Deadline day is over. The calm returns after the storm. I sit amongst a dozen writers from Palace fan sites ruminating about the deals that did and did not happen, preparing to meet a man who knows more than most about the chaos it can bring. Joe Ledley.
The Welsh international joined Crystal Palace from Celtic in a deadline day deal in February 2014, but a year on is enjoying far more relaxed circumstances. Settled at Selhurst Park now, over a coffee and baked goods we got to know the man himself at the Neteller Ledley Live event.
Having already played in an FA Cup final for Cardiff and the Celtic side that famously defeated Barcelona, Ledley has become an integral player for Palace. The Eagles have been excellent since the arrival of Alan Pardew, gaining 10 points from five Premier League games to move clear of the relegation zone.
We’ll get to that, whilst discussing the Welsh mafia at Palace, Yaya Sanogo’s dress sense and Ledley’s international exploits.
Firstly we must start by asking – how do you maintain that magnificent beard?
I go to a grooming place in central London and I’ve got a few oils to put on it to keep it trim – I’ve got more hair on my chin than my head at the moment! I thought it was going to end on 1st January but had a vote on twitter and the majority wanted to keep it so we’ll get to the end of the season and see.
What was moving from Palace to Celtic on deadline day like?
It was probably the most stressful thing in my life. I didn’t know what I was doing whether I was coming or going – it was a big decision to make within a few hours. I made the right decision playing in the Premier League – it’s the best league in the world.
So you would place it above La Liga and The Bundesliga?
I think it is the best, I think you’ve got better players in La Liga with Messi, Ronaldo and Bale so players wise it is brilliant but the sheer love for the game, the broadcasting and publicity, everything means the Premier League is the best.
Have you ever thought about playing abroad?
Before I signed for Celtic I got linked with a few clubs in Italy, Spain and Russia but it’s different when you have family and friends. Hopefully I will spend as much time as possible in the Premier League- though you never know what will happen when you are older you have to put family first.
So will you take some time out when your career ends?
I think I will have some time out of football for at least a year. I started playing at a very young age and football is great but I’ve never had a Christmas at home with my family, never got out of bed and had family time. Then I’ll just get bored and hopefully do my badges and get into football because even if it’s just the academy I’d love to do that.
More immediately, what do you believe Palace can achieve in the next few years?
When I signed I believed in our squad and I knew we would stay up with the manager, players and belief we had. The second year is always harder and hopefully this year we can stay up and just keep improving, and be a Stoke in staying in the Premier League for years to come. That’s what the fans want, and hopefully one year we can make Europe.
On Europe, how was being involved in the Champions League and beating Barcelona?
It’s the best competition in the world with the best teams in the world and luckily I had the chance to do that, to make the last 16 of the Champions League was a great honour and to beat Barca was the icing on the cake. To be on the same pitch as Messi, Iniesta and to hold our ground and win the game was fantastic for us.
Who was the toughest opponent you faced in midfield from those experience?
There’s a lot of players like Xavi who I couldn’t get anywhere near. In terms of being physically tough. Pogba was good, he was up for a battle. He was very good at Juventus – it’s always good when you have players who are willing to fight like that, so Pogba.
What has Alan Pardew changed to create this upturn in results since arriving?
When I arrived we had Tony (Pulis) and never really had much of the ball possession wise, same with Neil Warnock and if you look at recent games our possession has been higher. He (Pardew) wants us to play more football and play in the right way, get it down and play through midfield which is great for myself. The more of the ball you have the higher chance you have of winning.
Relaying the pitch must have helped this change of style?
Yes especially with the new manager now possession has been higher than before, you see at the beginning of the season the pitch was not in a playable state at all. People could have got serious injuries on it with ankles turning etc – it has allowed us to do much better with the ball.
What do you think went wrong under Neil Warnock?
We went through that run being undefeated for a few games but couldn’t get that win, he’s got to be unlucky because we were grinding out performances but not getting that win. For instance we were 2-0 up at West Brom then they get that goal that was clearly a free-kick on Jules (Speroni) and we end up missing three points away from home.
What was you say is the best atmosphere from your time at Palace?
Even though we didn’t win, I think Liverpool at home, especially being 3-0 down. Many people didn’t fancy us and just thought ‘keep it down-not 5 or 6’ and especially being our last home game, it was a sell-out. All of a sudden when that one goal went in you could feel the home stadium lifting and to get it to 3-3 was a fantastic achievement. It was a great atmosphere and a great occasion.
Celtic vs Rangers must have been… (Ledley interrupts)
It was unbelievable, we used to do a huddle before the game. You couldn’t hear a word the captain was saying when he was a yard away, it was loud. It was shaking – those are the games you always want to play in and it was a great honour.
On big occasions, what was the FA Cup semi-final and final experiences like with Cardiff?
A fantastic occasion and it was the winner to put us on the way to the final and we are still in that and hopefully we can do it here. The hunger is there, those are the best days of your life, those are the days you remember – the occasion of the final, even though we lost.
If Palace were in the cup final, penalty shoot-out time, who are your five takers?
It’s got to be Mile (Jedinak), he does well, then Gayley, Muzza (Murray) is good aswell, I might even put my mate Hennessey in and I’ve got an 100% record (3 from 3) so myself.
Have the Palace fans surprised you in terms of how loud they are?
I was shocked at the atmosphere when I came here especially in the game against Liverpool, last home game of the season it was electric, I saw that at Celtic but I didn’t expect to see it down here as well. To be here is a fantastic honour, the supporters have been great here at Selhurst Park, I think they are probably the best in the PL.
You must be delighted with the support they have given you?
I have always respected the fans and they pay a lot of money to come and watch you play, you have to respect that and hopefully I have the same feeling with the fans here as I did at Cardiff and Celtic. The fans here have welcomed me from day one so I will always remember that.
Is there a Welsh mafia at Palace?
We’re taking over! Especially last season when we had Gabs (Danny Gabbidon) here too. It’s like a club when you meet up with Wales it’s a great feeling, we didn’t have that not many years ago so all of a sudden we are all long, have a bit of experience and are tight as a unit. When you meet up and you go away for 10 days you rely on your family to have a laugh with and mix around with is great.
How do you see the upcoming Welsh trip to Israel?
It’s massive – we’ve had a great start, we’re second in the group, one point behind them but away. We have a strong squad and you can never know in football so we just have to hope that it’s our time to qualify. I don’t think we will ever have a better chance.
Do you think the squad depth could survive an absent Gareth Bale?
I think there is not long ago against Scotland Gareth went off injured when we were behind and little Johnny came on, did great and we won. Obviously you want Gareth in the team because he’s a world-class player but in the squad now there’s a lot of us playing in the Premier League with plenty of experience for such a young age, so I think we would cope.
When did you first see Bale and what were your thoughts?
I remember seeing him on TV and then met up with him for the Welsh squad and it you could just see that he had something special. The more he went to Spurs and gained experience he reached the next level, he was quick and just had everything.
Is he the best player in the world for you?
Gareth will not like me saying this but for me I’d go for Messi.
With the big issues addressed all things Crystal Palace are delved into, starting naturally with what captain Mile Jedinak brings to the Eagles…
He’s a great captain, great leader and great player for us, he’s been fantastic this season and when he went away he’s won a tournament with his country. Everyone looks up to him – his discipline on and off the pitch is great.
Julian Speroni is another leader at Palace, thoughts on his testimonial year?
Everyone at the club looks up to Jules, with his age as well to keep going the way he is has been remarkable, playing at the highest level. It’s a great achievement and he’s a great stop stopper who has still got it for me. It feels like he can just keep going for years to come – he’s been brilliant since I’ve been here.
Who is the worst dressed?
There’s a few, Sanogo has come in and he has been awful his dress sense has been shocking. He will try and wear tracksuit bottoms but with a smart tracksuit and running trainers and it just doesn’t go, but I won’t tell him to his face though!
Who are the best skills merchants at Palace?
It’s out of Wilf (Zaha) and Bolaise, there just at it all training session trying to get as many megs as they can, trying loads of tricks, we just let those two get on with it. Punch is good, he has some skills too, so those three.
Glenn Murray comes across as a bit grumpy often, is he always like that?
That’s just him in general life, to be fair me and Muzza get on we have a bit of a laugh but I can understand why people think he’s grumpy. To be fair you just need to get into him, give him a bit of banter but ye he is quite miserable!
Have any of the outfield players tried their hands in goal?
Wayne (Hennessey) fancies himself outfield – he thinks he can do a better job than me in midfield but they don’t let us in so we don’t get injured. When he’s on the ball he actually seems like an outfield player as he’s so casual with the ball at his feet.
Who is the best trainer?
Since I’ve joined I’d say it’s the hardest I’ve probably ever seen a group of boys work off the pitch we are in the gym, professional, everyone always wants to some more. I think Wardy (Joel Ward) is a good pro so I will say him.
Who do you play as when on FIFA?
I used to be mad with FIFA but with the little one (his child) running around now I don’t have time for it anymore, but I would be Barcelona.
Last but not least, have you tried to start a trend for beards at Palace?
I’m trying to make as many of them grow beards as possible, but I don’t think many of their wives and girlfriends are having it. Mile is finally growing his back so I think there could be a good few beards going on. Hennessey is trying but can’t do it – hopefully we can get a few more out there.
Amen to that, Premier League survival and some great beards, what more could one want? The midfielder and his beard have been great company at the Neteller Ledley Live event at Selhurst Park.