Without both Bolasie and Wickham who are both injured we lack both the pace and strength of recent weeks up front.
On top of that Cabaye is suspended for this match.
If Chelsea set up like they did yesterday we will struggle to break them down.
Haven't looked at prices but would think 0-0 or under 1.5 goals would be the bet
Agreed Bolasie and Wickham out really puts the fear into me about Palace for the next month or two and a potential slip down the table. We already were squeakily winning games, but now against better opposition I could see us valiantly losing 1-0 from a tight affair but not showing too much to reply with a goal ourselves. Even with those two key players in the side we wouldn't look too clinical, but we always had positive pressure and an assumption that one chance will be bundled in. Now you feel that our chances are few and far between and by no means have the same pressure and put the same fear into opposition back lines.
Goes back to the point i keep repeating, we are a completely different team when we have both Bolasie and Zaha starting. They have both admitted in interviews they thrive off of one another in the showmanship quarters, and it must be nice that another guy is also trying high variance skills to ease the pressure if it is not going too well for you, because they can often lose the ball, but also very often smash a wing back in a one on one situation much unlike most other wingers in the prem.
To maintain a top 8 berth all season we need an expensive winger of a similar flair quality to Zaha/Bolasie which I couldn't even name to you right now, will take suggestions, lol, and a replacement target man like striker. Missing that, we really will need luck to win games (unless our full strength side can always start) as I don't see us competing well enough to win games and think that Palace, if anything, without Wickham and Bolasie are opposable propositions generally right now.
Especially after seeing Chelsea highlights against Watford and Man UTD. Despite them not winning, they looked potent enough chance wise up front, and I don't think we will have enough in defence to keep a clean sheet. We then have to probably rely on a set piece to win or hold on and its an awkward spot for betting, especially with Cabaye not playing. 3/1 does look big though, and I will come back on Friday or Saturday morning if i have a change of heart. Maybe I will plump for a 1.8 double chance Palace/draw, but it just doesn't feel right. The suggestion of 0-0 or under 1.5 might not be a bad view, but I have no knowledge of what is value or not in that market to support it.
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