Crystal Palace (H) Post Match Thread

[stonerblue]

A total lack of playmaker keeping the tempo up and the ball moving through the middle did for us i'd say. Can't understand why the Prince, or Foden didn't start when we had 3 centre halfs on?

 

[Scaring Europe to Death]

This kind of defeat has been on the cards for the last 3 or 4 games, with City not creating many chances, whist gifting the opposition space and time on the ball.
Last season we were focused for every game, but now we're more obsessed with Liverpool and their supposed implosion, which frankly doesn't look likely.
We need to get back to basics, rotate less, and start dominating games on the front foot.

 

[come-on-barney]

Clearly Walker had a poor game although in the first half he played a number of great balls over to the left wing one of which led to our first goal. For their first goal there were a couple of poor attempts to clear the ball before it eventually came anywhere near the Palace player that Walker was marking. The second goal was a comedy of errors before the great strike.

What gave me a headache was the continual shouting out against Walker who was getting blamed for absolutely everything that happened well before half time from some around me. Rather than getting new players I would happily make a small contribution to the club for them to buy some new "fans".

Yep, some just don’t realise Walkers role has been changed this season and he is not as comfortable with it. Presumably because if injuries. Last season the bombing on of the full backs were creating chances not so this season.

 

[Burtonblue]

Am sure yesterday’s game will have been a learning experience for Pep and the limits of rotation in the squad. Having said that it’s still a game we could have easily won had it not been for Walker’s brainless moments.
Now Danilo is fit again he should be rested for a while.
Onwards and upwards.

 

[BillyShears]

A total lack of playmaker keeping the tempo up and the ball moving through the middle did for us i'd say. Can't understand why the Prince, or Foden didn't start when we had 3 centre halfs on?

100%.

Totally baffling how Pep would want 3 CD's on against Palace. If anything we needed more ball players to make sure we could pass through them at pace.

 

[bluemoon32]

This kind of defeat has been on the cards for the last 3 or 4 games, with City not creating many chances, whist gifting the opposition space and time on the ball.
Last season we were focused for every game, but now we're more obsessed with Liverpool and their supposed implosion, which frankly doesn't look likely.
We need to get back to basics, rotate less, and start dominating games on the front foot.

Yep

 

[Gray]

We need some better luck with injuries, they are costing us dearly.

Already we have had - Bravo, Mendy, Kompany, Stones, Delph, Fernandinho, David Silva, Bernado Silva, Aguero injured at various times, not many teams could cope with that.

 

[BlueAnorak]

This kind of defeat has been on the cards for the last 3 or 4 games, with City not creating many chances, whist gifting the opposition space and time on the ball.
Last season we were focused for every game, but now we're more obsessed with Liverpool and their supposed implosion, which frankly doesn't look likely.
We need to get back to basics, rotate less, and start dominating games on the front foot.

19 chances normally gets us 4.8 goals. (1 goal per 5 chances). That would have got us a win.

 

[Nascent Blues]

A total lack of playmaker keeping the tempo up and the ball moving through the middle did for us i'd say. Can't understand why the Prince, or Foden didn't start when we had 3 centre halfs on?

Called it before the match. If there was ever a game Foden should have played it was this one. Gundogan should have played where Stones was playing and Foden should have played where Gundogan was playing. That's not hindsight; that's Pep not trusting Foden.

 

[wattle]

The more I think about yesterday's team selection, the more baffled I am! I understand Kev and Sergio not playing from the start yet, but why oh why was John Stones playing in Fern's position again? The obvious selection would be Delph in there and Zinch or Laporte at Left back. But last year against no less than Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs, Gudog has some of his best games playing there whilst Fern was suspended. I really don't understand why neither of these options was used yesterday and it could have - in the long run - cost us the title. All of us - and I have been one of them - who say Liverpool will bottle it, are beginning to look a bit stupid and 'Unitedesque' arrogant now. They aren't going away and look very strong, despite 2 of their best defenders out injured. I think Pep has now got to start trusting Foden a bit now. He's proved he can step in and keep the balance of the team. I was a bit surprised that Pep went for the old managers desperation trick of taking off defenders and midfielders and bring on all the attackers. This never works as there is no one to get the bloody ball to them. A team of Eddy, Walker, Delph, Stones, Laporte, Gungog, Bernard, Foden, Raz, Jesus and Leroy would never have ended in that outcome. Serg, Kev and Danilo could have come on and every resting and match fitness box could have been ticked. I love our Pep and he is evidently a genius, but like most geniuses he has flaws and overthinking it his weakness in my opinion. He proper messed up yesterday.

 

[Newquayblue]

I try not to be a superstitious guy, but the gods seemed against us yesterday - some totally bemusing occurrences during that game. I stand firmly behind Pep and the lads, when Stonsey gets his head around that role he'll benefit greatly, so will we and England. The knockers are screaming, "STOP, it will never work." just like they did in his first season, then end up looking like mugs when it pays off. IT'S NOT OVER YET.

 

[Marvin]

100%.

Totally baffling how Pep would want 3 CD's on against Palace. If anything we needed more ball players to make sure we could pass through them at pace.

Well D.Silva was recovering from injury, KDB was managing his return and Fern was injured but as you say we had other options.

I think Pep might be concerned about Fernandinho and was perhaps trying a potential solution to the problem i.e. Stones playing in front of back 4.

This was the main problem though. Gundogan and Stones in central midfield against a packed Palace defence. We're not going to create much with that and we didn't. Game opened up for us when KDB came on.....partly perhaps because Palace started to tire

Football is a great game. If it was easy it wouldn't be so rewarding.

We should also give credit to Palace and their excellent coach.

 

[Woody13]

There has been so much hindsight analysis on team selection suggesting Pep got it all wrong, Adrian Durham on Talksport calling it’arrogance’ Is just ridiculous! This is such a busy period and unfortunately Fernandinho can’t play every minute of every game over this period. KDB and Aguero are still not 100% fit so need to be managed, and the XI players put out yesterday should have had enough to get the three pts but it wasn’t to be.

There has been one or two indications in recent games that this kind of result may be on the cards and Palace are the kind of side where it wouldn’t surprise you if they were the ones to inflict it.

Every game over Christmas now takes on additional pressure, the Liverpool game at home is now massive.

If re regain the levels we’re capable of we should still finish top, but how we bounce back now is crucial.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

Yeah sure and Dave Ewing would have headed that clearance into the South Stand before their 2nd.

Bert would only have kept a clean sheet had Big Dave been injured and not started. But yer right, SB, had Big Dave been on where Otters was stood he wouldn't have headed it into the South Stand but onto the underside of the Palace bar and IN!!!! Jeez, those were the days!

 

[Burtonblue]

Yep, some just don’t realise Walkers role has been changed this season and he is not as comfortable with it. Presumably because if injuries. Last season the bombing on of the full backs were creating chances not so this season.

Sorry to point the obvious out but is Walker not a defender and is therefore his primary role not to defend?
He failed quite spectacularly in this department yesterday as well as giving the ball away repeatedly, frequently setting them up for counters.
He is a fantastic athlete and Pep has always said he wants his right back to be able to bomb up and down the field but I am pretty sure he expects an adequate defensive capability too.
Walker has played an awful lot of football this year without a decent break in the summer and he is showing signs of fatigue mentally if not physically.
I suspect he’s in for an enforced and much needed rest now Danilo is fit. Am pretty confident he will be back to his best after this.

 

[Marvin]

The more I think about yesterday's team selection, the more baffled I am! I understand Kev and Sergio not playing from the start yet, but why oh why was John Stones playing in Fern's position again? The obvious selection would be Delph in there and Zinch or Laporte at Left back. But last year against no less than Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs, Gudog has some of his best games playing there whilst Fern was suspended. I really don't understand why neither of these options was used yesterday and it could have - in the long run - cost us the title. All of us - and I have been one of them - who say Liverpool will bottle it, are beginning to look a bit stupid and 'Unitedesque' arrogant now. They aren't going away and look very strong, despite 2 of their best defenders out injured. I think Pep has now got to start trusting Foden a bit now. He's proved he can step in and keep the balance of the team. I was a bit surprised that Pep went for the old managers desperation trick of taking off defenders and midfielders and bring on all the attackers. This never works as there is no one to get the bloody ball to them. A team of Eddy, Walker, Delph, Stones, Laporte, Gungog, Bernard, Foden, Raz, Jesus and Leroy would never have ended in that outcome. Serg, Kev and Danilo could have come on and every resting and match fitness box could have been ticked. I love our Pep and he is evidently a genius, but like most geniuses he has flaws and overthinking it his weakness in my opinion. He proper messed up yesterday.

Good post. I think many agree with you.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

There has been so much hindsight analysis on team selection suggesting Pep got it all wrong, Adrian Durham on Talksport calling it’arrogance’ Is just ridiculous! This is such a busy period and unfortunately Fernandinho can’t play every minute of every game over this period. KDB and Aguero are still not 100% fit so need to be managed, and the XI players put out yesterday should have had enough to get the three pts but it wasn’t to be.

There has been one or two indications in recent games that this kind of result may be on the cards and Palace are the kind of side where it wouldn’t surprise you if they were the ones to inflict it.

Every game over Christmas now takes on additional pressure, the Liverpool game at home is now massive.

If re regain the levels we’re capable of we should still finish top, but how we bounce back now is crucial.

Thought that it would be this kind of game where we got turned over at home!

 

[Blue Llama]

I try not to be a superstitious guy, but the gods seemed against us yesterday - some totally bemusing occurrences during that game. I stand firmly behind Pep and the lads, when Stonsey gets his head around that role he'll benefit greatly, so will we and England. The knockers are screaming, "STOP, it will never work." just like they did in his first season, then end up looking like mugs when it pays off. IT'S NOT OVER YET.

Stones is a great CB. Why try to convert him into an average DM?

 

[Marvin]

I try not to be a superstitious guy, but the gods seemed against us yesterday - some totally bemusing occurrences during that game. I stand firmly behind Pep and the lads, when Stonsey gets his head around that role he'll benefit greatly, so will we and England. The knockers are screaming, "STOP, it will never work." just like they did in his first season, then end up looking like mugs when it pays off. IT'S NOT OVER YET.

Maybe, but in the aftermath of a home defeat there must be things we did badly.

I am just coming to terms with the fact that Liverpool are now in pole position and if you ask me we are the better side.

We were unlucky against Chelsea. Yesterday we invited problems and got them.

 

[Marvin]

Stones is a great CB. Why try to convert him into an average DM?

Fernandinho is injured and with Mendy out and Delph covering that position, there aren't many options but at KO how many blues thought that would work. I didn't, however I thought we'd get away with it.