Sage in or out

[Wilesy01]

As a Palace supporter of many years any win is great, as was last nights. But did last nights game tell us our defending is now a problem solved? Not according to stats and eyewitness . Did it improve Sages position ? Only if you ignore the fact that Fulham, just as Forest before should have scored three before we scored.
In this respect our defending doesn’t improve by much . It’s a critical view not a whine. Can Sage change things ? Doubtful.

I hear what you’re saying. Yes, we still give up chances to the opposition however at least last night the defence looked much more organised and there weren’t any massive errors. It’s a low bar but it’s progress nonetheless.

I’d also wade in and say over the 3 games played from Brighton to Newcastle virtually every chance we conceded ended up in the back of the net. That’s unfortunate by any measure and by contrast we missed some easy chances that could have impacted those games in our favour.

I’m not sold on Sage and I’ll give him the next few games to convince me the improved defence can sustain and that we become more clinical.

 

[est1905]

I hear what you’re saying. Yes, we still give up chances to the opposition however at least last night the defence looked much more organised and there weren’t any massive errors. It’s a low bar but it’s progress nonetheless.

I’d also wade in and say over the 3 games played from Brighton to Newcastle virtually every chance we conceded ended up in the back of the net. That’s unfortunate by any measure and by contrast we missed some easy chances that could have impacted those games in our favour.

I’m not sold on Sage and I’ll give him the next few games to convince me the improved defence can sustain and that we become more clinical.

This.
Its hard enough being a Palace fan without looking for things to be down about. We won, we kept a clean sheet, our defenders played better than in recent games, we saw some good individual performances.
Personally I cant see whats not to feel a bit upbeat about.

 

[park the bus]

The defence looked improved for 3 reasons - no Khalaili, no Disasi, no Canvot. All 3 have contributed to goals conceded through poor errors. Perhaps Sage has realised.

 

[mtp1958]

The defence looked improved for 3 reasons - no Khalaili, no Disasi, no Canvot. All 3 have contributed to goals conceded through poor errors. Perhaps Sage has realised.

But also midfield helped more

 

[est1905]

But also midfield helped more

Having a couple of tough tackling holders in front of them releived a lot of pressure. I have been saying for a while we have some really good defensive midfielders in our squad. Lerma, Doucoure, Hughes, Timber, even Kamada can play there. If the defence is struggling sit a couple in front of them. Probably as much as 50% of opposition attacks will be cut out before they reach our 18 yard box.
I dont think Mingueza got enough credit last night either. Really tightened up on the right.

 

[grumpymort]

But also midfield helped more

I agree it was the midfield which really helped.

Hendo
Lerma
Richards
Ahanor
Mitchell
Khalilia
Hughes
Wharton
Kamada
McNeil
Mateta (If Available)

Is who I would go with against Spurs but he wont.

Pino will start and Hughes will be dropped I expect Disasi will start as well.

Wharton doesn't really deserve to start even when he came on against Fulham he was very poor again but I do think I would rather see him start over 2 defensive midfielders.

 

[est1905]

I agree it was the midfield which really helped.

Hendo
Lerma
Richards
Ahanor
Mitchell
Khalilia
Hughes
Wharton
Kamada
McNeil
Mateta (If Available)

Is who I would go with against Spurs but he wont.

Pino will start and Hughes will be dropped I expect Disasi will start as well.

Wharton doesn't really deserve to start even when he came on against Fulham he was very poor again but I do think I would rather see him start over 2 defensive midfielders.

I'd stick with Mingueza over Kalaili. I like Kalaili for his attacking ability but we have got to solidify our back line. Having Hendo helps for his leadership as well as his saves.
I'd play Hughes and Doucoure first half then hook one of them at half time for a more attacking player (McNeil?) second half if the plan has worked up to this point.
We can beat Spuds. Their recent wins (in typical Spuds fashion) are grossly overhyped. Coventry were poor, Chelsea even worse. It wont be an easy game but we're capable of winning it if we play like we can.

 

[grumpymort]

I'd stick with Mingueza over Kalaili. I like Kalaili for his attacking ability but we have got to solidify our back line. Having Hendo helps for his leadership as well as his saves.
I'd play Hughes and Doucoure first half then hook one of them at half time for a more attacking player (McNeil?) second half if the plan has worked up to this point.
We can beat Spuds. Their recent wins (in typical Spuds fashion) are grossly overhyped. Coventry were poor, Chelsea even worse. It wont be an easy game but we're capable of winning it if we play like we can.

Doucoure wont be able to play he was done and I would rather have Lerma and Hughes together if 2 defensive mid are required.

 

[eaglesdare]

Doucoure isint the answer. His next start will probably be sunderland QF.

 

[elgin eeagle]

This.
Its hard enough being a Palace fan without looking for things to be down about. We won, we kept a clean sheet, our defenders played better than in recent games, we saw some good individual performances.
Personally I cant see whats not to feel a bit upbeat about.

i want Sage to stay but im also realistic that the defenders we have this season are not the greatest. We may have to be content with the odd win and point her and there, and limp along until we can hopefully give him better defenders in January. It will probably cost a few quid but so would relegation.

 

[JHB]

This.
Its hard enough being a Palace fan without looking for things to be down about. We won, we kept a clean sheet, our defenders played better than in recent games, we saw some good individual performances.
Personally I cant see whats not to feel a bit upbeat about.

I’ve been very critical of us this season but I agree with you on this. Yes it wasn’t pretty but a win is a win. Encouragingly for me there was a clear plan. It wasn’t a wildly exciting one but that’s a good thing. We played compact, cut out the spaces behind the wingbacks and had midfielders who protect the defence. The players worked hard. We didn’t do it perfectly and the organisation at set pieces was lacking but it was the right plan and it worked.

Given where we are as a team I think this is the template to follow for the next few games. We have no confidence and have lacked organisation. Go back to a simple, compact game plan and try to conceded as few as possible. We will probably lose more than we win still and I don’t expect it to be great to watch but when you are in a mess you have to start somewhere. We need a win every three games to stay up and this approach probably is our best way to do that.

 

[JHB]

I'd stick with Mingueza over Kalaili. I like Kalaili for his attacking ability but we have got to solidify our back line. Having Hendo helps for his leadership as well as his saves.
I'd play Hughes and Doucoure first half then hook one of them at half time for a more attacking player (McNeil?) second half if the plan has worked up to this point.
We can beat Spuds. Their recent wins (in typical Spuds fashion) are grossly overhyped. Coventry were poor, Chelsea even worse. It wont be an easy game but we're capable of winning it if we play like we can.

Definitely Mingueza over Khalali who has been a bit of a disaster so far this season. Don’t think Hughes and Doucoure have the legs to both start again on Saturday. For me it should be Hughes with one or Wharton or Timber (if fit). The partnership of Wharton and Timber just hasn’t worked. They don’t play well together

 

[MarkA333]

I don’t agree that Wharton and Timber don’t play well together. It’s the system that doesn’t work, having our wingbacks caught upfield multiple times in a game is a recipe for disaster. Much as he seems a decent enough bloke, I think we should swap Sage asap. We need someone really good with Premiership experience to replace him though. I think Glenn Hoddle would be ok. Or Howe.

 

[Save Dwindlehurst]

Doucoure wont be able to play he was done and I would rather have Lerma and Hughes together if 2 defensive mid are required.

So the result will be Spurs 1 or 2 Palace 0 ?

 

[Willo]

I don’t agree that Wharton and Timber don’t play well together. It’s the system that doesn’t work, having our wingbacks caught upfield multiple times in a game is a recipe for disaster. Much as he seems a decent enough bloke, I think we should swap Sage asap. We need someone really good with Premiership experience to replace him though. I think Glenn Hoddle would be ok. Or Howe.

I am unaware that Hoddle he has any desire to return to football management after 20 years away from the 'Hot Seat'.
Howe has no interest in managing our club, his sights are set somewhat higher.

 

[MarkA333]

I think you are right on both counts. Apart from Pep or Klopp not sure who else I would want.

 

[JHB]

I don’t agree that Wharton and Timber don’t play well together. It’s the system that doesn’t work, having our wingbacks caught upfield multiple times in a game is a recipe for disaster. Much as he seems a decent enough bloke, I think we should swap Sage asap. We need someone really good with Premiership experience to replace him though. I think Glenn Hoddle would be ok. Or Howe.

I agree with you that the system is a problem. What I would say is we have zero evidence Timber and Wharton play well together. Neither is a defensive midfielder and we need that.

 

[eritheagle]

I was at fulham the other night and it was great to hear a lot of support for sage (whether it would've been same if losing).

However, it was another game where the (poor) opposition had lots of chances again. E did a bit better late on with our subs as fulham had to push more forward.

I want him to turn it around and do well but i just think it'll be more of the same every game. Yes, we'll win some as we have some good players but ultimatelly i think we may go down if don't make a change.

 

[samprior]

I was at fulham the other night and it was great to hear a lot of support for sage (whether it would've been same if losing).

However, it was another game where the (poor) opposition had lots of chances again. E did a bit better late on with our subs as fulham had to push more forward.

I want him to turn it around and do well but i just think it'll be more of the same every game. Yes, we'll win some as we have some good players but ultimatelly i think we may go down if don't make a change.

Yep I sadly agree. The amount of chances that we continue to offer up to the opposition is simply not sustainable. The only game where this dramatically reduced was the Leeds game but we didn't progress after that.

Sage seems like a nice fella but if he doesn't change the system I just can't see him making a success of it. Whichever 3 at the back we choose, are constantly leaving huge gaps and our midfield is always overrun which gifts the opposition time and possession to pick their passes.

Maybe we'll get it right but for me that's based more on blind hope rather than any actual evidence we've seen on the pitch so far.

 

[Putitout]

Unlike the Fulham, game this Spurs, game should tell us exactly where we are at. Nothing will be better than if the result reflects a marked improvement , this has to be what every Palace person will be wanting.
If not the club should have seen enough to know that Sage, is not on top of the situation and is not likely to be. Nothing is going to please me more than having Palace succeed hope that happens tomorrow.