FORGET FANCY STYLES, GET US UP THE TABLE

De Boer told to ignore Barca and Ajax approach to keep Palace safe

FRANK DE BOER has been told he has one big job at Crystal Palace – to reduce the stress the club’s supporters have been forced to suffer.

Eagles fans have had their fair share of drama and tension down the years and chairman Steve Parish admits “they got away with it” when they dodged the drop once more last season. He reckons new boss De Boer, the eighth permanent manager of his seven-year reign, is the man to steer Palace into calmer waters. His main aim is to establish Palace as Premier League regulars, rather than get them to play fantasy football like his former clubs Ajax and Barcelona. Parish said: “We’ve been in the bottom three two seasons running for home form and sooner or later that is going to catch up with us. “We got away with it last season, make no mistake. Beating Chelsea away was a pretty lucky victory. Wins over Arsenal and Liverpool were deserved but you won’t do that every year. “We need to build a cushion and Frank’s No.1 brief is to reduce anxiety for me and the supporters. The stress is almost unbearable. But it is our job to see through those moments and to steer us away from danger.” De Boer is relishing the challenge laid down by Parish. The Dutchman said: “It is an exciting project – to be a solid club in the Premier League, not to struggle against relegation. “There is a lot to lose and there is a lot to gain.” De Boer, Palace’s Chosen One from an initial list of 37 potential managers, has also been charged with developing Palace youngsters and improving playing style. Both targets fit nicely with his own philosophy, which is heavily influenced by his days at Ajax and Barcelona and by late Dutch great Johan Cruyff. De Boer said: “I will give young players the opportunity when they are good enough. “Ajax is famous for the academy and I want that here. It’s important for the DNA of the club – that the fans know that ‘this is my hometown boy’ like Wilfried Zaha. “Ajax is of course famous for Total Football when Cruyff started in the 70s with Rinus Michels. “So it’s in our DNA to try to play tactical and technical football – to try to dominate but also know when to think defensively. “If we can’t dominate, we have to be very compact. “In the Barcelona time of Pep Guardiola, everybody was involved with attacking but also with defending. That’s what I want to bring to this club. “If we have the right spirit then it can happen very quickly.”

Frank’s No.1 brief is to reduce the anxiety levels for me and the fans

PASS THE STRESS TEST De Boer aims to keep Palace well clear of any relegation battle in the forthcoming season MANAGEMENT is a hairy experience. Just look at Antonio Conte, Frank De Boer and Jurgen Klopp – all have had hair implants. New Palace boss De...