Crystal Palace (N) - Sat 17th May, 16:30 | FA Cup Final | Pre-Match Thread

[Blue2202]

That's a pretty good team, and I'd be fairly confident we could get it over the line with that. However, it won't happen. Grealish can't even get one minute on the pitch from Guardiola? No way on earth he's being selected for this final. Also, I believe, no way Bernardo's being left out. Pep loves the running he does, and the control he brings. Also, to be fair Bernie's been not bad recently. Certainly not worse than anyone else.
If Haaland is selected alongside Marmoush that's pretty good. If he's selected instead of Marmoush, I'll be downright angry.
Phil has done nothing to merit a starting place, for weeks. If all of Gundo, Kev and Bernardo are selected then it's more or less another Porto…

I agree, as much as I'd like to see it, it wont happen. Pep seems to have a phobia of players who are mobile and can move at pace. He'll select a team suited to 'control' the game and no doubt we'll see the same monotonous side to side nonsense we saw on Saturday. Of course, I hope I'm proven completely wrong and we get an early goal, but again I have my doubts.

 

[pride in battle]

Lets hope we play like we did in the first half of the semi v Forest.

 

[youngbob]

Think we can win this. Palace won't park the bus because they can't afford to. Southampton did a good job of sticking 11 men in their own box and bided their time because all they needed was a 0-0 draw. You can't park the bus in a cup final because you'll end up losing it, so you've got to keep pushing. They will leave gaps.

I'd personally go with this:

Ederson
Nunes Dias Gvardiol O'Reilly
Bernardo Kovacic Gundogan
Marmoush Haaland Grealish

But out on the pitch it will end up more:

Ederson
Dias Gvardiol
Nunes Bernardo Kovacic O'Reilly
Marmoush Gundogan Grealish
Haaland

 

[Crooked_rain]

Wouldn't be surprised if Jack plays. Pep seemingly never fancies him much in the league but then plays him in very big games quite often

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

Wouldn't be surprised if Jack plays. Pep seemingly never fancies him much in the league but then plays him in very big games quite often

He could play because the bigger game to Pep will be Bournemouth. It wouldn’t surprise me at all to see an odd line up given the importance of the Bournemouth game.

 

[TShed]

Ederson
Nunes (can’t believe I’m saying him but he’s earned it)
Dias
Gvardiol
O’reilly
Nico G
Kovacic
Grealish
Doku/Foden
Marmoush
Haaland

However I have a bad feeling we’ll see all three of KDB, gundogan and silva start along with possibly lewis at RB. That would be a recipe for disaster but hope I’m proved wrong.

However no matter how ridiculous it is to say, Bournemouth is now the much bigger game for us going forward after the dreadful result the other day.

My biggest fear is the triumvirate starting this game
We need Fukin legs and pace
None of this bollocks about experience… the experience of surrendering last years Final is the only reference point required ( recognise Gundogen didn’t play last year)

 

[supercity88]

It would be nice going into the cup final after a big win and in plenty of confidence. Palace had a lovely warm-up playing a much changed Spurs team who use that high line we love. I don't think their tactics will be any great surprise and they showed at the Etihad how profitable it can be against us. We turned that game around but I think Glasner helped us out by taking Mateta off and leaving them toothless.

A kick up the arse is probably a better way for us to go into it. It's to make or break the season. The players have to show they want it more and not make any silly mistakes in possession.

It should be a great game for the neutral at least!

 

[alexmcity]

Why would anyone want Grealish in the team? Guess the principle is the less you play the better you become.

Maybe people want control, but then will moan about sterility.

Doku is currently better than Grealish, Foden, McAtee or Savinho. His assists have left us in the hunt for a CL place. He deserves to start as he has actually contributed in the last weeks.

The best attack would be something like Marmoush right, Doku left and Haaland centrally. Go for it from the start or else endure a dire final.

Since it's our last final with KdB in the team, he's likely to start. This means Doku and/or Marmoush won't start (which would likely be a mistake, but KdB is a legend and deserves a proper sending off.)

 

[bitterblue78]

I think we will lose this one now and the reason will be prioritising Bournemouth which Pep has already said is much more important after the draw v Southampton.

If he plays a weakened side then he should be held accountable. Could of played our best side against southampton

 

[Nevizade]

Got a feeling Akanji will start with him having played (use the word loosely) 90 minutes on Saturday. Possibly at RB so we can go to a genuine back three when O'Reilly goes forward.

 

[Lavinda Past]

I don't agree. There was a moment in the 2nd half yesterday when Haaland flicked a pass onto Kdb and we were away. It didn't result in a goal but shows me the players can do it. Pep is the most successful manager this club has ever had, maybe the best in premier league history. Yes this season hasn't been as good as others but we won't win everything every year. We may win a trophy and with luck will come 2nd. We lost the world's best player & had a ton of injuries but may still end the season respectfully. Haaland signing a 9 year deal shows me he trusts Pep & the club. Others are entitled to.an opinion but to suggest Pep needs to go is comical.

Haaland signing a 9 year deal that guarantees him close to £1m every fortnight suggests to me that our owners really do have more money than sense.

"Shows (that) he trusts Pep & the club" - Well, that's the most laughable thing I've read in months!

 

[GaudinoMotors]

Haaland in a team along with 9 elite outfield players at the top of their games = icing on the cake (as we've witnessed).
Haaland in an ageing team with less energy, not on their game and with youngsters trying to fit in = a luxury we can't carry.

 

[supercity88]

Why would anyone want Grealish in the team? Guess the principle is the less you play the better you become.

Maybe people want control, but then will moan about sterility.

Doku is currently better than Grealish, Foden, McAtee or Savinho. His assists have left us in the hunt for a CL place. He deserves to start as he has actually contributed in the last weeks.

The best attack would be something like Marmoush right, Doku left and Haaland centrally. Go for it from the start or else endure a dire final.

Since it's our last final with KdB in the team, he's likely to start. This means Doku and/or Marmoush won't start (which would likely be a mistake, but KdB is a legend and deserves a proper sending off.)

That comment about Grealish could be levelled at so many other players who have played week in week out and done fuck all.

 

[Manc Born & Bred]

Ederson should be in nets
Centre backs should be Dias and Gvardiol
Left back should be O’Reilly
Right back is a toss up between Nunes and Akanji
Marmoush should play.
The rest, who knows who Pep will go for just hope he doesn’t pick Gundo, KDB, Bernardo and Kova. Two at most.

 

[alexmcity]

That comment about Grealish could be levelled at so many other players who have played week in week out and done fuck all.

Generally yes, but Grealish is not versatile, so to put him in the team would mean to leave Doku or Marmoush out, and I struggle to see how Grealish deserves to start ahead of them (unless one proritises Bournemouth, that is).

 

[uwe rosler 28]

4 clean sheets on the trot away from home and yet many are predicting palace are gonna go to town on us. Stop eze stop palace!!

 

[Protein Junkie]

I’ve voted early as after the Southampton game I’m desperate to see a cross in the box.

 

[Keepingthefaithsince1976]

Haaland signing a 9 year deal that guarantees him close to £1m every fortnight suggests to me that our owners really do have more money than sense.

"Shows (that) he trusts Pep & the club" - Well, that's the most laughable thing I've read in months!

Well I'm glad that I gave you a laugh mate...it is the best medicine after all.

 

[alexmcity]

Pep is the most successful manager this club has ever had, maybe the best in premier league history.

Best in history full stop.

At least one can make a pretty good case for it.

Wanting to get rid of a manager of such quality after a season marred by injuries is demented.

 

[supercity88]

Generally yes, but Grealish is not versatile, so to put him in the team would mean to leave Doku or Marmoush out, and I struggle to see how Grealish deserves to start ahead of them (unless one proritises Bournemouth, that is).

I'd start all three. Use full backs for width and have Doku and Marmoush looking to attack the space between their full back and CBs to create more room. Grealish is so good at drawing players onto him to create room for others so I'd use him more centrally.