Eagles playing at the World Cup

Palace are doing well in the league table of WC goals. Its a pity there is no league table for defensive performances. Clean sheets maybe ? or few goals conceded. Surely we would also be noteworthy.
 
Interesting to see that Munoz has continued to (firstly) play right back in a back four for his country and (secondly) pop up in the centre forward position regardless!

I have heard different reports about whether Sage plays with a back 3, 4, or 5, or varies it up from game to game. I am a big believer in the strengths of the players dictating the system, not the other way around. When it comes to our full backs, I have always felt that Mitchell better suits an old-school back 4, but that Munoz better suits the wing-back system.

That creates a bit of a quandary. I would have said that, as modest as his attacking abilities are, Mitchell is probably a better wing-back than Munoz is an old-school full back. On that basis, probably best to stick with a back 3/5.

However, I am sure Sage will be looking at how Munoz plays for Colombia in a back 4 and making his mind up about that. I suppose he will be asking himself whether Munoz can defend against good wingers for 90 minutes, and whether there is some covering system that works for Colombia that we could use to allow Munoz to go forward.

I haven't seen any of Colombia's games, does anyone know if Munoz actually had to defend 1v1 against a good winger, or how he got on if he did?
 
Palace 1 - Brighton 0

"Chadi Riad escaped a yellow card after leaving an elbow out in an aerial duel that connected with Van Hecke’s face."

You can enjoy a bit of Croydon hospitality there pretty boy.

www.thenationalnews.com

Ismael Saibari the hero as Morocco sink Netherlands to reach World Cup last 16 | The National

Atlas Lions win 3-2 on penalties after game finished 1-1 following extra time
www.thenationalnews.com www.thenationalnews.com

Actually its really Palace 2 - Brighton 0 cos the Dutch Keeper is also seaweed. Sent off to the airport for an early return to the South coast. Or maybe off to Amsterdam to smoke some Black Moroccan in a coffee shop ?
 
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I agree with much of your analysis.

I have also noted in this Workd Cup that Dumfries of the Netherlands and Hakimi of Morocco also push forward and frequently appear in advanced positions, even when they play in a back 4.
In the Premier League Bournemouth play with 2 attacking full backs despite playing with a back 4.
The best recent example might be Klopp's Liverpool who had Trent Alexander and Robertson performing almost as wingers and both were very accomplished crossers of the ball.
The risk comes when the ball is played in behind the full back which teams occasionally exploited against Trent Alexander.
It becomes a risk/reward calculation.

To my mind you need a defensive/holding midfield player to cover such forays from your right back.
It also helps to have at least one pacy centre back which is one of the reasons I'm so keen to retain Lacroix.
He's rarely beaten in a foot race.

I really like Munoz as a player and the intensity which he offers.
I don't think he had a great season by his standards possibly because of injuries, tactical instructions, because the team weren't playing well or a combination of those reasons.
However, the Munoz I've seen at the World Cup is back to his rampaging best.
Difficult to sustain this over a whole season though I would think.

I hear that Sage likes to use forwards in wide positions.
If this is the case it could curtail the space that Munoz usually seeks to occupy forward on the right, but if worked properly it could create 2 on 1 situations against the opposing full back.
Time will tell.
 
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