Match Thread Crystal Palace v Everton - Preview, Match Report and MotM Poll

[OnlyBlueWillDo]

We need a proper striker, its been obvious all season, but today was a classic case, we were by far the better side but we lack the goals that a decent striker brings.

 

[Jeff Jones]

I despise him Gary burtles utter div!

I like listening to Gary Birtles. He calls out the stupidity of players and match officials and never gets it wrong.

 

[kleew]

5 Talking Points:
1. A+ defence: great stability in defence
2. A+ in possession
2. D- corner kicks: need better execution fr corner kicks esp delivery (not even a single resultant shot on goal)
3. C in team communication : Sigurdsson not on one occassion showed frustration gesture of teammates' decision on ball
4. D in front of goal : aside from Tosun's reflex back heel, DCL lack finesse and power on some clear cut chances
5. C in away game confidence and form - obvious in Bernard

 

[The Penalty Box Dancer]

5 Talking Points:
1. A+ defence: great stability in defence
2. A+ in possession
2. D- corner kicks: need better execution fr corner kicks esp delivery (not even a single resultant shot on goal)
3. C in team communication : Sigurdsson not on one occassion showed frustration gesture of teammates' decision on ball
4. D in front of goal : aside from Tosun's reflex back heel, DCL lack finesse and power on some clear cut chances
5. C in away game confidence and form - obvious in Bernard

Corners are shocking. Don't know why we get so excited when we get one.

 

[buskwhi2]

Corners are shocking. Don't know why we get so excited when we get one.

Earlier in the season Keane was getting his head on plenty. I’m sure at one point he’d had the most efforts on goal for a defender (was certainly up there). We don’t seem to be getting chances at all lately though which is surprising given how strong Keane, zouma and DCL are particularly.

 

[Bilko]

Not too often does Zaha have any effect on a game either by diving or otherwise, thought our defense played him magnificently

 

[Ron Burgundy]

Corners are shocking. Don't know why we get so excited when we get one.

Need to allow Digne to throw them from the corner flag instead.

 

[NilSatisOptimum]

I thought we were really good today. Maybe just lacked the quality to break down palace but lots of positives there. Silva is building a good team and things are looking good for next season

We were up against a functional defensive Woy Hodgson side set up to cancel us out in the final third. Other supporters call anti-football...

 

[LostLegend]

Not too often does Zaha have any effect on a game either by diving or otherwise, thought our defense played him magnificently

Puzzles me why he is so sought after tbh.

Good dribbler for sure but has never hit double figures goal wise. Never worth the £40+mil some reckon he is.

Big fish in a small pond.

 

[degsy]

Vote Gana, could've easily gone with Zouma. They were the only ones who hit near to last weeks standard. Many struggled to get a 6/10.

 

[RomanReigns]

It would be nice if we had a proper corner routine we seem to get at least 10 per game.

Also our away performances this year have improved tenfold compared to last season. To make that much improvement in 1 year is remarkable. Anyone know how many points we got away from home last season compared to this season?

 

[Daz1878]

If I'd located that guy with the drum, he'd had left the ground with a drum-shaped body...

 

[Brisan123]

Can we just throw 50m at Leicester and get Vardy?

Bed

 

[Brisan123]

That's where we disagree. I don't believe we will be in the same position with the same concerns. I think we will finish between 5th and 7th next year and qualify for the Europa, provided we sign Zouma and Gomes this summer.

Brands has done an exceptional job so far in refreshing the squad. The players he has brought in are significantly younger (Digne turns 26 in July, as does Gomes; Mina will be 25 in September, Zouma turns 25 in October; Richarlison will be 22 in May and Bernard turns 27 in September. Of the remaining starting eleven, Pickford is only just 25, Keane isn't 27 until next year, Gylfi and Gana both turn 30 in September and Coleman will be 31 in October. Schneiderlin is 30 in November, and DCL is only just 22.

On the bench, Davies is 20. Lookman is 21. OK, Stek (36) and Walcott (30) are both long in the tooth, but Tosun is only 27, and pretty much everyone else is on the way out this summer (Bolasie, Mirallas, Besic, McCarthy, Martina, Niasse, Williams, Ramirez, Tarashaj, Garbutt etc)

Where there ARE age concerns, insofar as age is starting to affect performance (Coleman), we have possible options to come in and split time with the current player: JJK is only 22, as is Holgate.

Almost every player in the starting XI can reasonably be expected to IMPROVE with age over the next 12 to 15 months (with the exceptions of Gylfi and Gana, who are probably at their peaks), so we won't be panicking about replacing a raft of players coming into the twilight of their careers. Compare that to a year ago with Baines, Williams, Jagielka and Rooney in the starting lineup. Or a year or two before that, with Kone and Barry, or Howard, Osman, Pienaar and Hibbert?

My point is, we have almost NOBODY in the starting eleven who needs replacing due to age.

We don't need to panic-buy a "proven" striker right now, because the vast majority of the supporting cast aren't even in their prime yet. They are ALL going to get better next season, including DCL, and we will become more consistent and successful as a consequence.

We can go get a guy who's 23 or 24 and maybe needs a year or two to develop, safe in the knowledge that we can give him a bit of time with continuity around him and allow him to build up an understanding with his wingers, his 10 and his midfield. Alternatively, we can go out and get an older guy to split time with DCL for now, if we believe DCL is going to make it at prem level.

And that's BEFORE we offload Niasse, Tosun, McCarthy, Bolasie, Martina and Ramirez, and reinvest the funds / wages.

I hope ZAT doesn’t read this

 

[Brisan123]

If I'd located that guy with the drum, he'd had left the ground with a drum-shaped body...

They are moving that lot behind the goal next season
Official supporters club
Load of Knobs if you ask me.
To be fair they had the Palace fans around me joining in when they sang