31 Jan 2019 07:57:06
Disappointed with last nights efforts.

Was hopeful with us having some rest and a bit of time to work on the game.

Should of taken off Valery earlier, clearly shows that we need a right back/ RWB . Valery cannot beat a man and looks lost when he has the ball in an attacking position. I think when he put JWP there and Armstrong taking up JWP position it give us more of an attacking threat. We had nobody to break the play up between defence and attack, Hojbjerg and Romeu were too deep in trying to be available.
All of the back three were suspect in giving the ball away and way too many sideways passes.

I know Cedric has come in for some critics but we are very suspect if we do not recruit some cover today! And to be fair to Cedric its not hard to lose heart with the club with what's happened in the last few years.

In hope of some recruitment today
CB, RB/ RWB and Striker.


1.) 31 Jan 2019
31 Jan 2019 09:52:04
JWP is arguably our most influential midfielder at the moment. Agree that we need cover at RB. Would be nice to see someone who will compete with Valery and push him to improve as opposed to replacing him.

I trust that RH knows what he's doing. 4 points from the next two would put us in a great position!


2.) 31 Jan 2019
31 Jan 2019 11:18:06
We were always going to struggle with the way we lined up, RH seems to be playing with caution at the moment. He's said that our CB's are not good enough in one on one situations, so he needs to play 3 at the back. Valery is very good defensively but played pretty bad going forward, in a 5-3-2, your wing backs need to be your most influential players on the pitch.
Palace just sat back and marked Ings and Redmond out of the game, this only changed we swapped to a 4-3-3, and Palace needed to change their shape, we looked good on the front foot. Our 3 midfielders aren't good enough to create changes, left, right and centre. Because of this, there was a lot of sideways and back passes.

I would say that all 3 CB's had a good game. Targett had a good game - wasn't great going forward, but got the assist. PEH was everywhere and was brilliant.

I would say we got lucky against Everton with our 2 goals, Ward Prowse banged one in top corner and Digne scored a freak own goal. Whereas last night, we scored a quality team goal.

I think once RH has faith and can play 4-2-2-2, then we'll look like a better squad.


3.) 31 Jan 2019
31 Jan 2019 11:25:18
It was hard to break palace down, they stay compact and break on the counter. We tried the diagonal ball to targett and valery but the passes weren't good enough from the cbs and when they were good enough, our wingbacks took too long to deliver so had to cut inside. True valery lacks pace to beat his man, and targett had a tough evening against wan-bissaka who is a very good athletic rb. Ralph spoke about having to be patient with the ball and it will probably be much the same against Burnley. When we did finally get behind the full back targett pulled it back for jwp to score. So the game plan worked, eventually. We just were unable to put it into effect soon enough. Once we'd scored the crowd FINALLY lifted and encouraged the team. For the 70 minutes previous we were outsung by the palace fans. Not a bad performance, but not the best. The first half we were poor to be fair. Sometimes such a gap between games can be good, but considering we'd won two on the bounce I think it caused us to lose momentum and rhythm. Came at the wrong time for us. I'm happy with a point, especially showing a bit of fight and pushing for a winner. I agree we need some pace and competition at rwb. I don't see a striker coming in u less Austin goes, and there doesn't seem to be any decent cbs around that would improve us so can't see that changing either.
Bednarek improving every game.
Jwp becoming undroppable
PEH didn't have his best game.
Redmond and ings didn't get much service due to a very well drilled palace team.


4.) 31 Jan 2019
31 Jan 2019 11:45:00
Agree with some of that Milky.

Last night’s performance was disappointing but fans of Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Man Utd etc will say the same. A 10 day break isn’t always helpful as it can disrupt momentum and so it proved. RH highlighted it had been odd not having a competitive match with the best on offer being an 11-a-side with squad players in training, but no matter how intense, its always going to be off the pace of a proper competitive match in the Prem where the stakes are higher. We’re still transitioning to the new coach, new tactics and new fitness levels so performances will remain up and down.

Palace are in form and I would’ve taken a draw before-hand - it was never going to be easy. Our game has largely seen us ceding possession to seek a forced turnover and quick transition from defence to attack. With Palace staying organised and not demanding possession, we found it difficult to play through them or get in behind to create chances. Passing was lethargic and sloppy at times and few stood out for either team and JWP was regularly going nuts in his RWB role as the play got stuck in the middle, leaving him in acres but without the ball. Armstrong was bright when he came on but there was little other impact to come off the bench.

Palace have an ace up their sleeve in Zaha and he was a constant threat with his pace and skill. It seems RH asked the team to slow him down and prevent him from breaking with the ball, committing a foul if necessary. He received some heavy tackles and the ref called it wrong on several occasions. His sending off was correct as far as the rules go but I was more disappointed to see JWP’s behaviour. Its not something I’ve seen from him before, deliberately winding Zaha up when he knew he had fouled him and Zaha’s frustration was warranted. Grinning, sticking his tongue out and then giving a fist-pumping cheer to the crowd when Zaha was sent off. It was all a bit much for me.

We were fortunate not to see Stephens sent off for his shin-high lunge over the ball on Townsend. Though RH highlighted Wan-Bisaka going over the ball on Targett which also went unpunished by a card, Stephens’ lunge was at full-pace and much heavier, whereas Wan-Bisaka was more of a stretch forward from an almost standing position. Both were high and over the ball but only Stephens’ in my view was reckless endangerment of a player. If Townsend hadn’t jumped to hurdle the tackle, the contact would not have been on his boots but just below his knee - nasty.

Palace were the better side and on another night could’ve beaten us by three of four goals, so this point should be received with relief that we got away with one and used as motivation to do better next time out. We do tend to follow a poor performance with a good one and that has to be the case again if we’re get anything from Burnley. They’re finding form again and it’ll be a tough match against another side that won’t be looking to dominate possession and give us a chance to break.

I wouldn’t get too hung up on signings today. If no-one comes in its likely because the deal or the player isn’t quite right. A fresh face isn’t always the answer. The players we have are still adjusting to what RH wants them to do so a new signing may need to work on fitness and the mental side of things for some time before challenging for a first team place or playing well consistently. We are thin in a couple of positions and lack strength on the bench but there’s little merit in a signing for the sake of it. Its not a sign of weakness or failure not to sign someone today.


5.) 31 Jan 2019
31 Jan 2019 12:41:19
Great post figo. I'm surprised you're not happy with jwp 're. Zaha. It was barely a foul looking at high Lights and it's not like jwp did too much to goad him. I think sometimes we lack a bit of "cleverness" in the game. Celebrating the sending off was a bit over the top, but if you know that zaha will bite at such small provocation that's his problem, not ours. We should take advantage. Some of the tackles were meaty, I thought bednareks was awful but he had to bring him down otherwise he was through.
In a strange way I think jwp getting angry at not receiving the ball when put wide contributed to the goal, fired him up enough to get in to the box, and fired the crowd up enough to make some noise and make the players move!
Happy with the point, feel we need 3 against Burnley though.


6.) 31 Jan 2019
31 Jan 2019 15:17:37
Hi guys

Great posts, yes last night's performance wasn't great but we all know who Palace have beaten recently and losing very narrowly to Liverpool scoring 3 so that was a point gained.
I would be happy with a draw against Burnley on Saturday, Utd were incredibly lucky to draw with them Tuesday night and I think Dyche has got them back to the old Burnley way. The 3 bottom teams have all got tough games and look unlikely to get much from those and we can hopefully put some daylight between us and them but don't forget this is the Premiership who foresaw Bmth vs Chelsea? I read Saints have turned down loans for CA so I'm not expecting anyone coming in. We all know RH has stated that the squad is too big, but with no other competitions to worry about we 14 games to amass around 16-17 points which this squad is capable of doing and then we have now to the summer season to properly evaluate who is going, who is staying and the potential replacements. i'm more and more impressed with RH when he manages a soccer team, he manages every aspect and yes it could be tight this year but it's obvious there is a new fire and resilience which we haven't seen in a long time but I genuinely believe that this is a new era and let's just encourage the team, fill St Mary's with people and noise and steadily climb the table. COYR.


7.) 31 Jan 2019
31 Jan 2019 16:03:27
Nice to read the replies from you all.

I agree on some points and interesting views from all all.

My reply to some points.

Crystal Palace are not in form, and have won just one game in the last 6 and very much there for the taking, we played like we was away from home and invited unnecessary pressure. We seemed to let them take the game to us and had no plan for Zaha, if we did then it didn't work until JWP assisted in getting him sent off.

For us not to sign anyone would be way to much pressure on the whole team.

Berts is still on recovery and hopeful to be back next game.

Valery has no competition or proper cover which will leave us short if injured.

Charlie Austin (if we keep) is very injury prone as is Danny Ings which again will leave us with very little in back up, Obafemi is also on recovery and still Raw. That leaves us with the prolific Mr Long! . and Redmond if you account his newer role.

PEH is a card a game and without a red is looking at topping up of cards for a ban

Lemina . Injured.

Injuries to 3-4 other players would be devastating and an unnecessary risk in the need for survival.

We need signings, this will also give the team added pressure to perform and up there game, as they have done on trying to impress RH.


8.) 01 Feb 2019
01 Feb 2019 09:27:33
I'm not sure where you're getting your Palace results records from but coming into our game they had won 3 of their last 6 games and 5 of their last nine games, losing only 3. They have beaten City, Leicester, Wolves and Spurs in that run. They were not coming into the game out of nick and struggling to perform as was shown with them outplaying us. Not that we set the bar particularly high.