Crystal Palace vs. Arsenal match thread

[Inquisitive Aquila]

I lived for a spell in Leeds and saw a lot of this team at the time.
If opposing teams rolled over , they'd pretty much leave them alone.
However, if they looked like they would give Leeds a game, then the dirty tactics would be employed.
The Spurs manager Bill Nicholson told his players not to go in for 50/50 tackles with Leeds as the Leeds players would go in high and late.
Giles was one of the best midfielders I've ever seen and didn't need to engage in the nastiness.
He claimed to have got done early in his career and got a broken leg.
Thereafter his mantra was 'get your retaliation in first.'

Obviously the game was more physical back then , but Arsenal are the modern day equivalents of Leeds within the current rules.

Slightly off topic but a few weeks ago I saw a Big Match from the early seventies Palace away at Tottenham. A Palace player was chasing the ball in their own half near the right wing, the ball was about chest high when the Tottenham no.3 (Knowles?) lunged studs first missed the ball and caught our player on the chin. While the ref was booking him the Tottenham no.3 was arguing and furious when the yellow card was shown 😕.

 

[Inquisitive Aquila]

The game is surely gone if players are not selected because they may face criticism from opposing fans.
From a Palace perspective our likely front 3 of Sarr, Mateta and Pino were all involved yet no sign of Johnson.
Glasner has also used Johnson as a RWB and that could have been an option if he wanted to rest Munoz.
Why risk players who won't start on Wednesday and play key players who will be essential for the final?

Glasner mentioned in the pre match press conference about discussing with medical staff managing minutes and making 3 substitutions at half time.

 

[Willo]

The game is surely gone if players are not selected because they may face criticism from opposing fans.
From a Palace perspective our likely front 3 of Sarr, Mateta and Pino were all involved yet no sign of Johnson.
Glasner has also used Johnson as a RWB and that could have been an option if he wanted to rest Munoz.
Why risk players who won't start on Wednesday and play key players who will be essential for the final?

I am not advocating that this was the reason behind his non-appearance, just opining that had he been introduced into the fray the 'Welcome' from Arsenal supporters would not have been cordial !
He scored 18 goals for a struggling Tottenham team last season (Finished 17th) yet he has been an abject disappointment for us and of course the reason is a subject for debate. There is reason to believe that he could rediscover his qualities either at our club or elsewhere.

 

[doombear]

Rio Cardines played well, one for the future 👍

Up the Palace

One for next season, I suspect, especially if Munoz leaves. In any case, Cardines was part of the squad at the beginning of the season until he got injured, so I expect him to feature next season. He'll be 20 in July. He's got 10 caps for Trinidad and Tobago.

 

[doombear]

Think you will find teams with small squads playing 60 games in a season will struggle like us in the league. If we win Wednesday it will be worth it but again we will struggle again next season with our squad unless we strengthen considerably. I doubt we can afford to do that though. I expect Bournemouth, Brighton and Sunderland who have had a terrific season in the league will also struggle like we have done next season with their Euro campaign. If we lose Wednesday we might just have a better league position next season. What is best for us as I’m not sure I want a league season like this one for us but then two years in Europe is hard to argue against?

Unless we do a West Ham afterwards.

 

[Palace Old Geezer]

One for next season, I suspect, especially if Munoz leaves. In any case, Cardines was part of the squad at the beginning of the season until he got injured, so I expect him to feature next season. He'll be 20 in July. He's got 10 caps for Trinidad and Tobago.

Cardines made a big impression yesterday and I hope our new manager will recognise his potential. I wonder if we'll see Franca next season or is his time with us finished now?

Final thought from me after watching yesterday's game on TV - our pitch looked beautiful in the South London sunshine. A credit to the ground staff, and if any of them reads this, can they please get in touch because my 'lawn' is a mess of weeds and needs care and attention that I don't have.