Fulham vs. Crystal Palace match thread

[MrRobbo]

Agreed, though I would add one further observation. The obvious, and greatest risk when pressing high is that the opposition might be able to counter attack directly against us, that one pass into the space behind our defence could put them in on goal.

What I think is more likely to happen regularly is that teams counter attack against us more indirectly, by which I mean the ball gets turned over in the oppositions half, they then have an attack, but we are able to get bodies back into our box. The problem with this is that often the team is still retreating into position during the vital moments when the opposition attempt a 1v1 or play the final ball. We have bodies back but the players are not 'set' to defend properly. It's so much easier to defend if the game is in front of you and your body is facing outwards than it is if your traveling back still. Wharton missing that cut back yesterday was a good example.

That's also why wingers were always taught to put an early, low cross in if they had been released behind the opposition defence; the defending team might have bodies back in the box but they are all running back towards goal. That's what did for Canvot yesterday for one of Fulham's goals.

Compare all this to how we played under Pulis, Hodgson, Allardyce, and Glasner, in which we often dropped off into a low block early, so much so that we would often just stay in that negative shape even during our attacks. It's so much easier to defend well that way, although the price is paid in the attacking part of the pitch.

If Sage persists with a high line and pressing game then I'd expect a steady flow of what seem like poor bits of individual defending through many of our games.

Perfect put, this was the issue with almost all of the chances we conceded.

We'll tighten up. I'm sure of it.

The players just learning how to get back set quicker and defending from a more dynamic base.

 

[Palacesince64]

There’s also something about reading the game and making the right decisions. Richards lacks pace. His rash attempt at a tackle out on the wing left us wide open. His best options were either to drop back and try to hold up their winger or be prepared to take one for the team and stop him at all costs. Letting him run free past him should not have been an option.

 

[ASCPFC]

It looks like Canvot might be better bringing the ball out of defence, rather than passing quickly. Our defence are now being asked to play through the channels quickly. We used to pass it between the defenders for a while to get it out wide: that's one major difference of Sage's approach.
The other is that the back three go noticeably wider, like Chris Wilder used to do.
Both take time getting used to: I would say it's the reason for shipping goals.

 

[OneStevePerrin]

It looks like Canvot might be better bringing the ball out of defence, rather than passing quickly. Our defence are now being asked to play through the channels quickly. We used to pass it between the defenders for a while to get it out wide: that's one major difference of Sage's approach.
The other is that the back three go noticeably wider, like Chris Wilder used to do.
Both take time getting used to: I would say it's the reason for shipping goals.

Yup, back 3 are being pulled wider. This is because wing backs are further forward meaning when an attack breaks down they can’t get back quick enough. Until we learn to keep hold of the ball better and find a pass this will keep happening. Or get others covering quicker. In saying that our left wing backs scored 3 goals on Saturday. However that system gave Man City a more superior team than Fulham 4 goals the week before. Not sure this new system will work in the prem as it did for Sage in the French league?

 

[MrRobbo]

Yup, back 3 are being pulled wider. This is because wing backs are further forward meaning when an attack breaks down they can’t get back quick enough. Until we learn to keep hold of the ball better and find a pass this will keep happening. Or get others covering quicker. In saying that our left wing backs scored 3 goals on Saturday. However that system gave Man City a more superior team than Fulham 4 goals the week before. Not sure this new system will work in the prem as it did for Sage in the French league?

Give it time.

We are 3 games into complete changing the way we play, after a disjointed pre-season.

We are not even close to seeing what this system looks like at its best. We are, and will be for a while, in transition.

 

[Jim_Cannon]

You attack as a team and defend as team. The issues from our defending are beyond which back 5 play.

Constantly swapping players is unlikely to create cohesion and understanding. So personally stick with a winning team for Ipswich, maybe Sarr comes back in if head in right space

 

[The_postman]

The back 3 appear to be all over the place but this is a direct result of the two wings backs being far up field at the same time. For Fulham's first goal neither wing back was in sight initially. Khalaily belatedly got back but Mitchell only jogged into sight when the ball was in the back of the net. Unless you have the opposition pinned in their own half you just can't have both wing backs that far advanced. One of them has to stay a little deeper to help cover. The same can be said for the defensive midfield players. They were not there to support our centre-backs.

 

[ex hibitionist]

Such a shame the Kamada goal was disallowed, it was a beauty. The ball from Pino was sublime - he was rubbish v Man City, the best game he played last season was v Fiorentina when he ripped them apart running from deep and playing through balls in between their defenders. I didn't see the game but it seems (correct me if I'm wrong) that Pino and Kamada played a bit deeper behind Nketiah with the wing backs pushing up more - if Sage can find a role that suits Pino then we'll have a proper player, reminds me when Roy got the best out of Jeff Schlupp playing him as an advanced midfielder instead of left back, left wing or left side of midfield.

 

[TheBigToePunt]

Such a shame the Kamada goal was disallowed, it was a beauty. The ball from Pino was sublime - he was rubbish v Man City, the best game he played last season was v Fiorentina when he ripped them apart running from deep and playing through balls in between their defenders. I didn't see the game but it seems (correct me if I'm wrong) that Pino and Kamada played a bit deeper behind Nketiah with the wing backs pushing up more - if Sage can find a role that suits Pino then we'll have a proper player, reminds me when Roy got the best out of Jeff Schlupp playing him as an advanced midfielder instead of left back, left wing or left side of midfield.

It was a brilliant ball from Pino, a great run and finish from Kamada, and a perfect illustration of all that is wrong with VAR. That some part of Kamada's knee was three or four inches beyond the arse of the defender made absolutely no difference to anything. No advantage was gained. All that was achieved was the erasing of a great bit of creative skill and of a goal that would have raised no complaint otherwise, even after sight of a replay or two.

Well done to all at Stockley Park. Thank God you're here.

 

[BromleyMonkey]

I’m glad Roy ball is still fresh in your mind! 😂

I’m praying sage will work out, because it might save us from Dyche ball 🤣

 

[BromleyMonkey]

It was a brilliant ball from Pino, a great run and finish from Kamada, and a perfect illustration of all that is wrong with VAR. That some part of Kamada's knee was three or four inches beyond the arse of the defender made absolutely no difference to anything. No advantage was gained. All that was achieved was the erasing of a great bit of creative skill and of a goal that would have raised no complaint otherwise, even after sight of a replay or two.

Well done to all at Stockley Park. Thank God you're here.

A pundit said, before var that would’ve been deemed level, therefore onside. Even when Ollie Watkins had one disallowed against us for villa I said it was ridiculously close and should’ve been given
Good job VAR wasn’t around in Vince Hilaire’s day, his Afro would’ve been offside every attack 🤣

 

[est1905]

A pundit said, before var that would’ve been deemed level, therefore onside. Even when Ollie Watkins had one disallowed against us for villa I said it was ridiculously close and should’ve been given
Good job VAR wasn’t around in Vince Hilaire’s day, his Afro would’ve been offside every attack 🤣

VAR are ruining the live 'in stadium' experience because of stuff like this. They should not be checking goals like that when the attacking player has no advantage whatsoever. What part of clear and obvious do they not seem to get. There was nothing clear or obviously wrong about Kamada's goal. In fact looking at replays from every single angle it looked on. It was only their silly little computer graphic that showed the tip of his knee was offside.
Its bollox

 

[Teddy Eagle]

A pundit said, before var that would’ve been deemed level, therefore onside. Even when Ollie Watkins had one disallowed against us for villa I said it was ridiculously close and should’ve been given
Good job VAR wasn’t around in Vince Hilaire’s day, his Afro would’ve been offside every attack 🤣

It's also notable that while players have 10 seconds to take a throw in or get off the pitch VAR can fart around for 5 minutes looking for reasons to cancel a goal. That's progress.

 

[park the bus]

Highlights from Championship games are worth watching if only to realise what a mess VAR is.

 

[Norbury Old Git]

It's also notable that while players have 10 seconds to take a throw in or get off the pitch VAR can fart around for 5 minutes looking for reasons to cancel a goal. That's progress.

John Brooks was on VAR for the match and Sam Barrot the referee. Both have stitched us up several times in the past. I am a bit of a conspiracy theorist but in the case of these two it is just incompetence. We can be grateful that Tyrick and Ben dug them out of “another fine mess”.

 

[JHB]

John Brooks was on VAR for the match and Sam Barrot the referee. Both have stitched us up several times in the past. I am a bit of a conspiracy theorist but in the case of these two it is just incompetence. We can be grateful that Tyrick and Ben dug them out of “another fine mess”.

Extraordinarily it wasn’t even the worst officiating a Crystal Palace team was subject to this weekend. A true display of incompetence in the WSL

 

[Save Dwindlehurst]

This might be an unpopular opinion but Timber did nothing to shore up the midfield which I assume was why we bought him. Very early days I know.

 

[eritheagle]

It's also notable that while players have 10 seconds to take a throw in or get off the pitch VAR can fart around for 5 minutes looking for reasons to cancel a goal. That's progress.

A fan near me counted very loudly to 14 seconds on Saturday when a Fulham player had ball in hand to take a throw in and that useless twonk barrett hadn’t even got to the 5 seconds count by that point!!

 

[eritheagle]

It was a brilliant ball from Pino, a great run and finish from Kamada, and a perfect illustration of all that is wrong with VAR. That some part of Kamada's knee was three or four inches beyond the arse of the defender made absolutely no difference to anything. No advantage was gained. All that was achieved was the erasing of a great bit of creative skill and of a goal that would have raised no complaint otherwise, even after sight of a replay or two.

Well done to all at Stockley Park. Thank God you're here.

Plus Bassey took Timber out as the cross came in when the midfielder may have arguably got to the ball before Kamada.

I’m not saying it was definitely a penalty but I doubt they even bothered looking at it!!

 

[eritheagle]

This might be an unpopular opinion but Timber did nothing to shore up the midfield which I assume was why we bought him. Very early days I know.

I thought he was bought to be more of a box to box midfielder (a no.8)