Crystal Palace vs. Lech Poznan match thread

[Team of the (20)80s]

Sorry if it has been said elsewhere but who was playing alongside Wharton in the midfield after Timber (and Kamada) came off, was it McNeill or Yeremy?

I was clearly relaxed enough by that time not to notice. Either way it was an attacking move at 3-0 up.

 

[PatrickA]

It’s clear how the team are trying to play and it’s good to watch with lots of fluidity in the attacking play and some slick one touch moves.

It has worked well against teams who are not Premier League level i.e Middlesbrough and last night, but both teams missed very presentable chances against us where Premier League clubs are unlikely to be quite so generous.

Sage mentioned in his post match interview that there were phases where we were defensively exposed.

Wharton pointed out the change of approach in that one of the two midfielders is given freedom to get forward meaning we can have 6 players in advanced areas when attacking.
With that in mind we are likely to continue to be exposed in transition and will have to close the big gaps when defending and also improve our 1 on 1 defending.

I don’t foresee too many 0-0 draws.

Roy would be having nightmares at the new approach.

 

[VinceHilaire]

Think everything has been said about the game….

As said previously, Timber is similar to Hughes, but faster and more creative - compliments AW.

Pino seems to have been given the ‘freedom to roam’ role -which he is clearly enjoying. His little creative touches, movement, energy was something I must admit was pleasantly surprised with. The fact he wanted to take the penalty demonstrates he wants to succeed.

And …I know Leeds are a completely different prospect on Sunday, but sometimes, you just have to enjoy your wins, and not look too far ahead (yet!)

 

[highbury eagle]

Well, 4-0 wasn't really a reflection of the game. It was a gift.

We did look better at times but gave the ball away too much. A win is good for morale which in itself is important. A shame our so called ultras didn't turn up again. Pathetic really.

Much tougher at Leeds on Sunday.

FYI, former members of the HF were at the game in decent numbers, and joining in with the singing. Otherwise agree, Leeds will be less forgiving.

 

[MrRobbo]

Sorry if it has been said elsewhere but who was playing alongside Wharton in the midfield after Timber (and Kamada) came off, was it McNeill or Yeremy?

I was clearly relaxed enough by that time not to notice. Either way it was an attacking move at 3-0 up.

It was McNeill. And he looked really good. He's clearly responded well to Sage's criticism.

He's not to dissimular to Kamada in some respects. He's technically tidy, more attacking than a standard center mid player. But doesn't have the out and out pace that you'd want on the wing.

 

[ASCPFC]

Frankly, if we were playing Leeds, we would have been a goal down after 2 minutes. That simply has to change. Again, attacking we're ok, defensively we're poor. Arguably, they should have had 2-3 goals.
As someone else said, 0-0 seems like an impossibility this season. Probably happen due to a load of misses by both sides in one game.

 

[Teddy Eagle]

Frankly, if we were playing Leeds, we would have been a goal down after 2 minutes. That simply has to change. Again, attacking we're ok, defensively we're poor. Arguably, they should have had 2-3 goals.
As someone else said, 0-0 seems like an impossibility this season. Probably happen due to a load of misses by both sides in one game.

The defence still have a reluctance to attack the ball in the air, La Croix and Guehi were often the same, but Richards is often caught under the ball or lets it bounce before going for it.
I'm also not a fan of overplaying at the back which only has to go wrong once to hurt. Both Wharton and Kamada were caught deep facing their own goal last night after getting a pass when closely marked and against better finishers we'd have been in trouble.

 

[Hrolf The Ganger]

FYI, former members of the HF were at the game in decent numbers, and joining in with the singing. Otherwise agree, Leeds will be less forgiving.

I'm sure, but they have stopped their organised support. They seem to think that it should give them the right to make political statements and be given preferential treatment.

Enough about them. They didn't help our home form.

 

[BromleyMonkey]

Frankly, if we were playing Leeds, we would have been a goal down after 2 minutes. That simply has to change. Again, attacking we're ok, defensively we're poor. Arguably, they should have had 2-3 goals.
As someone else said, 0-0 seems like an impossibility this season. Probably happen due to a load of misses by both sides in one game.

We discussed exactly this, it’s become clear after our games against Middlesbrough and Poznan, the one massive difference with the premier league is the quality in the final third and the finishing. We said last night, Poznan had enough chances and Benitez was busy enough that if we were playing any premier league side it could’ve been a whole different story

But we wasn’t, so let’s enjoy these wins, because it’s also looking like these European nights are going to be the stand out memories for this season same as last

 

[Teddy Eagle]

I'm sure, but they have stopped their organised support. They seem to think that it should give them the right to make political statements and be given preferential treatment.

Enough about them. They didn't help our home form.

It's a good point. For all their vaunted presence we didn't win many home games last year.

 

[BromleyMonkey]

It's a good point. For all their vaunted presence we didn't win many home games last year.

Four in the league to be precise, pitiful

 

[Teddy Eagle]

Four in the league to be precise, pitiful

Quite. They made more impression on the media than the results. Fair play to them as fervent supporters but they didn't influence much and there's a whole ground to shout and sing apart from them.

 

[Frenchaigle]

Frankly, if we were playing Leeds, we would have been a goal down after 2 minutes. That simply has to change. Again, attacking we're ok, defensively we're poor. Arguably, they should have had 2-3 goals.
As someone else said, 0-0 seems like an impossibility this season. Probably happen due to a load of misses by both sides in one game.

Agree .
As Sage said in the post match , it could have been 6-2 .
If we are going to have to out score the opposition expect an emotional rollercoaster in the Prem this season .
We will be first in something though ... on MOTD 😀

 

[JHB]

Agree .
As Sage said in the post match , it could have been 6-2 .
If we are going to have to out score the opposition expect an emotional rollercoaster in the Prem this season .
We will be first in something though ... on MOTD 😀

If we continue this approach it will be exciting but we will struggle badly in the Premier League. In Everton, Fulham and Ipswich we’ve played three average teams and conceded 7 goals against them. As Man City showed a good team will take us to pieces. They scored 4 but it could easily have been 6 or 7.

We simply have to tighten it up for the Premier League and do it immediately

 

[Willo]

If we continue this approach it will be exciting but we will struggle badly in the Premier League. In Everton, Fulham and Ipswich we’ve played three average teams and conceded 7 goals against them. As Man City showed a good team will take us to pieces. They scored 4 but it could easily have been 6 or 7.

We simply have to tighten it up for the Premier League and do it immediately

I have spoken to some supporters (Last night) and non-devotees this morning.
The 'Mood music' is that it is somewhat naive to play in such a fashion in the PL and that pragmatism is required.

 

[MabbsWasKing]

Our right is the biggest issue. Munoz used to slot in for Richard’s. He just needs to get 5 yards back to hold that point and it will stop a lot of the overlaps and doubling up. Poznan worked it out but couldn’t finish.
Albeit a good solid attacking display and I don’t think we will have many 0-0 draws 😳

I thought every player played well last night but we still gave away numerous chances. I don’t get why the wing backs are so far up the pitch when we don’t seem to have a centre back capable of hitting the long diagonal ball that would benefit us from this.
You could argue that it forces the opposing wide players not to over commit….but it doesn’t..LP and Ipswich just ignored them as they were well aware we wouldn’t be able to find them.
I think Sage needs to make an adjustment to suit the players he has.

 

[taylors lovechild]

What I'm enjoying about life under Sage is that he never wants the team to be passive. He expects them to press aggressively and demands that they give everything. We have a bigger squad now, so hopefully that can be maintained.

One thing that caught my eye was Timber's go-go-gadget extendable legs. Several times his tackling leg seemed to grow a few more inches and poke the ball off the opposing player's foot. He's going to be a real fan favourite, I think.

So yes, the defence still looks vulnerable, but after a rather drab season last year (in terms of the football), I'm up for some hair-raising fun!

 

[PatrickA]

I have spoken to some supporters (Last night) and non-devotees this morning.
The 'Mood music' is that it is somewhat naive to play in such a fashion in the PL and that pragmatism is required.

Leeds will be an excellent test case.
Quick in transition, strong in aerial duels and effective from long throws and set pieces - all areas where we have been exposed.
Sage mentioned post match how he had watched Leeds a few times and is aware of the challenge.
I assume Tomiyasu will come in for Disasi, but Canvot is also a possibility.

 

[MrRobbo]

What I'm enjoying about life under Sage is that he never wants the team to be passive. He expects them to press aggressively and demands that they give everything. We have a bigger squad now, so hopefully that can be maintained.

One thing that caught my eye was Timber's go-go-gadget extendable legs. Several times his tackling leg seemed to grow a few more inches and poke the ball off the opposing player's foot. He's going to be a real fan favourite, I think.

So yes, the defence still looks vulnerable, but after a rather drab season last year (in terms of the football), I'm up for some hair-raising fun!

He certainly does. Epitomised with McNeil putting himself about. He's shown that this tactics will some to up their game (McNeil) and hopefully Canvot. There are others that will also sulk and not step up (Guessand), but I'm fine with that.

I felt like last night there was a key difference that I havent seen before. After Pino's goal, we sat back in a low block (until Richards goal). Center mids and fullbacks pulled back and we were happy, to let them have the ball.

I wondered if it was energy saving. Or the classic, keep it tight for the 10 mins after you score.

Regardless, I thought it was interesting, as its the only period this seasons I can think of where we haven't been pressing really aggressively.

 

[TheBigToePunt]

At the risk of simply repeating what others have said...

Obviously last night was very enjoyable, and hopefully the players (particularly Pino and Larsen, who have been harshly but fairly criticised) will feel more confident at the moment.

That said, the opposition were a huge factor. They contrived both to miss and to gift incredible chances. Better play from them in the boxes could easily have seen us 0-2 down in no time. I am sure Sage is painfully aware of that.

The biggest thing was seeing once again, and perhaps somehow more clearly than ever, the differences between how Sage plays the 343 and how Glasner played it. And, by the way, as much as I am the first to say that football is about players and not manager v manager as the media would often have it, that doesn't mean the different approaches are not important. I watched Liverpool v Forest on telly the other week and it was like watching Palace from last year. The deep, narrow block, the Forest striker being within 40 yards of his own goal when they defended. There was no doubt that this was a Glasner team.

By the same token, the most telling moments last night came when one of our players was suddenly in a totally different part of the pitch to that which Glasner would have had him in. Half way through the second half Richards was penalised for a foul. At the time he was not only in the right back position in terms of being out wide, but he was so far up the pitch that he was almost level with the edge of their box. This was in open play.

Equally, one of their big chances in the first half came when one ball through the middle put their forward away, almost 1v1 against Benitez. Where the feck is Disasi?! I thought to myself. The replay showed him to be some ten yards ahead of the other two centre backs, having chased a forward into midfield. He did it again a couple of times afterwards, though nothing came of it. Glasner would never allow that.

There were moments when the oppo played little triangles around our right side and I felt sorry for Richards as it seemed to me that Khalili had sold himself a bit cheaply, causing the problem to begin with. Upon reflection, whilst a wingback diving in matters, what is more interesting is the response. Glasner would have told Richards to leave the ball there, drop back, let others regroup, stay part of a compact unit. Sage seems to say that if the man ahead of you goes for the press, you all have to follow him.

That is how pressing works, but it relies on the forwards getting it right. If they dive in then everything else falls apart behind them, like dominos.

These are the signs of a very bold pressing game. It is very risky.