Besiktas vs. Crystal Palace match thread

[Willo]

Not sure about the first, but very likely Hendo would've saved the second. Walter was well out of position.

Benitez took a small step to his left then had to dive right and of course was unable to keep out the shot.
The player should not have been able to shoot, the challenges on the edge of the box were pitiful.

 

[taylors lovechild]

...

If we keep playing with that intensity we will be fine this season. Glenn Hoddle was very positive about us on commentary.

Not sure if anyone else has said it, but how good is it to have Hoddle doing the commentary for our Europa games this season? Intelligent, unemotional and understands the game.

With regard to last night's game, I'm not sure we could have asked for much more from the team or the manager. I said before the game that having JP was important, not just for his physical presence, but also his character. Even when we went one down, he was trying to lift the team. At times of adversity, you need big characters, and you don't get much bigger than JP. I feel bad for saying it, as he works hard, but once JSL came on our threat all but evaporated. It then got worse when he went off and Nketiah came on. Parish needs to get the money bag out and tie JP down to a new contract! Failing that, at least refuse to sell him in January.

I also think Disasi looked the closest to a leader we've seen at the back this season. With some more games under his belt, I think he'll start to win us over.

 

[Palace Old Geezer]

Thought that was an excellent and highly encouraging performance from us last night. Not sure quite why there is still some negativity.

We worked our arses off, closed them down relentlessly, looked dangerous every time we went forward and overall, despite conceding two again, I thought did look more defensively sound.

Mateta was a menace. McNeil surprised me by putting in a real shift. Pino is class. Like what I saw from the wingbacks.

The referee was shocking. I can't believe he didn't review our opening goal properly and think we had a couple of penalty shouts ignored. If a couple of those decisions had gone our way we could have put a few past them in what was a hostile atmosphere.

If we keep playing with that intensity we will be fine this season. Glenn Hoddle was very positive about us on commentary.

I agree with most of what you wrote, but I think any negativity comes from the fact that we still show weakness at the back. Concentration dropped briefly and we lost out.

Generally I'm liking our positive play going forward and there's no doubt the team are beginning to gel. JPM made a difference and I'm sure we all felt for him losing his first goal after being a whisker off side.

Really hope we get 3 points on Sunday to relieve pressure on Pierre - we need to give him at least until Christmas to sort out the defensive frailties.

 

[PatrickA]

Their second goal was a good shot low and in the corner, although I acknowledge that Benitez could possibly have saved it if he was better positioned
For me the greater issue was how the forward waltzed past two of our players with scarcely a challenge thereby getting the space to take a clean strike.

 

[Canterbury Palace]

Agree with most of your comments. A word of caution though they did put put out a weakened side so we should not get too carried away.

This is true but you could also argue that we are missing Henderson whose importance in organising that back line is huge and, for whatever reason, Sarr also still isn't starting yet. I'd say they are arguably our two most important players so we aren't full strength either.

 

[Canterbury Palace]

I agree with most of what you wrote, but I think any negativity comes from the fact that we still show weakness at the back. Concentration dropped briefly and we lost out.

Generally I'm liking our positive play going forward and there's no doubt the team are beginning to gel. JPM made a difference and I'm sure we all felt for him losing his first goal after being a whisker off side.

Really hope we get 3 points on Sunday to relieve pressure on Pierre - we need to give him at least until Christmas to sort out the defensive frailties.

Defence is unquestionably still dodgy but I think Henderson returning will give them more confidence and, to be honest, when we have to change our back 3 every game there's never going to be consistency. I think if we can start playing the same 3 every week they will start to improve. That Disasi red card was so harmful to us.

 

[Canterbury Palace]

Not sure if anyone else has said it, but how good is it to have Hoddle doing the commentary for our Europa games this season? Intelligent, unemotional and understands the game.

With regard to last night's game, I'm not sure we could have asked for much more from the team or the manager. I said before the game that having JP was important, not just for his physical presence, but also his character. Even when we went one down, he was trying to lift the team. At times of adversity, you need big characters, and you don't get much bigger than JP. I feel bad for saying it, as he works hard, but once JSL came on our threat all but evaporated. It then got worse when he went off and Nketiah came on. Parish needs to get the money bag out and tie JP down to a new contract! Failing that, at least refuse to sell him in January.

I also think Disasi looked the closest to a leader we've seen at the back this season. With some more games under his belt, I think he'll start to win us over.

Yeah I really like him actually. He is very calm and speaks from authority having obviously been a top player and also, in my view, the best England manager since I've been watching football in terms of style of play.

 

[doombear]

This is true but you could also argue that we are missing Henderson whose importance in organising that back line is huge and, for whatever reason, Sarr also still isn't starting yet. I'd say they are arguably our two most important players so we aren't full strength either.

I'm wondering whether there is any truth in the rumour we heard a couple of months back that Sarr won't play alongside JP. I note that Sarr only came on when JP went off. I know both have been injured (and Sarr sulking as well) but I've yet to see the two of them on the pitch at the same time.

 

[Save Dwindlehurst]

This is what my dear wife muttered when we first met !
Returning to the match last night, there were certainly positives and hopefully we witness the same against Newcastle.
I am actually cautiously optimistic about our prospects on Sunday.

Reaching for the crack pipe again Willo ?

 

[RedandBlueSash]

Defence is unquestionably still dodgy but I think Henderson returning will give them more confidence and, to be honest, when we have to change our back 3 every game there's never going to be consistency. I think if we can start playing the same 3 every week they will start to improve. That Disasi red card was so harmful to us.

Yes, losing Disasi and Henderson has hurt us.
And losing Riad...
And losing Tomiyasu...
And not having Mateta...
And not having Sarr...
And still bedding in Khalaili...
And a brand new system...
And what is now a succession of refs who seem determined to slant games against us.

All in all, for all the reversals we've had, we are doing okay. We have to give Sage more time. He's got us playing far more adventurous and less predictable football. Give him a few more games, a more settled back line, maybe a CM reinforcement in January and we can still have a strong season and set ourselves up for a stronger one still next year.

 

[ambrose7]

I have felt a little more deflated about the result last night when hearing that Besiktas made 9 changes from their side that played Trabzonspor at the weekend.

It's obviously a positive step from Sunday. Just maybe not as big a step as it had originally seemed. Also makes it all the more disappointing how quickly and early we settled into 'park the bus' mode after taking the lead.

 

[bright&wright]

I have felt a little more deflated about the result last night when hearing that Besiktas made 9 changes from their side that played Trabzonspor at the weekend.

It's obviously a positive step from Sunday. Just maybe not as big a step as it had originally seemed. Also makes it all the more disappointing how quickly and early we settled into 'park the bus' mode after taking the lead.

And we were the better team and should have won. It's not like we struggled and scraped to a draw. Henderson, Riad, Tomiyasu, and Sarr still coming back to fitness so for more context, we were out 4 starters.

But I fully agree with the decision to go defensive at 2-1. Another managerial tactical error.

 

[Runningman]

Not sure if anyone else has said it, but how good is it to have Hoddle doing the commentary for our Europa games this season? Intelligent, unemotional and understands the game.

With regard to last night's game, I'm not sure we could have asked for much more from the team or the manager. I said before the game that having JP was important, not just for his physical presence, but also his character. Even when we went one down, he was trying to lift the team. At times of adversity, you need big characters, and you don't get much bigger than JP. I feel bad for saying it, as he works hard, but once JSL came on our threat all but evaporated. It then got worse when he went off and Nketiah came on. Parish needs to get the money bag out and tie JP down to a new contract! Failing that, at least refuse to sell him in January.

I also think Disasi looked the closest to a leader we've seen at the back this season. With some more games under his belt, I think he'll start to win us over.

Yeah, but get rid of Mattaf**kface….

 

[Lanzo-Ad]

We're a different team with Mateta leading the line - gives us so much more of an outlet to get up the pitch.

Pino is starting to become the player we thought we'd signed - while he can still be a little careless in possession, he looks dangerous in every game and the moments of quality seem to be coming more regularly. One of the biggest positives to the early season for me.

Wharton and Kamada give us a lot more stability in midfield and we looked better as a result, but Wharton still looks a way short of his best to me.

Worryingly I think that's probably our strongest centre-back trio - Disasi concerns me at times but he's the most Lacroix-like in playing style and looks the most natural in the centre of the three.

It's encouraging that the team were up for the battle and showed a reaction from Sunday, and whilst it was obviously a much improved performance, I'm still far from convinced that we've got enough for the Prem - Besiktas were a poor side and we still look far too vulnerable.

Mateta needs to understand that he got into the French squad playing for Palace, Playing, not sitting on the bench here or somewhere else, happy vibes from him and a new contract follows, AC Milan is now a step down 😎

 

[Palace Old Geezer]

Yeah I really like him actually. He is very calm and speaks from authority having obviously been a top player and also, in my view, the best England manager since I've been watching football in terms of style of play.

Many positive comments about Hoddle's commentary and sympathetic views about Palace, both here and on bbs. Perhaps he would make a suitable replacement for Sage should his position be curtailed? He probably wouldn't want the hassle.

 

[palace99]

Defence is unquestionably still dodgy but I think Henderson returning will give them more confidence and, to be honest, when we have to change our back 3 every game there's never going to be consistency. I think if we can start playing the same 3 every week they will start to improve. That Disasi red card was so harmful to us.

definitely an improvement but Disasi wandering is now a concern. As with the sending off i wasn't sure why he was in the opposition half in the first place and then committing to a unnecessary challenge.

Last night was much better but for the 1st goal he again wandered about 10 yards further forward leaving a massive gap through the middle.

On that surely the whole point of 3 at the back is that when one goes forward, usually the left or right sided of the 3, the other 2 move across to cover/compensate. The middle one should rarely go forward.

Sage needs to sort this ASAP.

The 2nd goal had 2 woeful attempts at tackles/blocks. One would be poor, two is unacceptable.

However, overall a much improved performance - there is light at the end of the tunnel

 

[JHB]

last night was better on a team level defensively. Goals were due to a combination of good finishing and slack play for individuals in the back three. While still a significant issue that is better than using the wrong tactics and team shape.

Based on what we are seeing ideally we would not be starting Canvot and Disasi and definitely not both of them. If one needs to drop right now it would be Canvot. He looked like he was developing well last season but he has failed to cut out the bad mistakes (at least one a game) and bad decisions when on the ball. Yes he has good attributes but he’s like an NFL running back who keeps fumbling the ball. Unless and until he can sort those things out he shouldn’t be starting at this level. I really hope he can but if he doesn’t he will struggle in his career

 

[silvertop]

This is true but you could also argue that we are missing Henderson whose importance in organising that back line is huge and, for whatever reason, Sarr also still isn't starting yet. I'd say they are arguably our two most important players so we aren't full strength either.

JPM and Sarr both semi match fit.

Tomiyasu + Timber both out for a while.

 

[silvertop]

last night was better on a team level defensively. Goals were due to a combination of good finishing and slack play for individuals in the back three. While still a significant issue that is better than using the wrong tactics and team shape.

Based on what we are seeing ideally we would not be starting Canvot and Disasi and definitely not both of them. If one needs to drop right now it would be Canvot. He looked like he was developing well last season but he has failed to cut out the bad mistakes (at least one a game) and bad decisions when on the ball. Yes he has good attributes but he’s like an NFL running back who keeps fumbling the ball. Unless and until he can sort those things out he shouldn’t be starting at this level. I really hope he can but if he doesn’t he will struggle in his career

I could not believe how bad Canvot was against Forest at times.

Lost possession in our defensive third a few times. Realizing he was beat he pretended (badly) to be fouled. Gave them the attack each time really close to our goal.

 

[OneStevePerrin]

I could not believe how bad Canvot was against Forest at times.

Lost possession in our defensive third a few times. Realizing he was beat he pretended (badly) to be fouled. Gave them the attack each time really close to our goal.

I think some of that was down to Richard’s playing central. Thought Canvot and Richard’s looked better last night with Disasi in the middle of them. It’s not ideal but presently they are our best three to play in their preferred positions. Even bringing in Lerma means shifting them around putting Richard’s on the left where he struggles. We are now relying on Disasi staying fit / on the field or we will be in more trouble than we already are.