Our present squad

[BromleyMonkey]

After his insta posts he might not want to come back.
But provided Glasner leaves, there is a chance

Don’t blame him, shame because he was well on the way to becoming a cult hero despite his limited appearances

 

[park the bus]

Amazing how much leeway a professional footballer gets. Granted, hitting the floor running can be the requirement in some jobs, but it is accepted that a player needs time to bed into a new environment, new teammates, different tactics, and the canteen is not where it used to boo hoo! Once the modern footballer has navigated these tricky obstacles how long exactly before he can perform the very basics like ball control, running around, and passing to a teammate, and start to justify his excessive fee and wage?

 

[Teddy Eagle]

After his insta posts he might not want to come back.
But provided Glasner leaves, there is a chance

Shows how fickle football is when some players are nailed on despite some ineffective performances while anothers can't get a start. Different manager and the story might be reversed.

 

[McAhuna]

Shows how fickle football is when some players are nailed on despite some ineffective performances while anothers can't get a start. Different manager and the story might be reversed.

Same in every workplace.
Some just know how to smile at the boss, despite being s*** at their job.

Uche did look to have a lot of talent and potential. When you look at some we have bought for much bigger fees, £17m doesn't seem unreasonable.

 

[TheBigToePunt]

.....Uche did look to have a lot of talent and potential. When you look at some we have bought for much bigger fees, £17m doesn't seem unreasonable.

It probably isn't unreasonable. Perhaps if wages, transfer fees, previous CV and suchlike were all kept hidden from the manager and fans, and the team was selected as a genuine, blind meritocracy then Uche would have gotten more game time, if only because Johnson and Pino in particular have struggled so much. Perhaps Esse or even Rak Sakyi would have played more, for that matter.

Thing is, even in this hypothetical arrangement the key question would surely be whether any particular player is good enough to achieve the club's aims, rather than how they compare to other players.

That's probably the key thing. The fact that Uche might be better value than Johnson or Pino or whoever, or even that he might be no worse on the pitch, doesn't necessarily make him good enough to be part of a team that stays out of trouble in the league and (hopefully) has a good crack at the cups. That's what we need.

In other words, the failure of our expensive signings to perform doesn't make a cheaper one good enough!

 

[samprior]

Same in every workplace.
Some just know how to smile at the boss, despite being s*** at their job.

Uche did look to have a lot of talent and potential. When you look at some we have bought for much bigger fees, £17m doesn't seem unreasonable.

I'd much rather we'd have stuck with Uche for 17m than spending a further 35m on Johnson. Despite the headless chicken nature of his play, Uche did at least touch the ball in games and scored a couple of nice goals. Johnson has had a lot more minutes and we're all still waiting for him to contribute anything.

 

[TheBigToePunt]

A recurring theme in discussing next season, the new manager, and the squad is whether we will play a different system.

I am perhaps being overly influenced by the teams excellent recent performances in Europe, but for the first time I am beginning to think the new manager should stick with the 343 system Glasner has embedded.

The main logic of moving to 433/451/4231 is that it might get more out of one or two of our forward players, particularly Johnson.

However, it would also require at least two new midfielders, one to replace Kamada and one more on top of that as we would be playing with an extra player in the middle. It would also relegate Canvot to the bench just when he is begining to kick on. Plus, the players are so used to it and play it well. It is especially effective against higher calibre opponents, such as we would face if we can qualify for the Europa League.

If we stick with the same system then there is perhaps a better argument for an internal appointment as manager. Paddy M has worked with Glasner for two years now and knows the tactics inside out. He may offer continuity.

 

[McAhuna]

A recurring theme in discussing next season, the new manager, and the squad is whether we will play a different system.

I am perhaps being overly influenced by the teams excellent recent performances in Europe, but for the first time I am beginning to think the new manager should stick with the 343 system Glasner has embedded.

The main logic of moving to 433/451/4231 is that it might get more out of one or two of our forward players, particularly Johnson.

However, it would also require at least two new midfielders, one to replace Kamada and one more on top of that as we would be playing with an extra player in the middle. It would also relegate Canvot to the bench just when he is begining to kick on. Plus, the players are so used to it and play it well. It is especially effective against higher calibre opponents, such as we would face if we can qualify for the Europa League.

If we stick with the same system then there is perhaps a better argument for an internal appointment as manager. Paddy M has worked with Glasner for two years now and knows the tactics inside out. He may offer continuity.

3-4-3 suits Johnson, Munoz, Pino and Sarr. Not sure any of them could work in a 4-4-2.

3-4-3 doesn't really suit Mitchell and Strand-Larsen might be better suited to a front two

 

[PatrickA]

Lacroix and Mateta have both made the French World Cup squad.
I acknowledge it’s a justified reward for Lacroix ‘s fine form for us, but selfishly part of me wishes he hadn’t been selected.
He’s played nearly every game for us this season and in my view is our key centre back in that central role which only he looks truly comfortable in.
A summer of rest would surely benefit him.

Similarly I’m not joining the campaign to have Mitchell join the England squad.
Again, he’s played nearly every game this season and is now carrying an injury.
I’m sure he too would benefit from a summer of rest.

 

[Casual]

I doubt Lacroix would get much game time , so he will be doing light training. Then a holiday after the World Cup, so at least he won’t come back back 2 stone over weight like ruddock did. 😆The new manager would usually let any World Cup players come back to training a week or so later than the rest of them.

Lacroix and Mateta have both made the French World Cup squad.
I acknowledge it’s a justified reward for Lacroix ‘s fine form for us, but selfishly part of me wishes he hadn’t been selected.
He’s played nearly every game for us this season and in my view is our key centre back in that central role which only he looks truly comfortable in.
A summer of rest would surely benefit him.

Similarly I’m not joining the campaign to have Mitchell join the England squad.
Again, he’s played nearly every game this season and is now carrying an injury.
I’m sure he too would benefit from a summer of rest.

 

[MrRobbo]

3-4-3 suits Johnson, Munoz, Pino and Sarr. Not sure any of them could work in a 4-4-2.

3-4-3 doesn't really suit Mitchell and Strand-Larsen might be better suited to a front two

I agree in principle. But there is flex in formations.

I would say that with Glasners 3-4-3 there is a very specific tactical requirement. The width comes entirely from the wingbacks, and not the wide forwards.

Its why we dont see Sarr/Pino running the channels, and giving an easy option down the wing for Munoz/Mitchel. (How often do we see Munoz with the ball on the half way line, with tonnes of space ahead, but Sarr isn't making the diagonal run into the channel)

Sarr has clearly thrived in this position. For many of the others its not been completely natural. Likely because instead of them getting the ball into space 1-on-1 with a full back, they are receiving the ball much more infield where space is limited.

It would require some tactical tweaks, but there is no reason that the wide forwards couldn't play a little more wide.

Tactics vs formation is the same reason our midfield dont score. Kamada in particular has scored everywhere he's played except Palace. (notice after the Shaktar game, JP was jumping on him saying that he finally scored, Kamada's response, was something like 'i dont get any chances' )

Its probably alos the reason that someone like Uche, (and Esse before) has had so little minutes. They might have bags of creativity, but thats not what Glasner is looking for. System comes first.

It can be frustrating to watch at time, and I'm 99% sure it hamstrings some players, but it also allows us to be greater than the sum of our parts.

 

[BromleyMonkey]

I doubt Lacroix would get much game time , so he will be doing light training. Then a holiday after the World Cup, so at least he won’t come back back 2 stone over weight like ruddock did. 😆The new manager would usually let any World Cup players come back to training a week or so later than the rest of them.

And the rest 🤣

 

[madcap_v2]

Lacroix and Mateta have both made the French World Cup squad.
I acknowledge it’s a justified reward for Lacroix ‘s fine form for us, but selfishly part of me wishes he hadn’t been selected.
He’s played nearly every game for us this season and in my view is our key centre back in that central role which only he looks truly comfortable in.
A summer of rest would surely benefit him.

Similarly I’m not joining the campaign to have Mitchell join the England squad.
Again, he’s played nearly every game this season and is now carrying an injury.
I’m sure he too would benefit from a summer of rest.

LaCroix, Mateta and (if selected) Mitchell would not start games and would be training with some of the best players in the world. They'll come back from the World Cup sharper and better placed for next season IMO

 

[McAhuna]

LaCroix, Mateta and (if selected) Mitchell would not start games and would be training with some of the best players in the world. They'll come back from the World Cup sharper and better placed for next season IMO

But there comes the risk that players come back badly influenced, demanding higher wages, demanding moves to 'big' clubs, etc

 

[PatrickA]

LaCroix, Mateta and (if selected) Mitchell would not start games and would be training with some of the best players in the world. They'll come back from the World Cup sharper and better placed for next season IMO

....or it means another delayed pre season with a new manager working with an incomplete squad from day one as the international players are given extra weeks off.
Given a choice I'd far prefer a new manager to have the fullest available squad available from Day to try and minimise the disjointed pre seasons that so frustrated Glasner.
I'm no fan of international football anyway, but my view is more informed by practical considerations for Palace.
Give the new manager the best possible chance to succeed with a refreshed and enthusiastic squad pushing for inclusion in the presumably new system devised by the manager.

 

[DANGERCLOSE]

....or it means another delayed pre season with a new manager working with an incomplete squad from day one as the international players are given extra weeks off.
Given a choice I'd far prefer a new manager to have the fullest available squad available from Day to try and minimise the disjointed pre seasons that so frustrated Glasner.
I'm no fan of international football anyway, but my view is more informed by practical considerations for Palace.
Give the new manager the best possible chance to succeed with a refreshed and enthusiastic squad pushing for inclusion in the presumably new system devised by the manager.

Agreed 👍

 

[madcap_v2]

But there comes the risk that players come back badly influenced, demanding higher wages, demanding moves to 'big' clubs, etc

That could happen whether they play in the World Cup or not, so it's never something I worry about (Mateta for example...) You've got to assume all of our squad have higher goals and aspirations than just playing for us. I'd love to see our players representing their respective countries this summer.

 

[MrRobbo]

Agree with both sides of the argument.

I want to see a World Cup full of Palace players. I also want prospective signings to know that Palace is an amazing place to build a career.

But I also dont want us to go into the season with most of our first 11 not ready.

Its the flip side of being successful I guess..... and the other top half teams will be in the same boat.