Crystal Palace v Aston Villa Match Thread

[The Heath Eagle]

I've supported Palace since the early 1990s so I've seen a lifetime's worth of dross in my time. Mentioning Ollie is apposite, as, much like Glasner, he didn't seem to have a clue how to get a performance or even a reaction out of his team.

I also don't think I'm catastrophising - going down wouldn't be the worst thing to happen, and as I mentioned before, we've had an unexpectedly long run in the top flight with plenty of great moments.

It's like this: most seasons there's a team which is relegated (or comes close to it) that nobody on the outside expected, but for those in the know, the signs were there. This year, it's us. It's a combination of a false dawn under a new manager; the loss of an exceptionally gifted player and a few more reliable hands, with poor quality replacements; and the rare season in which the teams that usually struggle seem to be performing well.

I may well be completely wrong, but the next few fixtures look daunting, and it's not hard to see us come early December still without a win and, inevitably, without a manager – and in classic Parish fashion, he'll pull the trigger without having a replacement in mind.

How about this little beauty from the 'Moyes in' thread back in October...

Sorry to dig zoose out again, who seemed quite content about Palace going down at the time. Quite a few on here wanted Glasner out, where are you now? Servings of humble pie all round I hope

 

[eaglesdare]

In fairness we were all thinking the same last October 😅

 

[silvertop]

In all this positivity and by way of negative balance...

We had 1/3 of possession but had far more chances than a very good Villa team. Our plan A is cede possession and hit effectively on the break. With the one change (I will return to) our forwards were able to execute their chances more effectively with an improved supply.

But plan B? When teams sit back and cede the possession to us. Kind of explains the home form dilemma. What do we have? I suppose the test will be this weekend and Ipswich. If there is no plan B the mood on here will change very quickly.

The difference? A match fit Wharton. I honestly think he is one of the best midfielders on the planet. I think he will be very difficult to keep. Tuchel was watching last night and is bound to increase his profile next month (he cant make the same mistake Southgate did and chose Mainoo over him). He will be lifting the ECL in a couple of years, but not with us.

BTW we won last night on merit. Not VAR.

 

[dreamwaverider]

Whilst I am happy that VAR made the correct decisions about offside the rules need to change.

It's ridiculous that goals are judged on whether somebody's toe or hand is a few inches further forward then it should be.

The balance of doubt should go to the attacking team and only if there is clear daylight should it be ruled offside. Quite how you would draft a rule for that I am not sure but hopefully you get my point.

If I was a Villa fan I would not be happy.

As AI advances, surely there will be a way very shortly when technology can give an instant answer to any offside call. If you want to change offside to give the attacker more advantage (as you suggest, which I am in full agreement with ) it would take five minutes for a skilled techi to do it.
If you are at the stadium, a four minute wait for a VAR decision seems so much longer on a cold night. (Like against Everton).
Last night, I reckon the VAR operators thought their job was to review every single goal.....and slowly.
It kills the real high fans get from instant decisions.

 

[silvertop]

How about this little beauty from the 'Moyes in' thread back in October...

Sorry to dig zoose out again, who seemed quite content about Palace going down at the time. Quite a few on here wanted Glasner out, where are you now? Servings of humble pie all round I hope

It was always about adjustment where smaller clubs like ours are less able to transform quickly with ins and outs given the relative squad depth.

And injuries; especially who was injured.

 

[dreamwaverider]

Wharton's return to fitness its pretty much exactly the same as when he joined us last season.
He probably needs a few more games (if we are lucky) to get back to top form, but he is already showing us all once again how special he is. Some of his passing and simple moving off the ball last night would suggest he could well go all the way to the very top if his body withstands the onslaught.
He was taken out late on by a Villa donkey, which prompted his substitution five minutes later, but he looked ok from the hit. He seemed untroubled when he was wandering round the pitch after the game.
The boy is undoubtedly very special and Glasner and the club are making a good job of managing him back into the game.

 

[Willo]

Oh my word, what a splendid performance and result.
I placed my rump on my seat expecting an honourable draw.
My ageing face was wreathed in merriment as the goals flowed and there was unalloyed delight at the end of the game.
👍👍

 

[The Heath Eagle]

It was always about adjustment where smaller clubs like ours are less able to transform quickly with ins and outs given the relative squad depth.

And injuries; especially who was injured.

I think some of the performances were much better than the results suggested. I was annoyed so many seemed to want OG out at the time and suggested he was incompetent. But I appreciate people get emotional and look for something to blame

 

[ouzo]

Whilst I am happy that VAR made the correct decisions about offside the rules need to change.

It's ridiculous that goals are judged on whether somebody's toe or hand is a few inches further forward then it should be.

The balance of doubt should go to the attacking team and only if there is clear daylight should it be ruled offside. Quite how you would draft a rule for that I am not sure but hopefully you get my point.

If I was a Villa fan I would not be happy.

I agree that there offside was rediculous. However, I did wonder if their allowed goal should have been checked for offside. When their keeper kicks the ball their number 11 appears to be stood in an offisde position before coming back on-side to take the ball. I don't know if this was checked by VAR as nothing was mentioned.

 

[Willo]

I agree that there offside was rediculous. However, I did wonder if their allowed goal should have been checked for offside. When their keeper kicks the ball their number 11 appears to be stood in an offisde position before coming back on-side to take the ball. I don't know if this was checked by VAR as nothing was mentioned.

One cannot be offside from a goal kick.

 

[ouzo]

One cannot be offside from a goal kick.

Thanks, didn't know that

 

[Nicholas91]

In all this positivity and by way of negative balance...

We had 1/3 of possession but had far more chances than a very good Villa team. Our plan A is cede possession and hit effectively on the break. With the one change (I will return to) our forwards were able to execute their chances more effectively with an improved supply.

But plan B? When teams sit back and cede the possession to us. Kind of explains the home form dilemma. What do we have? I suppose the test will be this weekend and Ipswich. If there is no plan B the mood on here will change very quickly.

The difference? A match fit Wharton. I honestly think he is one of the best midfielders on the planet. I think he will be very difficult to keep. Tuchel was watching last night and is bound to increase his profile next month (he cant make the same mistake Southgate did and chose Mainoo over him). He will be lifting the ECL in a couple of years, but not with us.

BTW we won last night on merit. Not VAR.

Agree with every word there.

 

[Nicholas91]

One cannot be offside from a goal kick.

What about a number nine or eleven?

 

[Teddy Eagle]

One cannot be offside from a goal kick.

Makes you wonder why more goalkeepers don't launch it rather than piddling around in their own area all the time.

 

[hythemaceagle]

They even out. Eze at Brentford !

Same ref as last night……..he owed us one!

 

[Glazier#1]

In fairness we were all thinking the same last October 😅

I wasn't.

 

[Glazier#1]

In all this positivity and by way of negative balance...

We had 1/3 of possession but had far more chances than a very good Villa team. Our plan A is cede possession and hit effectively on the break. With the one change (I will return to) our forwards were able to execute their chances more effectively with an improved supply.

But plan B? When teams sit back and cede the possession to us. Kind of explains the home form dilemma. What do we have? I suppose the test will be this weekend and Ipswich. If there is no plan B the mood on here will change very quickly.

The difference? A match fit Wharton. I honestly think he is one of the best midfielders on the planet. I think he will be very difficult to keep. Tuchel was watching last night and is bound to increase his profile next month (he cant make the same mistake Southgate did and chose Mainoo over him). He will be lifting the ECL in a couple of years, but not with us.

BTW we won last night on merit. Not VAR.

Yes indeed.

I could see Citeh putting a colossal bid in to secure him. His vision and execution of the pass(es) are just sublime: in the De Bruyne mould, I think.

 

[Norbury Old Git]

Also thought the ref had a good game. Played advantage for matetas goal.

Had some luck with villas disallowed goal it was very very tight.

This was the ref who disallowed the Eze free kick against Brentford and he was up to his malicious worst last night. Football is a contact sport and in the first half Mr Barrot penalised practically every tackle we made where we won the ball. He registered 19 fouls against us (not including offsides). He failed to treat the Villains with the same vigour allowing them to cheat without censure. When Ramsey clearly dived in the area, as checked by VAR, he was not booked. Sarr was hit by a vicious late challenge in the build up to our second goal, a potential red card offence, but the ball had moved on to Eze who was flattened from behind before the ball broke to Mateta. Both the offences should have led to cards but Barrot bottled it. This probably due to his Yorkshire contempt for all things southern.

 

[Palacesince64]

In fairness we were all thinking the same last October 😅

I don’t wish to gloat (he said doing just that) but I’m on record saying Ollie was changing the way we play and would get things right eventually and in the unlikely event we were relegated we should stick with him in the Championship as he was the best manager we’ve had in years

 

[Eagleman13]

This was the ref who disallowed the Eze free kick against Brentford and he was up to his malicious worst last night. Football is a contact sport and in the first half Mr Barrot penalised practically every tackle we made where we won the ball. He registered 19 fouls against us (not including offsides). He failed to treat the Villains with the same vigour allowing them to cheat without censure. When Ramsey clearly dived in the area, as checked by VAR, he was not booked. Sarr was hit by a vicious late challenge in the build up to our second goal, a potential red card offence, but the ball had moved on to Eze who was flattened from behind before the ball broke to Mateta. Both the offences should have led to cards but Barrot bottled it. This probably due to his Yorkshire contempt for all things southern.

Bit harsh N.O.G. even B'ham is south of Yorkshire, also this ref also ref'd our 2-1 victory v Villa in the League cup last Oct. 😀