Crystal Palace FC Thread + Premiership Palaver

[Ant040689]

Tbh Palace have surprised me, never thought you would have 3pts this early in the season.

That is a good point.

I would have said, pre season, the results, how they have panned out already was going to be our points tally. Couldn't see past a home win against Sunderland, but thought maybe we would get something away to Stoke.

Last time we were up we were in much worse shape that we are now in the same amount of games, and it was by 8 that our season kicked off at home to Fulham. We have Fulham at home after 8 games this season too and hope we get the same result we did then on that day.

[DungBeetle]

I'm absolutely failing to understand why Chamakh doesn't want to shoot when clear through.  Must be a confidence issue.

[Ant040689]

I'm absolutely failing to understand why Chamakh doesn't want to shoot when clear through.  Must be a confidence issue.

It was heartbreaking watching that live and when it was capped off with a booking for diving.

Deffo a confidence thing imo.

[anthonyl]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2438561/Marouane-Chamakh-Dean-Moxey-separated-bust-Crystal-Palace-dressing-room--Exclusive.html

Oopsie

[Ant040689]

Handbags.

Expect Chamakh to actually turn it on from now on.

[Ant040689]

Yannick Bolasie back again for tomorrow! #fek

[Ant040689]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24285417?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

[luther101]

Wow, a long old apprenticeship for the lad, Ant.

On his 9th club @ 24 years old      .....       and none of them have taught him how to shoot.

[Ant040689]

Wow, a long old apprenticeship for the lad, Ant.

On his 9th club @ 24 years old      .....       and none of them have taught him how to shoot.

Doesn't need to learn how to shoot to be integral for us this season. His crossing and flair alone could be the difference to us staying up, but we would need to revert back to having two wingers rather than two inside forwards as we are lacking width.

If we play him as an inside forward we are going to negate his ability. I think if Puncheon and Bolasie hug both touchlines on either side we could be effective.


I very oddly have a good feeling about today.

[luther101]

Got the Palace @ 11/1 in my weekly 'mad/bad stick it up the bookies' multi-bettage.

Reason: I can't stand that ********** Brendan Rogers.

Come on you Eagles, make me Glad All Over.

Gl Ant.

[Ant040689]

Got the Palace @ 11/1 in my weekly 'mad/bad stick it up the bookies' multi-bettage.

Reason: I can't stand that ********** Brendan Rogers.

Come on you Eagles, make me Glad All Over.

Gl Ant.

A lot of love for this.

[Ant040689]

Great first half, no real mistakes and unbelievable we are 3-0 up. Wait, no, I have misread that.

[Ant040689]

First goal Jedinak doesn't track Suarez in the box, wonder what happens when you that, Speroni I thought was terrible for the second, doesn't close the angle down enough, and Moxey is very lazy at conceding the penno for the third.

We had two good chances to score and we could have gone 0-1 and that would have changed the shape of the game. Kebe embarrassed hiself when one on one with the keeper, falling over himself.

We have no confidence in the finish, and I would love for this to at least emulate the Everton Newcastle game by us claiming 2 goals and getting the monkey off of our back and get some neat finishing in!

[Ant040689]

Yannick Bolasie came on but looks way way way off match fitness, it looked as if he couldn't be bothered, and for a man that relies on his exuberance that really isn't good! But hopefully that will come with time and more games.

Second half Gayle got a nice header in from a free kick, but it is unfortunate that we didn't scoer in open play because we really do look awful going forward in that front and when a chance does fall to one of our men, atm, only Gayle looks dangerous, missing with intent, rather than missing with a powederpuff lol.

A lot to improve at the back and up front and we are in disarray.

[Ant040689]

Rant.

I think Holloway has to keep things simple and play the same way that made us a success last season, have two out and out wingers and at least one out and out striker. We only had one last year but I could see room for two with Chamakh and Gayle. Would mean that we couldn't have two sitting midfielders, but what good is that currently doing us?

Jedinak has been a shadow of his former self and it means we are leakier than ever, and Holloway hasn't settled at all on an attacking formation, so we are in disarray everywhere. He will need to keep it simple. And from what I have seen I think he will need to start Bolasie and Puncheon as out and out wingers, have Chamakh and Gayle as a conventional front two, have Campana and KG in the middle and then the best available back four.

I know it sounds like blasphemy to play with a conventional 4-4-2, but I think it is definitely worth a shot, and is so much better than the 4-3-3 we are playing. Holloway needs to adapt quickly with this as losing will become a habit, and our players will accept the negative hype surrounding them and not provide any spark.

Dwight Gayle and Maroaune Chamakh could provide that spark playing as a front two, and being big and little as they are they could work well. I don't like Jerome, nor do I like Kebe, both seem technically below par despite their good physical attributes.

Cannot wait for Moxey to get dropped as he has given away two penalties now, has looked quite poor defensively despite being pretty good attacking and be replaced by Jonathon Parr. I think Ward at right back has been a revelation. I also think Gabiddon has adjusted well to the step up to the prem, much more than Delaney who was a little all over the place to Daniel Sturridge on Saturday but I shouldn't be too harsh there. And the jury is still out on Mariappa.

On Speroni, I have taken a bit of a U-Turn. I think he will cost us quite a few goals this season and it has already been the case thus far. The second one from Sturridge, he was hugging the front post. He hasn't claimed on a few occasions this season he should have, and there have been a couple of goals, a better keeper would have done better.

His strength comes in one on ones and his point blank reactions, this is why he is always highly rated with the Palace faithful as he pops up in huge games and pulls off high class perforances, but I think they are papering over the cracks of a keeper that isn't the best shot stopper, and annoyingly too, I think he suffers from nerves from being back in the Prem. He just doesn't look quite right. Another incident to support that point was a silly parry to an easy looking free kick from Lambert when the catch seemed easier.

I think overall I am just hoping Holloway changes things up if they are not working tactically with his formation rather than persist with a failing concept. We have looked inept going forward but he persists with playing three up front. I just hope that he reverts to a 4-5-1 (4-2-3-1) or the 4-4-2 quickly, just to give us a fighting chance of staying up and to show he is capable of the changes needed to give us the best shot.

4 points adrift now at the bottom and we have a huge game against Fulham at home to deal with, I very much hope that Chaakh and Gayle play as a front two and get something very nice going!