Season 76 - Are you ready?

[talisman]

Palace Casuals end-of-season report.

Palace Casuals started their 32nd season at Level 28, and were defending League Champions from their Level 27 League.

In the League, the first half of the season was reminiscent of the Level 26 'dark days', the team at times couldn't buy a win, and after the 14th Round were languishing in 11th place and looked like losing touch with those above them. The Management had decided on a gradual replacement of older and lower-Q players, but the offer of a ST/AMR from the sponsors and the appearance of a greatly-needed DC/DR in the scout list prompted a double purchase which went on to both shore up a leaky defence and increase the rate of scoring at the other end. After a win and a loss in the next two matches, Casuals went on a 9 match unbeaten run (8W1D) which saw them climb from 11th to 6th, and with a little more luck, would have seen them in a Champions League spot. The ST/AMR notched up 16 goals in 12 matches, but also forged a partnership with the other two dual-role STs on the books in a triple threat attack which were equally accomplished in both AML/AMR/ST and AMC/ST/ST formations. If this continues the Casuals should be an attacking force to be reckoned with next season.



The Champions League was an unexpected success story, Casuals defying their League form by progressing through the Group stage with only one defeat, and on to the Semi-Finals, where a defeat over two legs to the eventual winners ended their campaign.



The Cup campaign was the usual story. Surviving in the competition through the first two days was a Casuals rarity, but defeats in the next round halted them in their tracks as the realities of what was later revealed to be a Level 32 Cup bit home.

The final playing squad, statistics and Career records.



Palace Casuals Season 32 Player of the Season



...and a quick visit to /play_old for the Club History...



Trivia spot: This season was the first time Palace Casuals have finished in 6th place...