Bournemouth vs. Crystal Palace match thread

[Dumademption]

A few years ago we couldn't score or win if Zaha was missing. Now we've evolved slightly to having a few key players in Sarr / Wharton / Lacroix etc. However, the truth remains that we still have that fundamental lack of squad depth.

We've been pathetic all season after European games and would probably have another 10 points if we hadn't played in the ECL. Yet European qualification is what it's all about right? And we might win another trophy.

If we are to manage both next year, we need less of a drop between the first XI and second XI. We need a manager who isn't scared to rotate a little more. Players like Devenny, Clyne, Sosa etc need to be replaced with people who are actually challenging to start.

Fundamentally we have to change our transfer strategy. It's all well and good saving some emergency money for January but when you are spending more in January overpaying on 2 players than you spent in the summer, knowing you are going into a European campaign and have to expand the squad something has to be wrong. Can only hope that they have learned from this experience and realise that they have to expand the squad. Frankly we have been lucky this season. We have been one bad injury away from having no centre backs all year.

 

[Hrolf The Ganger]

We were always likely to lose today and Glaser can't complain with the team he put out.

Obviously we are more concerned with Thursday but as I have said several times, we aren't safe yet.

Everton will be our last chance to get a result, or else we will be relying on Spam and Spurs not winning. Not ideal.

The most notable part of the game was, without doubt, the worst penalty decision I have ever seen.
How the ref has stood a couple of feet away and seen that as a penalty and then VAR not call it a clear and obvious error will remain truly baffling. I still can't believe it happened.

 

[samprior]

Must have knocks or illness as they'd definitely have been included. Good to give a few players a breather... Although it will likely end in a poor performance from us. Hopefully not though. A chance for a few back ups to prove something!

COYP

Unfortunately my prediction was correct. I can fully accept making the changes as Thursday (and hopefully one more European game) is what this season is now all about.

It is a stark reminder though that without a few of our starting 11 we're very much a bottom end of the table team.

If the rumours are true that Wharton and Mateta could be off in the summer then our transfer business has to be both vast and absolutely spot on. This is a big concern after looking at the funds we seem to have wasted in the last window.

All focus now on Thursday, where I've got no doubt we'll be much better (hard not to be).

 

[PatrickA]

Winning the Conference , should it happen, has the makings of a double edged sword.
It could mean another season of poor results and performances from Thursday and Sunday matches.Look at the evidence of this season.

Success in the Conference competition could also mask deeper. problems with the team which have been evident in many of our performances this season.

In simple terms we end the season weaker than we began it.

We have lost our two best players in Guehi and Eze.
We’re also likely to lose Mateta who, while there has been issues with his form and fitness this season, has at least proven proven to be at the level for us in recent seasons.

The jury remains out on our high profile signings of Pino, Larsen and Johnson.
You’d have to be a real optimist to believe they will have the same impact as Eze or Mateta from what we have witnessed from them to date.

Thus while I will be cheering us in Europe I am cognisant that success could result in us being less equipped to cope next season’s fixture load.
Bear in mind that there also has to be a settling in period for a new manager who will have his own ideas on player selection and team formations.

I recognise that may seem unduly pessimistic but it’s an objective analysis of where I see the club.
Critics of this analysis will say I see problems where others see opportunities!

 

[Cymru Eagle]

Ali g would have been better option

 

[BigGcpfc]

Not really ,Devenny is cover for a number of positions and does a decent enough job when required . He had a poor first half on the left with Riad and Johnson but looked OK second half with Wharton and Sarr .

We all know Johnson is a good player though he is obviously suffering from poor form and a lack of confidence

They are a long way from being woeful

Sorry mate but I can't agree with you. Devenny is a not up to this level in any position and Johnson hasn't shown me he is a capable footballer at any level.

 

[ASCPFC]

Ali g would have been better option

Borat would be fine.

 

[kennybrowns leftfoot]

Winning the Conference , should it happen, has the makings of a double edged sword.
It could mean another season of poor results and performances from Thursday and Sunday matches.Look at the evidence of this season.

Success in the Conference competition could also mask deeper. problems with the team which have been evident in many of our performances this season.

In simple terms we end the season weaker than we began it.

We have lost our two best players in Guehi and Eze.
We’re also likely to lose Mateta who, while there has been issues with his form and fitness this season, has at least proven proven to be at the level for us in recent seasons.

The jury remains out on our high profile signings of Pino, Larsen and Johnson.
You’d have to be a real optimist to believe they will have the same impact as Eze or Mateta from what we have witnessed from them to date.

Thus while I will be cheering us in Europe I am cognisant that success could result in us being less equipped to cope next season’s fixture load.
Bear in mind that there also has to be a settling in period for a new manager who will have his own ideas on player selection and team formations.

I recognise that may seem unduly pessimistic but it’s an objective analysis of where I see the club.
Critics of this analysis will say I see problems where others see opportunities!

You know what, this is one of the most sensible posts I've read on here for a long time.. I agree wholeheartedly with everything in it.

It's that old saying of 'Be careful what you wish for' that springs to mind when I think about a possible participation in the Europa League next season.
Our results in the first 8 weeks of the season have kept us up this season because our League form since the end of October has been that of relegation candidates.

We've seen first hand just how exhausting competing in Europe has been this season and how it has impacted on our squad and on our form so it genuinely concerns me what could happen should we qualify for Europe next season and have a poor start in the Prem.

However, would I say no to our first ever European trophy at the end of the month?... Of course I bloody won't!!!

 

[palace99]

I never excused it or said it was a good thing. Just an observation and comparison to Thursday's performance.

They must be absolutely knackered though.

they are not knackered.

Since Thursday's game they got a private jet home and were probably in bed before some of us (i was still enjoying Krakow at 3am). Friday was a recovery day and potentially Saturday too. If they did 'train' it would have been a 30 minute light session just to stretch legs and maybe go through a few set pieces.

Even Wharton said it's not physical it's a mental thing playing Thursday - Sunday.

Clearly we weren't up for it from the 1st whistle.

 

[Davepalace707]

Winning the Conference , should it happen, has the makings of a double edged sword.
It could mean another season of poor results and performances from Thursday and Sunday matches.Look at the evidence of this season.

Success in the Conference competition could also mask deeper. problems with the team which have been evident in many of our performances this season.

In simple terms we end the season weaker than we began it.

We have lost our two best players in Guehi and Eze.
We’re also likely to lose Mateta who, while there has been issues with his form and fitness this season, has at least proven proven to be at the level for us in recent seasons.

The jury remains out on our high profile signings of Pino, Larsen and Johnson.
You’d have to be a real optimist to believe they will have the same impact as Eze or Mateta from what we have witnessed from them to date.

Thus while I will be cheering us in Europe I am cognisant that success could result in us being less equipped to cope next season’s fixture load.
Bear in mind that there also has to be a settling in period for a new manager who will have his own ideas on player selection and team formations.

I recognise that may seem unduly pessimistic but it’s an objective analysis of where I see the club.
Critics of this analysis will say I see problems where others see opportunities!

I think we have all thought this for a while. For me try and win the trophy this season then next season just prioritise the Prem and if that means going out of Europe at the group stage, so be it.

 

[pssguy]

Well, Spurs are completely dominating Villa at the moment with home spectators leaving after 25 minutes. If the home side play like this against Forest (admittedly they have rested a few players) we could see the latter in the Champions League next year. Just another reminder of the Parish/Textor fiasco

Regarding our lack of options, does anyone know if Ozoh, Imray and Rak-Sayki are available for Palace now? The former two have established themselves as at leastt championship level and JRS could hardly be worse than Johnson

 

[kennybrowns leftfoot]

Well, Spurs are completely dominating Villa at the moment with home spectators leaving after 25 minutes. If the home side play like this against Forest (admittedly they have rested a few players) we could see the latter in the European League next year. Just another reminder of the Parish/textor fiasco

Regarding our lack of options, does anyone know if Ozoh, Imray and Rak-Sayki are available for Palace now? he former two have established themselves as at leastt championship level and JRS could hardly be worse than Johnson

Yep Spurs absolutely tearing Villa apart!

Thats a good question regarding the loan signings. I follow Esse and Ozoh on Instagram and they both put posts up today saying their goodbyes to to their respective loan clubs which would suggest that they now must return to us I assume.

 

[pssguy]

Yep Spurs absolutely tearing Villa apart!

Thats a good question regarding the loan signings. I follow Esse and Ozoh on Instagram and they both put posts up today saying their goodbyes to to their respective loan clubs which would suggest that they now must return to us I assume.

Esse had slipped my mind. He's actually been getting good minutes at Coventry and he is only 20. Definitely worth a look at again what with Uche, Guessand and probably Mateta all leaving

 

[Silverfox50]

Loaned players cannot play for their parent clubs until the next transfer window opens, so i'm led to believe.

 

[madcap_v2]

they are not knackered.

Since Thursday's game they got a private jet home and were probably in bed before some of us (i was still enjoying Krakow at 3am). Friday was a recovery day and potentially Saturday too. If they did 'train' it would have been a 30 minute light session just to stretch legs and maybe go through a few set pieces.

Even Wharton said it's not physical it's a mental thing playing Thursday - Sunday.

Clearly we weren't up for it from the 1st whistle.

I think Glasner knows better if they're knackered or not...

 

[sprites]

If there was ever a game crying out for Will Hughes, this was it.

Complete lack of leadership out there.
Lack of fight. Woeful.

Onto the next.

 

[Nicholas91]

If there was ever a game crying out for Will Hughes, this was it.

Complete lack of leadership out there.
Lack of fight. Woeful.

Onto the next.

I (it would seem fortunately) completely missed our game today, but find opinions like this very believable.

I think if things do get tight we’ll pull a necessary result out but quite frankly, in the league and other competitions, it has looked as though nobody has given a flying monkeys within the coaching and playing staff.

It seems all bets are on the Conference League, and TBH I’m somewhat fine with that, but it has made all else pale into grey for me, which is always frustrating to some extent.

May well be worth it in the end, but the week to week supporting of Palace has been quite a non-event this year. I’ve stopped emotionally investing in it.

 

[Dogburger]

Sorry mate but I can't agree with you. Devenny is a not up to this level in any position and Johnson hasn't shown me he is a capable footballer at any level.

Thats moved the goal posts a bit BigG .Not being up to this level is not the same as being woeful as you earlier put it .

But you are a regular negative poster so I will leave you to your gloom