Crystal Palace vs. AEK Larnaka match thread

[ASCPFC]

Or one waiting near the far post for corner kicks.
The other thing about sitters. They only need simple modest power tapins. Too much power would only result in the ball over the bar.
On crosses, I feel low crossings from inside the box close to the byline have better goal chances than those from outside for our heads to do the job.

I meant to say on the match thread that we looked awful in the air. I think we have to see Richards as our aerial threat. I've been thinking for a while that he shouldn't be taking the long throw ins as he's the danger in the box. However, we did score from at least one he threw. Which was another thing we didn't do last night. Why didn't Lerma take long throws? If I were to hazard a guess - I reckon Munoz could do it with a bit of practice. However, not Mitchell - who's throw is weak.
And I think we all know that despite being big, Mateta is not the greatest aerial threat. Yes, he's improved - but he usually mistimes his jump and misses. We've missed a couple of easy open goal headers in the last two games at least.

 

[Willo]

I meant to say on the match thread that we looked awful in the air. I think we have to see Richards as our aerial threat. I've been thinking for a while that he shouldn't be taking the long throw ins as he's the danger in the box. However, we did score from at least one he threw. Which was another thing we didn't do last night. Why didn't Lerma take long throws? If I were to hazard a guess - I reckon Munoz could do it with a bit of practice. However, not Mitchell - who's throw is weak.
And I think we all know that despite being big, Mateta is not the greatest aerial threat. Yes, he's improved - but he usually mistimes his jump and misses. We've missed a couple of easy open goal headers in the last two games at least.

Lerma did take long throws after wiping the ball with his shirt.
Mateta hardly scores with his head, in fact one of his coaches at a French club mentioned that he was better with his feet than aerially.
The statistics I have just perused show that Mateta has scored 43 PL goals but only 4 with his head.

 

[Rainforest]

Lerma did take long throws after wiping the ball with his shirt.
Mateta hardly scores with his head, in fact one of his coaches at a French club mentioned that he was better with his feet than aerially.

I think we would have preferred our players to carry the ball into the opposition box to shoot, pass or cross as well as opening up their defence to commit to fouling.

 

[Willo]

I think we would have preferred our players to carry the ball into the opposition box to shoot, pass or cross as well as opening up their defence to commit to fouling.

The 'Long throw' is back in fashion.
One witnesses it on a regular basis these days.It can be a challenge to defend.

 

[pssguy]

I think it just reinforces that we have good starting 11, outside of that there is precious little else. So we either play the first 11 into the ground every game or accept these resuits with the squad players. Chelsea won the competition playing effectively the youth team, we dont have that luxery.

Glasner has european experience so he knew what the game would be like.

That is just not true. It may not have been a team of their Premier League starters but they regularly turned out players that cost more than our record signing. The likes of Nkunku, Neto, Mudryk, Dewsbury-Hall etc. The team for the final was basically the best available
They used wingers who may have struggled a bit at PL level but could unlock inferior defences. Esse and Uche came on in the 87th minute last night

 

[ASCPFC]

That is just not true. It may not have been a team of their Premier League starters but they regularly turned out players that cost more than our record signing. The likes of Nkunku, Neto, Mudryk, Dewsbury-Hall etc. The team for the final was basically the best available
They used wingers who may have struggled a bit at PL level but could unlock inferior defences. Esse and Uche came on in the 87th minute last night

Is it just me or does Uche look to have a bit of physical presence about him when he comes on? I wouldn't mind seeing him come on earlier and get a proper chance.

 

[Willo]

At the game last night a gentleman asked me if I recognised Larnaca's No 27.
I replied in the negative.He informed me that the central defender was Roberge whom Paulo Di Canio signed for Sunderland and he played in the PL for the club.
Good information from this chap !

 

[BromleyMonkey]

He has only played 1 season in the French League, making only 18 appearances. Vastly inexperienced and not the player to replace Guehi.
Like Esse, another one of those 'Potential' purchases.

‘Potential’ usually means they’re not going to make it, if they’re good enough they’d be straight in the team and once there, they’d stay there no messing ala Clyne, Moses, Wilf, Mitchell and Wan Bissaka
Rak Sakyi has had ‘potential’ for four years now!! 😳

 

[Pikester]

Added time was woefully inadequate. As was the refereeing. UEFA directive no doubt. It directly affected the result.

What was that siren by the way? Was it an away fan or emergency services?

We were sat in Block U of the Arthur, pretty close to the away fans. One of them had brought some electronic device that played that siren thing. It was pretty wanky. As were the group of foreigners behind us that found it hilarious shouting out all the new swear words they'd learnt and then pissing themselves.
Then there was some mush who wanted to stand in front of everyone and started threatening our own fans... what a depressing night.
I thought I was over it...clearly not !

 

[Willo]

We were sat in Block U of the Arthur, pretty close to the away fans. One of them had brought some electronic device that played that siren thing. It was pretty wanky. As were the group of foreigners behind us that found it hilarious shouting out all the new swear words they'd learnt and then pissing themselves.
Then there was some mush who wanted to stand in front of everyone and started threatening our own fans... what a depressing night.
I thought I was over it...clearly not !

I was not subjected to the vile antics of worthless bags of buffalo snots but it really was a night to forget.
Subjected to a defeat followed by an arduous drive to the south coast, I was certainly not feeling fine and dandy. 👎 🙁

 

[Adrift]

We do seem to have a problem with teams that come to defend. Millwall, Fredi and now this lot.
We are a threat to teams that come to play as they will be vulnerable to pace but all the pace in world is useless if they play a low block.
Our own tactics used against us
Sadly you need a player like Eze to unpick them.

 

[jackosperoni]

I was not subjected to the vile antics of worthless bags of buffalo snots but it really was a night to forget.
Subjected to a defeat followed by an arduous drive to the south coast, I was certainly not feeling fine and dandy. 👎 🙁

We drove up from Penzance. On the way, I said to my wife this is just the type of game Palace always lose. When we left our hotel in Croydon we were in the lift with the Linos and a UEFA official. I was on best behaviour and made pleasant small talk. Back at the hotel after the disappointment of the match, we quietly retired to our room with a bottle of red rather than welcome the 10 UEFA officials we were told would be having dinner there. The drive back to Cornwall took nine hours yesterday. Was it all worth it? Of course, Palace can only play their first competitive game in Europe once. The problem was, we weren’t competitive. ❤️💙🦅

 

[Willo]

We do seem to have a problem with teams that come to defend. Millwall, Fredi and now this lot.
We are a threat to teams that come to play as they will be vulnerable to pace but all the pace in world is useless if they play a low block.
Our own tactics used against us
Sadly you need a player like Eze to unpick them.

I suspect Training includes tactics against teams that deploy a 'Low Block'.
I shall be discussing this with a gentleman, whose tactical acumen I have respected over the years.

 

[ASCPFC]

We were sat in Block U of the Arthur, pretty close to the away fans. One of them had brought some electronic device that played that siren thing. It was pretty wanky. As were the group of foreigners behind us that found it hilarious shouting out all the new swear words they'd learnt and then pissing themselves.
Then there was some mush who wanted to stand in front of everyone and started threatening our own fans... what a depressing night.
I thought I was over it...clearly not !

Should have been taken off of them, quite clearly a nuisance to everyone.