Crystal Palace V Manchester United match Thread

[PatrickA]

Absolutely, it's the butterfly effect in this league isn't it! One decision the other way and suddenly Eze is full of confidence which lifts the entire team. It will come.

I understand the need for positivity and it's fair to reflect that we've been competitive in every game this season other than during the first half yesterday.

It's also fair to say that Glasner recognised the failings in the first half and and corrected them.

However, my question would be why select that midfield in the first place.
Kamada and Wharton is not a balanced midfield and struggled when paired for a spell during the West Ham defeat.
As a pairing it leaves us too open and they don't have the necessary physicality and to protect our defence.

This to me seems fairly basic.

Doucoure is unfit, but Lerma was available and helped to change yesterday's game in the second half.

Similarly, Nketiah is clearly being played out of position and we are not playing to his strengths.

We've been unfortunate in games this season and I think we will improve, but it could be argued that some of the problems this season have been self induced through odd selections that haven't worked.

 

[Willo]

Stamping down on someone can be deemed as violent conduct too. If you think that was a genuine challenge, please explain what sort of legitimate challenge involves jumping in the air with two feet?

I will comment about the challenge on Kamada and not veer into the realms of hypothetical situations.
In my humble opinion the challenge was 'Reckless' which was the view of the referee and the VAR.Judging by some of the reaction in the media and amongst supporters I suspect had a RED been brandished there would have been no controversy.
I have nothing else to add.

 

[tshepp897]

I will comment about the challenge on Kamada and not veer into the realms of hypothetical situations.
In my humble opinion the challenge was 'Reckless' which was the view of the referee and the VAR.
I have nothing else to add.

What is hypothetical about my question? Or the situation I described? It is not hypothetical to say that a stamp is violent conduct and it is not hypothetical to deem that, the thing you deem to be a challenge was a stamp. We may have different interpretations of the event, that is true but nothing I said was hypothetical just an alternative interpretation. I would have thought that such a verbose gentleman as you are would, would understand the meaning of such a simple word.

 

[ex hibitionist]

It is obvious that Eze, the centre of our creativity, is overloaded because when he gets the ball he is immediately harrassed by two or more of the opposition. We need someone to share the creative responsibilities. Last season that someone was Olise. He has gone and we don't seem to have anyone capable of stepping in.
I don't share the criticism of Kamada but Hughes is no help creatively and Wharton is obviously not his old self.
Something new is needed because I can't see us scoring many goals until Eze gets help.

Sarr is no Olise but him and Eze seem to have a bit of an understanding so he could attract players away from Ebs, him and Eze dovetailing behind Nketiah looks our best attacking combination imho

 

[eagleman13]

On the plus side. Henderson. OG changing team at half time to good effect. Best game I.ve seen Mitchell play Saar is worth a start. As for everything else we were woeful. Made average united look like world beaters. Fear it’s going to be a long difficult season And Everton on Saturday will give us more practice on defending corners and crosses than we can handle on thatperformancee
But I still believe. We have just been blinded by the end to last season which was olise and Andersen inspired….back to grinding out results for us.
Ps. How many yellows has Hughes got…going for a long rest soon I guess

Only 2, in the league. Get to 5, 1 match ban. Get to 10, 2 match ban, get to 15, 5 match ban. Long way to go yet.

If after 19 games the 5 card 1 match ban is rescinded, after 32 games the 10 match ban is also rescinded

 

[Willo]

What is hypothetical about my question? Or the situation I described? It is not hypothetical to say that a stamp is violent conduct and it is not hypothetical to deem that, the thing you deem to be a challenge was a stamp. We may have different interpretations of the event, that is true but nothing I said was hypothetical just an alternative interpretation. I would have thought that such a verbose gentleman as you are would, would understand the meaning of such a simple word.

As I asserted I prefer to comment about the actual incident instead of gallivanting down the path of general comments about 'Stamping' etc. 'Stamping' can be interpreted differently, some will believe a 'Stamp' occurred others will view it differently and the action under discussion can vary according to the speed, ferocity and the minutiae of the incident. As far as I am concerned the challenge on Kamada was 'Reckless' and my view is shared by the referee and VAR.

I have no intention of getting embroiled in any protracted debate on the subject of 'Stamping', accordingly will not be drawn into a discussion on such a matter.

 

[Palace Old Geezer]

No he has always been a world class keeper, we just have people on here who have their favourites, especially keepers and who will slang off the performance of any other players who dares to play in that position.

I must say that I always favoured Johnstone over Henderson while they were both with us, but without any hint of throwing criticism in Henderson's direction.

As far as I, and many others, were concerned Johnstone displayed the better stopping and distribution capability at that time. This wasn't a direct slur on Henderson, just how his play appeared in comparison.

I am firmly of the opinion that Henderson is a first class keeper who saved us embarrassment yesterday. I suggested he was MOTM earlier in this thread before the club announced their results.

I am delighted that the coaching staff have a far better understanding of our player's capabilities than me.

 

[Willo]

I must say that I always favoured Johnstone over Henderson while they were both with us, but without any hint of throwing criticism in Henderson's direction.

As far as I, and many others, were concerned Johnstone displayed the better stopping and distribution capability at that time. This wasn't a direct slur on Henderson, just how his play appeared in comparison.

I am firmly of the opinion that Henderson is a first class keeper who saved us embarrassment yesterday. I suggested he was MOTM earlier in this thread before the club announced their results.

I am delighted that the coaching staff have a far better understanding of our player's capabilities than me.

Henderson played with great aplomb and we are indebted to him for preventing a comprehensive defeat.

Apropos being a "Top keeper" globally in the upper echelons of the goalkeeper fraternity, he will need to improve his distribution with his feet to stand a chance of achieving such a vaulted status.

 

[PalazioVecchio]

I am firmly of the opinion that Henderson is a first class keeper who saved us embarrassment yesterday. I suggested he was MOTM earlier in this thread before the club announced their results.

for certain, Henderson is mustard. Now can we ensure whatever backup keepers we have are good enough to put pressure on him.

 

[pssguy]

Another crazy rule! If you’re reckless and injure the player it’s a red, but if you’re reckless and the player is fortunate enough to avoid contact it’s a yellow. At the end of the day reckless dangerous play is just that whatever the outcome.

Well, it is like attempted murder is a lesser crime than murder. You are punished less because you failed

 

[Eaglecoops]

He was 5th quickest player in the Bundesliga last season, according to their stats. What does that say about German football or your opinion of Lacroix!

All I can say to that is he must be deceptively quick because he certainly doesn’t look it on the pitch. He looks overweight.

Yesterday at set pieces he spent a lot of time just looking around without moving at any speed at all. At one stage he turned his back on an attackers header. I have to say he has not impressed me at all so far, but it is early days.

 

[PatrickA]

All I can say to that is he must be deceptively quick because he certainly doesn’t look it on the pitch. He looks overweight.

Yesterday at set pieces he spent a lot of time just looking around without moving at any speed at all. At one stage he turned his back on an attackers header. I have to say he has not impressed me at all so far, but it is early days.

He hasn't impressed me either, but perhaps my expectations were misguided.

I was expecting a physically dominant centre half who would compete in the air and be quicker than Anderson.

In the games I've seen he hasn't dominated in the air or competed aerially toclear corners or set pieces.
Against QPR he looked decidedly uncomfortable when dragged out wide to defend one on one.
His passes have been intercepted and he's let the opposition get in behind him.

He did improve in the second half yesterday, and I'm sure that he will improve as the season progresses and that these early performances will not be representative of what he can offer.

 

[BuzzBeats]

I was impressed with Lacroix second half yesterday and felt we saw something’s which give reason for optimism.

He seemed to build confidence and played a couple of great forward passes into the midfield. He also showed his speed on a couple of occasions. I’m looking forward to seeing more of him.

 

[Willo]

He hasn't impressed me either, but perhaps my expectations were misguided.

I was expecting a physically dominant centre half who would compete in the air and be quicker than Anderson.

In the games I've seen he hasn't dominated in the air or competed aerially toclear corners or set pieces.
Against QPR he looked decidedly uncomfortable when dragged out wide to defend one on one.
His passes have been intercepted and he's let the opposition get in behind him.

He did improve in the second half yesterday, and I'm sure that he will improve as the season progresses and that these early performances will not be representative of what he can offer.

A player I witnessed for Nottm Forest today and who has been impressive this season is central defender
Nikola Milenkovic whom they signed from Fiorentina in the last window for just £12 Mill.
Tall as a hop pole at 6ft 5ins, strong in the air and can play at right-back.
It is a shame we did not lure him to our club. He looks far more impressive than Lacroix who has not overly impressed me but of course might be a much better player than he has shown thus far.

 

[Gary St.Andrews]

I understand the need for positivity and it's fair to reflect that we've been competitive in every game this season other than during the first half yesterday.

It's also fair to say that Glasner recognised the failings in the first half and and corrected them.

However, my question would be why select that midfield in the first place.
Kamada and Wharton is not a balanced midfield and struggled when paired for a spell during the West Ham defeat.
As a pairing it leaves us too open and they don't have the necessary physicality and to protect our defence.

This to me seems fairly basic.

Doucoure is unfit, but Lerma was available and helped to change yesterday's game in the second half.

Similarly, Nketiah is clearly being played out of position and we are not playing to his strengths.

We've been unfortunate in games this season and I think we will improve, but it could be argued that some of the problems this season have been self induced through odd selections that haven't worked.

Nketiah needs to be played further forward the way Arsenal played him. Racing into the 18 yard box and getting onto through balls is meat and drink to him. We will get there, but we need Decoure back asap to plug that defensive midfield role. Last nights game highlighted everything, OG will get it right and we will start getting those wins. I can feel it in my bones…..

 

[Phil’s Barber]

Not sure if you watched it live and got a different perspective but on the tv there is no way Lacroix comes across as very quick. If anything he is more akin to a lumbering Ox.

There was an instance early on in the second half when he sprinted back to thwart a Utd attack on the Arthur Waite side and he was lightening quick. First time I have witnessed him move that quick admittedly but he was in a different gear to the Utd player.

 

[EagleinSF]

Stamping down on someone can be deemed as violent conduct too. If you think that was a genuine challenge, please explain what sort of legitimate challenge involves jumping in the air with two feet?

The Cantona

 

[Phil’s Barber]

Kamada played under Glasner at Eintract Frankfurt and clearly was more influential for them than he has been in our colours. Kamada played 29 games in the Bundesliga for Lazio last season a team that finished 7th and qualified for the Europa League.
It would appear there is a player in there but we have yet to see him excel in our team.

And there was me thinking that Lazio played in the Italian league.

 

[Eaglecoops]

There was an instance early on in the second half when he sprinted back to thwart a Utd attack on the Arthur Waite side and he was lightening quick. First time I have witnessed him move that quick admittedly but he was in a different gear to the Utd player.

If he can channel his inner Bolt on a regular basis I will of course be delighted because our sometimes Swiss cheese defence needs the occasional last ditch recovery tackle as Guehi will I’m sure testify.

 

[PatrickA]

It would be nice to have a centre half who defends corners by thumping headers away from the danger zone a la Scott Dann or, for those with longer memories, Eric Young.
We currently employ zonal marking and look very vulnerable.
It will be illuminating to see how we deal with Tarkowski, Calvert Lewin and Keane (or Branthwaite) at the weekend from McNeil's whipped set pieces.
I may have to shut my eyes and cross my fingers.