Crystal Palace vs Kups match thread

[adelaar]

You may have missed the fact that Esse is actually younger than some of the Kids that were making their debuts tonight and Devenny (not much older )I thought did OK seeing as he had to move position a couple of times to cover substitutions . Its good that Ollie trusts him to do a job around the pitch . OK he is not going to be a superstar but is proving to be a decent squad player .Don't be to harsh on them .

On Sosa you have a point but he was always going to be a back up player to Mitchell .

In D-Thomas we have star in the making ,now we have seen him we want more of it .

Good point but we've forked out 14m for Esse and its telling Glasner just does not rate him. The others are academy products who seem to have a much better attitude. Maybe he will come around, but up to now he is too much of a luxury player to be trusted.
Anyway onwards and upwards. We are still in and with backing we have a chance. It won't be easy.
For those thinking we should be aiming for top 4 and CL qualification, that depends on how Oli is backed in January. If we hit Feb 1st and very little came in, forget it. Its hard to see anyway- 38 games, we already have injuries piling up and no depth. The cups are the best option for sure.

 

[pssguy]

Outside of his right foot is nearly his left foot 😀

Only if you play cross legged

 

[Pete53]

The fact that Sosa was substituted tells me he has no future with us. I’ve not been impressed with him in any game he has appeared in and he was very poor tonight. We were a mess defensively for the first 20 of the second half. Not really those players fault as I doubt if they had ever worked as a unit before, but didn’t it show! Lerma can play there but obviously cannot organise and players were each marking the same man leaving another free.

However, what a debut from Drakes-Thomas. We look like we just saw the start of something special. Crosses a wicked ball, has composure and not afraid to shoot. Is he really only 16? I feel sure he will be on the bench a few times from now on.

Drakes-Thomas was my man of the match. Played with an intelligence and composure way beyond his 16 years, and kept going right to the final whistle.

 

[pssguy]

I'm still confident we can win this.. Strasbourg, who we lost to away in a very even game, finished top of the table and our goal difference was almost as good as theirs, in spite of what we probably all agree has been a pretty bad set of performances, to date
Of course, we will need to have enough fit players at the end of the season which will mean some spending now and probably sales in the summer to fit the new financial rules. Time for Woody to give up on the Jets and put some money into a team that actually wins things, BTW, I see he got a mention in an article about Epstein the NYT ran yesterday

 

[Crazy_Eagle]

All that tonight confirmed, is that we are desperately short of squad quality players. But we already knew that !
I won’t pick out any specific players based on performance (good or bad) but what was worrying is how most of the “kids” got cramp and some quite early into the second half. This shows what a step up it is from playing u21 to first team football. Then if you consider the premier league it is another level of intensity again.
In all I thought first half we were in control but as soon as KUPS upped their work rate and attack we were like boys against men, and only once we made the subs did we wrestle back control.
It would have been a great experience for the kids and hopefully will help them kick on in their careers.
Today was somewhat of a free hit for me, we were guaranteed a playoff place so no real risk in playing a changed team. Yes we have an extra 2 games to play but we may have some new faces in by then and a couple of the injured/Afcon players back.
I don’t see that Glasner had much choice really!
Let’s just make sure that we get something out of the Leeds game now!

Wouldn't worry too much about that, increased adrenaline levels can contribute to muscle cramps and spasms. It must have been huge for these kids to play today so the levels must have been through the roof.

 

[eaglesdare]

Maybe we are being a little harsh on devenny tonight. He did get a goal and an assist. Practically put it on a plate for Uche 😅

 

[Team of the (20)80s]

It is really frustrating because it could have so easily been different. Glasner has got so many calls right, but I don’t think Lerma as the senior centre back and Devenny as the senior CM was the right call. Both goals I feel could have been prevented if one of our regular back three were organising the defence (could play 45 minutes each) and we lost the midfield for a period around that time too.

That said it isn’t the end of the world. Another two games in Europe. The rollercoaster continues. Surely we get increased revenue because of the gates, but we’re also on TV constantly right now!

 

[CT Charlie]

Solid performance, all things considered.

1) In the 1st half a team that had never played together controlled the game in all parts of the field, might have easily scored another goal or two.
2) In the 2nd half we gave up goals on two shots, both of which were a bit flukey. (Henderson might have stopped the first one, and the second one was a clever/lucky deflection.) Only their disallowed goal was well-constructed, albeit sloppy defending.
3) We learned a lot about the depth of the squad – good, bad, and in-between.
4) In the qualifying games, Ollie can trust many of the back-ups, though he'll probably insert Lacroix & Richards (Guehi if still here) if we have a lead in the 2nd half.

 

[eritheagle]

Maybe we are being a little harsh on devenny tonight. He did get a goal and an assist. Practically put it on a plate for Uche 😅

He looked much more comfortable when he switched to right wing back.

 

[mtp1958]

only listen to the game kids done well 1st half lost confidence when kups scored but some promising starts , we could have 20 games to play between now and end of feb lol , OG was great in interview he wants the lge cup , fa cup , conference lge and CL he has lost the plot like the players lol , Im just loving it best 18 months ever as a Palace fan , would take fa cup and conference , or any 2 from 4 , hopefully 3 or 4 good signings and injurys down to 2 we will have a squad big enough to rotate with confidence COYP

 

[Dogburger]

Maybe we are being a little harsh on devenny tonight. He did get a goal and an assist. Practically put it on a plate for Uche 😅

Some 'fans' just get it into their heads that they don't like certain players and look for every fault they can find to back up their view . Its as if they want to be proven right .

Its a really weird way of supporting your team ,on the other hand fans will have favourites who can never do any wrong and are man of the match every game even though to most of us they have had a nightmare .

Its a funny old game

 

[Painter]

i thought Devenny did well......especially that wonder goal.

A man alone with his thoughts. Devenny was terrible, ok he scored, but apart from that an embarrassing performance. A jack of all positions, but not outstanding in any.

 

[Jim_Cannon]

A man alone with his thoughts. Devenny was terrible, ok he scored, but apart from that an embarrassing performance. A jack of all positions, but not outstanding in any.

Thought he looked much more comfortable at wing back. Agree he was lost in CM. He needs an experienced player alongside him to play that position. I was impressed by Rodney

Would like to see couple of these kids start against Macclesfield

 

[park the bus]

My observation is simple, whether Glasner stays or goes, if we wish to make continued progress in our league position and other competitions then the majority of players that we saw last night are not fit for the job. Rather, should we lose a couple of our first 11 as is expected and fail to sign adequate replacements, and find ourselves relying on the likes of Uche, Esse, Sosa et al then we are in for a period of struggle.
We've done remarkably well to get where we currently are, whether it can be maintained without excellent scouting and the necessary funding is a question for the board to ponder.

 

[cROYdonrogers]

Not overly impressed with Benitez last night. Could/should have got the first, and even maybe the second, although the deflection would have left him flat footed. Been better before but in my opinion the guy last year was better back up.
The lads on the left did well. No particular impression of Rodney or King.
Still can't decide about Uche,Esse and even Devenney. The later clearly divides opinion. He works hard but I think his basic skills are limited. I have decided Soso is not even that good.
So onwards and upwards. I'm sure OG learnt some things.
Oh did anybody else think the sending off was a bit harsh. Sense I'll be on my own with that one.

 

[Willo]

As soon I was informed about the line-up, I concluded that unfortunately we would have to introduce some of our regulars from the bench.
It was refreshing to see the young debutants and Rodney.In the main they did their prospects no harm at all.They did not appear fazed by the occasion which speaks volumes for their character and temperament. Their parents must have been proud of them.
Not the result we wanted but all good experience for these players.

 

[Willo]

Good point but we've forked out 14m for Esse and its telling Glasner just does not rate him. The others are academy products who seem to have a much better attitude. Maybe he will come around, but up to now he is too much of a luxury player to be trusted.
Anyway onwards and upwards. We are still in and with backing we have a chance. It won't be easy.
For those thinking we should be aiming for top 4 and CL qualification, that depends on how Oli is backed in January. If we hit Feb 1st and very little came in, forget it. Its hard to see anyway- 38 games, we already have injuries piling up and no depth. The cups are the best option for sure.

Esse was very disappointing and his performance did not enhance his prospects of getting more minutes on the pitch. Perhaps he was trying too hard to impress, I am yet to be impressed by his contributions.

 

[park the bus]

Glasner was correct though wasn't he? When he said that a team that qualifies for Europe for the first time in its history should invest, not save he was spot on. The team he put out yesterday was forced upon him through circumstance, but it also made a point - not enough players of sufficient quality to compete in all competitions.

 

[park the bus]

Esse was very disappointing and his performance did not enhance his prospects of getting more minutes on the pitch. Perhaps he was trying too hard to impress, I am yet to be impressed by his contributions.

He reminds me of the kid in the park trying to impress his mates.

 

[OneStevePerrin]

My opinion is that it backfired last night playing a full second string against KUPS. Surely (in hindsight) we should have started a nearly strongest 11, got the win and then made changes. Even with these next two matches our team is already worn out and I will be surprised if we get draws/wins? Last night was the game to win and then move onto Leeds/Arsenal games. We lose all 3 (I’m counting KUPS as a defeat in not qualifying) and last night was a waste. Let’s hope I’m wrong?