Crystal Palace (H) 2/11: Build-Up & Match Thread

[slink]

-------------------------Sa--------------------

Semedo----------Dawson-------Bueno-------RAN

----------------J.Gomes---------André-----------------

----R.Gomes------Sarabia------Cunha---------

------------------------Strand Larsen------------------------

Definitely a must win.

Has to be this formation but with Cunha in the 10. He shouldn’t be playing anywhere else. We can choose from Rodrigo, Sarabia, Forbs, RAN to play in the wide positions. Lemina has to be dropped but happy with either combination of the other 3 and i would imagine Doyle has played himself into the team.

If he thinks this isn’t must win then he’s totally lost it. We need to win 5/6 of the next 8/9 games.

 

[Johnny75]

Has to be this formation but with Cunha in the 10. He shouldn’t be playing anywhere else. We can choose from Rodrigo, Sarabia, Forbs, RAN to play in the wide positions. Lemina has to be dropped but happy with either combination of the other 3 and i would imagine Doyle has played himself into the team.

If he thinks this isn’t must win then he’s totally lost it. We need to win 5/6 of the next 8/9 games.

I quite like Cunha played on the left as I think when he drifts out there he's quality driving in and linking with RAN on the overlap and JSL inside.

Means he can be fluid with Sarabia too as they would be interchangable. Getting Sarabia's creativity in midfield is key. I think he and Cunha could operate in the pockets of space between Palace's CB's and WB's.

I agree with you on Doyle, that he will start but I don't think he's as good as Andre. Good sub to have.

 

[prawnking]

I don't mind Doyle either but he bloody had to score that early chance on Saturday

 

[thisisgil]

-------------------------Sa--------------------

Semedo----------Dawson-------Bueno-------RAN

----------------J.Gomes---------André-----------------

----R.Gomes------Sarabia------Cunha---------

------------------------Strand Larsen------------------------

Definitely a must win.

I'd take this with maybe Doyle in for Gomes.

Either way, no Lemina, no Hwang is a good start. If we can make it no GON too, we might just have a chance at 17th

 

[slink]

I quite like Cunha played on the left as I think when he drifts out there he's quality driving in and linking with RAN on the overlap and JSL inside.

Means he can be fluid with Sarabia too as they would be interchangable. Getting Sarabia's creativity in midfield is key. I think he and Cunha could operate in the pockets of space between Palace's CB's and WB's.

I agree with you on Doyle, that he will start but I don't think he's as good as Andre. Good sub to have.

I think Cunha’s much better when he starts centrally and is given the license to drift though. Think this works with Sarabia too as he can get in those pockets.

Andre is the best midfielder at the club but Gary doesn’t know how to use any of the 4 we have fit so that last interception and pass will get Doyle in.

 

[Tony Towner]

If he thinks this isn’t must win then he’s totally lost it. We need to win 5/6 of the next 8/9 games.

Depends who it's must win for. Wolves absolutely, for him a draw and he gets another week.

 

[BillyDee]

Or, it's not a must win for him because he's been guaranteed his job is safe regardless..?

 

[ROVERT47]

Yeah, I still have a nagging doubt that he’ll still be our Coach in the Championship next season.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Yeah, I still have a nagging doubt that he’ll still be our Coach in the Championship next season.

Not a hope

Even if you're ridiculously underpowered (see Derby in 2007), if you go on club record bad runs that cost you your place in the division, you don't survive. Doesn't happen.

Especially when you haven't even managed in the Championship, let alone been a success there.

 

[ROVERT47]

Not a hope

Even if you're ridiculously underpowered (see Derby in 2007), if you go on club record bad runs that cost you your place in the division, you don't survive. Doesn't happen.

Especially when you haven't even managed in the Championship, let alone been a success there.

 

[big mean bunny]

Absolutely a must win. We can't afford to let the relegation race be a 4 team thing and even if we win and everything goes our way, we'd still a) be in the relegation spaces b) be 4 points off Everton and Leicester who have already pulled away.

Absolutely dreadful start to the season and the elation of not losing one game only carries so far.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

It is a must win, 100%

Although I can understand why GON is trying to play it down for the benefit of his players. (And perhaps his own self preservation)

 

[Del Woppio]

He's just trying to reduce the pressure/manage expectations. Obviously it's transparent as fuck, but it'll give him something to refer back to on Saturday night when we've drawn 1-1 and played the last 10 minutes like we're protecting a point

 

[Alan]

Yeah, the money we spent on him and Johnstone could have gone on a centre back and a better winger than Forbs.

Still, a very good player. Hopefully a new manager can soon use him better

Call me naïve, but I still can’t look at our squad on paper and see relegation.

What’s really infuriating to me personally is that for a half second it looked GO had cracked maximizing the individuals in the side. There was that little stretch when we let Rayan drift inside as a 10 from LWB and he was excellent at it. The spell where we kept Hwang in orbit of Cunha/Neto and actually let him do what he’s good at (no jokes, please). We were still crap in central midfield but there were signs.

Bah, false dawns and all that. Regardless, it’s plainly clear now that O’Neil’s ideas about what makes a midfield (either trio or double-pivot) work are diabolically flawed. You cannot overcome that vast of a deficiency in the Premier League.

 

[Lupo]

Call me naïve, but I still can’t look at our squad on paper and see relegation.

No, they're better than the shit they are currently in

 

[YoungWolf]

Call me naïve, but I still can’t look at our squad on paper and see relegation.

What’s really infuriating to me personally is that for a half second it looked GO had cracked maximizing the individuals in the side. There was that little stretch when we let Rayan drift inside as a 10 from LWB and he was excellent at it. The spell where we kept Hwang in orbit of Cunha/Neto and actually let him do what he’s good at (no jokes, please). We were still crap in central midfield but there were signs.

Bah, false dawns and all that. Regardless, it’s plainly clear now that O’Neil’s ideas about what makes a midfield (either trio or double-pivot) work are diabolically flawed. You cannot overcome that vast of a deficiency in the Premier League.

You’re naive (sorry couldn’t resist!)

I think our centre back options, even before Yerson’s injury, are a real cause for concern. Dawson is still a solid defensive option but when we signed him I think most acknowledged he was a short term, 18-month type solution that would quickly need to be replaced/improved on. Toti is unfortunately just not that good, as likeable he is. Bueno is actually OK but bottom half fodder and Mosquera has talent but is always injured…

I also think the lack of quality wide options is a real concern, hence Lemina/(Joao) Gomes/Cunha ending up in odd positions. Both Rodrigo and Forbs have ability but clearly not ready to be trusted or come in straight away and replace Neto. Who does that then leave us with? Sarabia who the manager doesn’t know how to us or just doesn’t rate. Hwang who is rubbish but should be used as a striker anyway. Ait-Nouri who is better dribbling from deeper areas and lacks consistent quality anyway.

As you point to, the key issue is the head coach (how can you have such good midfield options for a team at our level and still look rubbish there?) but the squad has a poor balance to it which is the fault of Hobbs.

 

[YoungWolf]

You’re naive (sorry couldn’t resist!)

I think our centre back options, even before Yerson’s injury, are a real cause for concern. Dawson is still a solid defensive option but when we signed him I think most acknowledged he was a short term, 18-month type solution that would quickly need to be replaced/improved on. Toti is unfortunately just not that good, as likeable he is. Bueno is actually OK but bottom half fodder and Mosquera has talent but is always injured…

I also think the lack of quality wide options is a real concern, hence Lemina/(Joao) Gomes/Cunha ending up in odd positions. Both Rodrigo and Forbs have ability but clearly not ready to be trusted or come in straight away and replace Neto. Who does that then leave us with? Sarabia who the manager doesn’t know how to us or just doesn’t rate. Hwang who is rubbish but should be used as a striker anyway. Ait-Nouri who is better dribbling from deeper areas and lacks consistent quality anyway.

As you point to, the key issue is the head coach (how can you have such good midfield options for a team at our level and still look rubbish there?) but the squad has a poor balance to it which is the fault of Hobbs.

And I haven’t even got started on the keeper situation!

 

[Wolftone]

Sa
Semedo, Dawson, Bueno, RAN.
Andre, Doyle, J.Gomes
Sarabia, Cunha,
JSL

 

[Wilf Wolf]

If you look at our midfield as individuals they’re all good but they all have issues. Gomes and Lemina have looked good as a pair but both of them have a tendency to get caught upfield, especially Lemina. Lemina also has a tendency to overplay in dangerous areas. Andre looks very calm and assured in possession and moves the ball well and looks the most natural holding midfielder. I’d start him with Gomes with Sarabia on one side and probably Forbs or Rodrigo on the other. Doyle is good on the ball but feeble in the tackle and I’m still not really sure where his best position is, probably as a deep midfielder but only against teams that are sitting back as that allows him to dictate play with less emphasis on his defensive side.

 

[sycophantia]

If you look at our midfield as individuals they’re all good but they all have issues. Gomes and Lemina have looked good as a pair but both of them have a tendency to get caught upfield, especially Lemina. Lemina also has a tendency to overplay in dangerous areas. Andre looks very calm and assured in possession and moves the ball well and looks the most natural holding midfielder. I’d start him with Gomes with Sarabia on one side and probably Forbs or Rodrigo on the other. Doyle is good on the ball but feeble in the tackle and I’m still not really sure where his best position is, probably as a deep midfielder but only against teams that are sitting back as that allows him to dictate play with less emphasis on his defensive side.

I'd assumed Gomes and Lemina being caught up field was down to how they were tasked with playing. I actually think we have some really good options in midfield. Just need GON to work out how to use them.