Crystal Palace FC Thread + Championship Chat

[DungBeetle]

Another poor Watford performance - the international break has come at the right time.

I alluded back in January how absolutely vital Abdi is and he's missed the last 2 games which have been the worst perfomances of the season.  Think he is back for the Burnley and Hull games over easter though, as is Chalobah.  Need to win at least one of these or automatic promotion may be gone.

[Royal Flush]

He's zaha showed some great trickery today and looks an excellent talent. He skipped past midfielders for fun, the. Never got through the back 4....

LuaLua/Buckley did the opposite.

That is why we won, miracle really with how poorly Calderon played.

[The Camel]

When does the loan window close?

If Ulloa gets injured/suspended, Brighton will be up shit creek.

[aaron1867]

Sherrif what is your view of COG?

[Sheriff Fatman]

Sherrif what is your view of COG?

He's started the last two games alongside Jason Scotland and has been fantastic.  Prior to that he'd been limited largely to subs bench appearances and was in and out of the side due to being cup-tied for the FA Cup games.

He's a bit of a Heskey-type.  Not prolific himself, but brilliant at holding the ball up and has been a big difference in terms of improving our overall attacking output.  Runs himself into the ground for 90 minutes too, which is a feature of our improvement across the team since Flitcroft took over.

I assume he can't play at Hillsborough but I'm puzzled as to why Wednesday loaned him to a relegation rival, but am glad that they did.  Best of all, there's no recall clause in the agreement.

I'd sign him up permanently as soon as he becomes a free agent, and assume that this is our long-term plan as he lives in the Barnsley area.  I'd be surprised if it didn't happen, assuming that we stay up.  Less sure that we'll hold onto him if we're in League One next season.

But don't just take my word for it:  http://bbs.barnsleyfc.org.uk/showthread.php?186922-Chris-O-Grady

[Royal Flush]

When does the loan window close?

If Ulloa gets injured/suspended, Brighton will be up shit creek.

Not wrong, squeaky bum time.

[anthonyl]

When does the loan window close?

If Ulloa gets injured/suspended, Brighton will be up shit creek.

28th March.

No idea who we can get in though. Mackie, Church (no thanks), Guidetti (<3), S Jackson...Jason Roberts ever play?

[Chompy]

How's Tunners doing at Barnsley Sheriff?

[The Camel]

When does the loan window close?

If Ulloa gets injured/suspended, Brighton will be up shit creek.

28th March.

No idea who we can get in though. Mackie, Church (no thanks), Guidetti (<3), S Jackson...Jason Roberts ever play?

Never seen this Guidetti bloke play, but everything I've heard is good.

Of the others I would def pick Jackson.

Feel like a quick, skilful striker would compliment Ulloa perfectly.

I love Mackie - you won't meet a more enthusiastic player - but he is pretty similar to CMS really. Not sure Brighton need another CMS tbf

Roberts - no thanks. 5 years ago maybe. Now, too slow and prob too similar to Leo.

[Chompy]

I'm just wondering what are the odds of CMS coming back to London Road if the Poshies stay up. He's a London Road hero and would be perfect alongside Dwight.

[horseplayer]

When does the loan window close?

If Ulloa gets injured/suspended, Brighton will be up shit creek.

28th March.

No idea who we can get in though. Mackie, Church (no thanks), Guidetti (<3), S Jackson...Jason Roberts ever play?

Never seen this Guidetti bloke play, but everything I've heard is good.

Of the others I would def pick Jackson.

Feel like a quick, skilful striker would compliment Ulloa perfectly.

I love Mackie - you won't meet a more enthusiastic player - but he is pretty similar to CMS really. Not sure Brighton need another CMS tbf

Roberts - no thanks. 5 years ago maybe. Now, too slow and prob too similar to Leo.

Guidetti is class would score goals in the championship not the best team player though from what i saw in holland

Jackson is ok but no more than that not going to push you on

Mackie runs a lot (see cms) would probably be lucky to get 5 goals

Roberts would be good but he is out for the season

[DungBeetle]

Think Guidetti will get some starts at Man City now they have nothing to play for.  Would seem a strange time for him to go on loan.

[TightEnd]

good news Watford fans

Watford have avoided a points deduction or a fine but former owner Laurence Bassini has been banned from any football involvement for three years after both parties were found to have breached Football League regulations.

An independent Football Disciplinary Commission has been investigating events concerning the npower Championship club, with the alleged misconduct charges arising from the handling of two financial transactions in 2011 which occurred during Bassini's tenure as owner and director.

Bassini departed Vicarage Road in June 2012 having sold the Hornets to the Pozzo family.

The Hertfordshire outfit have this season sustained a serious bid for promotion to the Barclays Premier League and are currently third in the npower Championship table, just two points off the automatic promotion places, safe in the knowledge they have not received a points deduction.

They have, however, been hit with a transfer embargo of sorts, which still allows them to buy and sell players but only with prior authorisation of football authorities.

A statement on the Football League website read: "A Football Disciplinary Commission, in the case of The Football League vs Watford Football Club and Mr Laurence Bassini, has determined that both defendants breached Football League regulations regarding the securitisation of future transfer fees and central distributions."

A further club statement on Watford's official website read: "Following the publication today of the independent Football Disciplinary Commission's judgement, Watford FC is pleased to confirm that it has not received a points deduction or a fine.

"Former owner and director Mr Laurence Bassini has been banned from any participation in football for three years.

"The club has been made the subject of a transfer embargo, but wishes to emphasise that the embargo referred to falls under Regulation 19 of the Football League Regulations.

"This is not an absolute bar on transfers, but rather a mechanism by which transfer business can be conducted by the club provided that the prior authorisation of the relevant football authorities has been obtained.

"It is clear from the decision of the Football Disciplinary Commission that the offences which the club has been found guilty of were committed by one or two individuals who are no longer associated with the club - and without the knowledge of the full board of the club."

[Sheriff Fatman]

How's Tunners doing at Barnsley Sheriff?

The jury is out on him.  He's been an unused sub in the last two games and we've played better without him in the team, than with him, as to accomodate him we have to make compromises with other players.

Part of the issue is that no-one quite understood where he was going to play.  We lost our left wing-back, Scott Golbourne, to a season-long injury and Tunnicliffe was brought in on loan, so a lot of people, myself included, expected him to be a replacement, but he's a central midfielder and that, if anywhere, is where we have depth in the squad.

From what I've seen from him he looks OK, but he'd be behind Perkins, Dawson (when fit), Etuhu and Mellis in my preference list to play a central midfield role so he's a bit of a puzzling signing for me, albeit it gives us some depth for injury and suspension.  He reminds me a little of Danny Drinkwater, who we had on loan last season, albeit he's not as good.

This is oversimplifying things, admittedly, but it kind of supports what I'm saying above
Games he's played since signing (all starts): Lost 3-5 vs Bristol C (A), lost 2-3 vs Bolton (H), lost 0-5 vs Man City (A)
Games when he's been an unused sub: Drew 1-1 vs Burnley (A), won 2-1 vs Brighton (H), won 1-0 vs Watford (H)

[Matt50]

WE SCORED THREE, YOU SCORED NONE, WE F***** YOU UP THE B*M. Taken its time, but we can now reverse your boring song

Unbiased match report....

Last time we had this clown of a ref we had TWO players sent off after 9 mins at home last season so was a bit worried. The clown should have booked both your full backs too, but oh well. Was very even up to 40th minute then we could have won by 5 or 6. Palarse only had two efforts on goal the whole game.

Palarses centre midfield completely all over the place, gaps everywhere, and whoever your right back is (swansea loanee?) Lua Lua skinned him 9-10 times in second half. Zaha is far too talented for Palarse but spent probably 10 full minutes moaning at his own players. Probably will be as good as Nani but not a team player. Was suprised with Yannick, was the best player in the reverse fixture and probably the worst today. You can't defend against Zaha though, far too many tricks, but Buckley contributed more - two assists. Needs to improve his end product though. One thing compared to him last season is that he has bulked up A LOT and is very very strong. Will be a beast in 2 years time in the prem (going against what I said before but needs to sort out his attitude).

Ulloa showing what a player he is. Think thats 8 goals in 10 games for him. Kev Phillips first touch was the 75th minute after coming on at h/t. Poyet outclassed Holloway here by playing both our wingers from the start, first time since September when we beat Burnley 3-1 away. Second half Holloway moved Zaha to right wing and Bridge had him in his pocket, then Zaha ran over to him at full time and grabbed his shirt. Also no idea why Williams went off, he didn't play badly in the first half. When he went off, your centre midfield was just one big hole.

Slowest defence I have seen since Sheff Wed back in September (yes you have injuries, but we do too in our attack - 4 forwards out).

The way Palarse set up I would expect them to be the best away team, but it is in reverse. Can't really quite work that one out. Easy run in though for your guys and two weeks to re-group but think Watford will snatch that second spot.

Pretty fair match report Anthony.
Was a very disapointing performance from Palace, both full backs had a nightmare and i thought that Lua Lua was MOM.
Thought Williams was our best player first half and couldnt understand him and Bollasie coming off - left us with no pace on the pitch at all!

Jedinak did ok, so did Delaney, Ramage and Dikacoi were awful.  Murray got no service all game and Zaha played well first half but with no end product except for his pass to Parr that he should have done better from.

Onwards and upwards but worried about our play off chances due to our dismal away form.
Would like to see Gabbidon, Moxey and Dobbie all starting the next couple of games.

Oh and Kuscazk is an absolute t**t.  He wasnt getting any grief all game yet when the third goal went in he starts prancing around goading the palace fans for about 30 seconds.
I dont encourage violence but he deserved to be hit on the head with whatever was thrown at him.