Crystal Palace (H) - Post-Match Thread

ChicagoBlue said:
Off the boil, front to back. Palace played a smothering game and packed the danger zone whenever we created any, which wasn’t that often.

Ederson: Thought he should have done better with the first goal. No chance on second. One good save at near post.

Walker: Looked like ge was trying too much and getting caught out at times. Good cover at the back for their pace, but distribution was poor.

Cancelo: Way off his usual performance. Some abysmal balls into the box that were Row Z material. Got caught out defensively a few times.

Dias: Concerning that he goes to ground so quickly. Think coaches and players know they can sit him down now. His pace was a concern against their pacy attackers.

Laporte: Stinker. With two strikers pushing up on him and Dias, any loose ball was going to cause problems…so he played one! Allowed himself to be conned by Zaha on the red card. As last man, should have EITHER got the ball or dropped off a step. Instead, he came with his right foot, which allowed Zaha to spin and put the body on him, which meant Laporte had to grab him as he went down.

Rodri: Strong, solid, hard to get the ball off. Played a few errant passes, but the lines were shutdown quickly and we weren’t giving him too many options. One of the few to come away with any credit.

KDB: Pep needs to tell Martinez he’s not available for the Intl break and give him a holiday! Looks knackered, passing lacking, no creation. Deserved substitution.

Bernardo: Industrious as ever, but nothing to show for it. No space to operate and rarely broke through the press.

Jesus: Worked very hard for what looked like a just reward, only to be denied by Foden’s knee. Got a bit involved with Zaha, but showed passion & drive for no result.

Foden: Never say die attitude, but taking the extra touch while not making the pass or taking the shot was his Achilles heel today. Along with Rodri & Jesus, one of only 3 to play anywhere close.

Grealish: Clearly there’s something there, but it’s not as a left winger. Looks one dimensional, predictable, and the short killer pass just hasn’t shown up. Needs to play inside left, not wide left, with a full back in support and attackers moving ahead of him. If I wasn’t a City fan, I’d be laughing at us paying £100M for him at this point. An obvious sub in many games he’s played this season, but when you see Sterling coming on for him, you wonder how £160M+ talent can look so out of place.

Stones: Gave us good stability at the back, but got turned inside out for their second, even though he recovered. Nothing too bad to say about his performance and with Laporte out of the derby, I hope he gets a run now.

Sterling & Mahrez: They came on. The end.

Pep: Looked devoid of ideas, even though we played about 4 different formations/players in an effort to make something work. MUST splash the cash on an actual striker ASAP.

Win at home against Brugge & beat the Rags and this game will be quickly forgotten. Anything else puts BOTH competitions in jeopardy.

Hope the next week puts this game to bed!
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well said, CB. sums it up in my eyes.
 
Total garbage from start to finish.
Palace put 3 players on each flank and their AMs played high and worked their socks off to catch our central mids in possession.
For the life of me I don't know why we don't chip balls over the top on occasion for players to run on to, but we never do. Foden got free of his marker on numerous occasions but the ball over the top that would have killed Palace never came.
Passing was too slow and our central midfielders had a mare.
Worst performance since Pep became City manager.
Chelsea look good. Their championship to lose I think unless we buck up big time.
 
Tricky_Trev said:
I agree, we don’t look good enough to win anything this season. And already failed to score 6 times in 16 games this season. It was 6 in 62 over the whole of last season. No trophies are coming from that. Hitting the odd team for 5 has hid the fact that our attack is not reliable.
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Those Arsenal and Norwich games fooled a lot of people
 
I have to be honest, I really was expecting 3points today. FFS City, you don't half spring results like these on us.

It's part of being a football fan though I suppose. Even though City are seemingly the only club in world football, who's not allowed to lose any games, to teams that have spent less than them... According to twitter/youtube type muppets.
 
Rammy Blue said:
Agree, and an interesting one you mention about Eddie as my mate said same to me today. The main benefit of Eddie has always been the spraying the ball around but most teams are wise to it now, and it’s actually his lack of shot stopping that is shining through now. He keeps that one out today and we don’t end up in the blind panic.

Worries me how we collectively shit ourselves when going behind. It was 5/6 minutes in yet we played as if it was the 85th minute. Weird.
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There’s a definite trade-off with Eddie regarding his kicking versus keeping, and as much as I like him, when teams come to our place and park the bus, closing down the space, Steffan may be the better option. Anfield the other week showed what Eddie offers in the right game, but we could be better mixing it up a bit as I have been impressed by Steffan when he’s played.
 
Gray said:
Sprinklers liberally watering the pitch just before kick off, Laporte slips and Palace score - that worked out well.
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Laporte didn't slip. He tried one of his leg breaker cute passes that barely reach his team mate.

But it didn't reach today, like he's gotten away with many times before.

I'm glad he got sent off as Stones is way the better player even when he makes the odd gaffe!

In general, he's just more intelligent, defensively.
 
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