Dougie Freedman hopes his Crystal Palace side is not 'dismantled' during transfer window

Simon Johnson
25 Jan 2012

Crystal Palace boss Dougie Freedman today pleaded with the board not to cash in on the club's young starlets after their dreams of reaching the Carling Cup final were ended by Cardiff.

Palace, who went into the second leg of their semi-final with a one goal advantage, went behind through an Anthony Gardner own goal after just seven minutes and while they managed to not concede again, Freedman's side lost in agonising fashion 3-1 on penalties.

The transfer window closes next Tuesday and with the club missing out on the extra £1m jackpot of reaching Wembley, bids for Nathaniel Clyne and Wilfried Zaha from Premier League clubs are expected to be lodged.

Palace chairman Steve Parish told Standard Sport earlier this month that Clyne will go either in this window or the next, while several sides are interested in Zaha even though he has recently agreed a new five-and-a-half year contract.

But Freedman wants his team kept together so that they can try and make a run for promotion now that the Carling Cup isn't a distraction.

When asked by Standard Sport if he was confident that his best players will still be at the club when the window shuts, he said: "That's the big question I'm going to be asked and it is what I'm hoping for. We are on a tight budget, we work hard for each other I would be disappointed if my team was dismantled, but unfortunately it's not my decision.

"What will be will be in the next four or five months. We will try and climb the table. This cup run has dampened our results in the league, but we have a lot to look forward to. We have come a long long way in a short amount of time and I'm proud of the players."

Palace, who had to play the last 50 minutes, including extra time, with 10 men after Paddy McCarthy was sent off, appeared to pay the price for comments Freedman made in the lead up to the match which claimed Cardiff were 'scared stiff of failure' because of defeats in the play-offs and an FA Cup Final in recent years.

Cardiff dominated from the outset and the atmosphere was intense, with the home crowd singing dismissive songs about the Eagles boss throughout.

But Freedman insists his actions weren't a factor in the defeat and added: "Whatever was said before the game was maybe taken out of context. I can only control what my players do and we were prepared and up for the challenge. We came very close.

"No (I don't regret it). I was only stating the facts and what had happened in the past. I wasn't making anything up. I was only telling my lads what they could go and do.There are no regrets at all. I knew it would be a tough task and I wish Cardiff all the best in the final.

"My players were (in tears) after the game and there was a lot of disappointment. They were really down in the dressing room. It is disappointing in the short term but we can take a lot from this in the long term.

"I told them afterwards that that is what happens in life, never mind the football field, you have to respond to whatever is put in front of you and we will do."