports | Team talk latest
Here is Saturday's news, slightly later than I intended. Sorry folks. Firstly, from DAVID MURRAY we have the THIS IS LONDON news... Palace act to solve Chinese puzzle ********************************** Chinese internationals Fan Zhiyi and Sun Jihai have flown home to get clearance to play for Crystal Palace - with a guarantee of a first-team place when they return. Manager Terry Venables, desperate to strengthen a defence that has leaked five goals in the opening two League games, has been impressed with the UKP1million pair in training and believes the Chinese defenders could be the answer to his problems. Palace assistant coach Terry Fenwick said: "They have both been flying in training and have settled in brilliantly." Here is a brief match report from today's match, sent in by DAVID MURRAY. From Sporting Life ------------------ Crystal Palace 2 - 0 Oxford United ****************************** Goals from Bruce Dyer and Attilio Lombardo gave Crystal Palace a comfortable two goal half-time lead against Oxford United at Selhurst Park. Palace, seeking their first win of the season, should have scored after only three minutes but Dyer finished poorly. But the warning signs were there for Oxford and two minutes later Yugoslav international Sasa Curcic laid on an inch-perfect pass into Dyer's path and the striker raced away from the visitors' stranded defence before slotting a low right foot shot past Phil Whitehead from 15 yards. Former Spurs winger Danny Hill caught Palace out on the left but he crossed poorly from the by-line with Simon Weatherstone unmarked in the goalmouth. Oxford however, were giving away too many free kicks and on 12 minutes conceded a crucial one right on the edge of the box. While keeper Whitehead was on the near post assembling his wall, Lombardo quickly curled a beauty with his right foot into the opposite corner for Palace's second. Oxford, who have had a disastrous week losing to Wolves and then Second Division Luton on Tuesday, were not making any impression and their only effort on goal in the first half hour came from Weatherstone but he shot weakly at Fraser Digby, who was playing his first game in the Palace goal. At the other end Matt Jansen should have done better when he rounded Whitehead but lost control on the by-line just as he was about to cross. But Oxford should have scored minutes before the break when Cristophe Remy's cross found Hill but his 25-yard shot was blocked by Lombardo. HT Crystal Palace 2 Oxford United 0 (c) PA Sporting Life Bookings: Crystal Palace: None. Oxford United: Robinson (72), Marsh (73), Windass (90) Sent Off: Crystal Palace: None. Oxford United: None. Referee A. P. D'Urso (Billericay) Attendance 14,827 And now from the TIMES ---------------------- Sent in by RICHARD PRESS. Chinese Whispers **************** The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) is opposing Crystal Palace's signing of two Chinese internationals, believing that the import of overseas players needs to be more rigorously controlled. The PFA's case is likely to be overruled by the Department of Employment, which is expected to grant work permits to Fan Zhiyi, 29, and Sun Jihai, 21, next week, thus breaking down the "bamboo curtain". Both defenders fulfil the Government criteria of having played in 75 per cent of their country's internationals in the last two years. The players, spotted by Ted Buxton, head of scouting at Crystal Palace and formerly in charge of the Chinese national team, are likely to find Terry Venables's training methods considerably different from in their home country. Paul Rideout was shocked to find out that the Chinese club which was buying him would only complete the deal if he finished a cross-country course in a certain time. And Gary Blissett, the former Wimbledon striker, found even life with the Crazy Gang had not hardened him to Chinese methods. "You would be staying in dormitories and they used to wake you up at the crack of dawn and send you on a long run," he said. "They would pick the team just on the basis of who were the eleven quickest. The only time you got near a ball was in matches." Richard Press. And now for ALAN JOHNSTON's TEAMTALK round-up.. Palace v Oxford *************** Dave Tuttle is unlikely to be involved in the action when Oxford United visit Selhurst Park. Tuttle is still being troubled by the thigh injury that he picked up against Torquay in the Worthington Cup ten days ago. The injury isn't responding to treatment so Andy Linighan will partner Herman Hreidarsson who is back from international duty. Simon Rodger may well displace Marc Edworthy in The Eagles midfield. Neil Shipperley is still sidelined with a wrist injury while both Marcus Bent and Dean Austin are hoping to be involved in at least part of the action. Chinese duo go home ******************* The Eagles have sent their two Chinese internationals Fan Zhiyi and Sun Jihai back home to collect their work permits. The club were told that the deals would be easier to process if the pair returned to China and, having been assured of a first team place upon their return, the duo now face an anxious wait for The department of Employment to wade through the red tape to process the applications. Deals on / deals off ******************** Palace have called off a one year loan agreement with Pablo Rodrigues after discovering problems with an old knee injury. Rodrigues has now gone back to Boca Juniors, but central defender Walter Delrio has come in his place instead. Another Boca Juniors player, 17 year old Del Bonna is also on his way to Selhurst Park for a 12 month loan spell. Eagles miss out on Badger ************************* Crystal Palace have missed out on the signing of Eastwood Town striker Glenn Kirkwood. The 21 year old has opted to join Doncaster Rovers for UKP15,000. @ IMSPORT Unfortunately, you won't yet be able to listen to any of Palace's matches live, but I think this may change. Rudiger has this for us. .."Bad news for Palace fans who listen to Capital Gold Sport on matchdays. There is no service at the moment. On the internet there is access only to Captial FM for the time being." Rudiger Schwarz And here is some news from TELETEXT.. BBC teletext reports that Doncaster Rovers have beaten Crystal Palace and Crewe to sign highly-rated 21-year-old Eastwood Town striker Glenn Kirkwood in a £15,000 deal. What i want to know is who are Eastwood Town...???..!!! Neil Burling
