Martyn Margetson was soon into his new role at the Beckenham Training Ground on Thursday morning as he took the goalkeepers for training having had the call from Sam Allardyce to join the manager’s new backroom team.
Having worked with Sam before he is looking forward to the new role following his move from Cardiff City.
“It was a massive draw obviously, we were together three and a half years at West Ham and it was a wonderful experience. Sam knows the Premier League so well with his experience and when the opportunity came up it was too good to turn down.
"I enjoy every minute of it with the lads out on the training pitch. I played in goal myself and even though not at their level it is great now to have the opportunity to be coaching them and delighted to be looking forward to working here at Crystal Palace.
The 45 year old coach has worked with Wales on the international scene and this season has moved over to the England set up, originally during Sam’s tenure and has continued under Gareth Southgate.
“Gareth has asked me to stay on which is something I am delighted about.” Said Margetson as he took a look at the keepers he will be working with here at Palace, one of those being an international he knows well.
“I worked with Wayne for seven years for Wales which was an incredible journey and know all about his game which is a plus when you join a new club. Julian Speroni and Steve Mandanda are two very experienced and quality ‘keepers, this means there is great competition for places.
Away from taking the goalkeepers he will also be getting involved with the defensive tactics and some scouting.
“I will watch a lot of videos on the opposition and see where they score a lot of their goals from and base the training week around that. Both Sam’s also ask me to get involved in on the defending side of things looking at set pieces. A club like Palace has conceded too many from those positions this season so we are going to be addressing that and in the modern day game goalkeeping coaches get involved with that as well.
“The goalkeeper sees the whole picture of the game so good communication will save you 10-15 goals a season relaying information to the defenders at set-pieces, picking up defenders and making sure they are in the right areas, that is just one area of the goalkeepers work I am looking forward to working on here at the club."