[PL] Crystal Palace (A): Post Match

[redmike65]

Just thinking about the difference between 11 v 10 today. Milner going off meant everyone in the attacking half had one less passing option and thus the 10 were more direct than 11. Its partly why I'd like to see 4-4-2 diamond, it actually allows creates space despite everyone bar the full backs being parked in the middle third of the pitch as the strikers can get ahead of the diamond and stretch the opposition centre backs in particular and so give the sole No 10 more room to pass. When you have three playing in a line behind the sole striker it all gets a bit "to me, to you, to me, to you" esp when you throw in Henderson and or Can high up the pitch.

[Maxiedge]

I think it's a very interesting point.

Strangely, I thought we played some of our best possesion football this season, with the 10 men. Not sure, how much that was to do with Palace bottling it but it's food for thought nonetheless.

[topscorer]

Not a great first half but once Milner got sent off we were pretty much the only team in it.

Had to be careful for the quick counters but that's it.

Clyne and Sturridge defo starters for Thursday.

[Buzzo]

That Pardew interview is awesome He is clearly seething, but doesn't have any justifiable outlet for it so just instead blethers a load of ****e.

'Your team shat themselves Alan, and you didn't do anything about it'.

[Alex]

Pardew's run at trying to get the England job has gone and his facade of being a nice guy has slipped. The bloke is a prick. He proved that at Newcastle, and a PR guy wont change that in the long run.

[frank the tank]

Just thinking about the difference between 11 v 10 today. Milner going off meant everyone in the attacking half had one less passing option and thus the 10 were more direct than 11. Its partly why I'd like to see 4-4-2 diamond, it actually allows creates space despite everyone bar the full backs being parked in the middle third of the pitch as the strikers can get ahead of the diamond and stretch the opposition centre backs in particular and so give the sole No 10 more room to pass. When you have three playing in a line behind the sole striker it all gets a bit "to me, to you, to me, to you" esp when you throw in Henderson and or Can high up the pitch.

that is a very good point.

I have been hoping to see the diamond formation for the last 2 seasons now. The most memorable games I can remember it in were our 3-0 away defeat of Tottenham last season and our 6-1 hammering of Southampton this season.

For me, we have the players to play that formation but with a squad where Ibe is pretty much the only conventional wide option, then I find it hard to see why we play a 4-5-1 or a 4-3-3.

When we played the diamond in our title challenge a few years ago, I don't know was it by design or by luck, but Rodgers stumbled on a formation that got the best out of all of our players. Coutinho especially in the home games when he played with Sterling, Sturridge and Suarez in front of him was brilliant because he had runners in front of him. Yes we lost one of the best players in the world in Suarez but the system suited the other players as well. Big time.

With Sturridge, Benteke and Origi.....and Firmino as our striker options...... with Firmino, Lallana and Coutinho as our #10 options and with the loads of central midfielders we have, for me it is the formation that will score the most goals and get the best out of the squad we have.

[Camble]

That penalty was straight out of the Gary Neville diving masterclass. If anybody hasn't seen the video go to YouTube and find it - it's brilliant.

Benteke went past the defender who touched him. In no way did Benteke force the touch like Ashley Young has done many times. It was an exaggerated fall of course but 100% not a dive. If he'd have carried on and stayed on his feet he'd have run the ball out and we'd have drawn. 100% a pen.


Absolutely buzzing with that win. In the first half before they scored it was end to end and I thought anybody could score and win. Once they scored and especially when we went down to 10 I thought our curse against Palace would continue. A lucky equaliser but considering the amount of mistakes Mignolet has made this season gifting goals to opponents we deserve one. Then when I thought the game was ending as a drawer we get the pen and score. Huge 3 points especially with United losing.

We're 6 points off top 4. We really need to go on a run (we're already on 3 wins) and we're in with a chance.

[Yozza]

These are our remaining fixtures.... with our inconsistency I would / not be amazed if we got fourth..

Edit - just looking at the rest.... it's more than do-able - only thing is you have to take into account FA & European comps...

Southampton A
Tottenham H
Stoke City H
Bournemouth A
Newcastle H
Swansea A
Watford H
West Brom A

&

Chelsea H
Everton H...


Scums'....

Man City v Man Utd
Man Utd v Everton
Tottenham v Man Utd
Man Utd v Aston Villa
West Ham P-P Man Utd
Man Utd v Leicester
Norwich v Man Utd
Man Utd v Bournemouth

City's

Norwich v Man City
Man City v Man Utd
Bournemouth v Man City
Man City v West Brom
Chelsea v Man City
Man City v Stoke
Southampton v Man City
Man City v Arsenal
Swansea v Man City

W Ham

West Ham P-P Watford
Man Utd v West Ham
Chelsea v West Ham
West Ham v Crystal Palace
West Ham v Arsenal
Leicester v West Ham
West Ham P-P Man Utd
West Brom v West Ham
West Ham v Swansea
Stoke v West Ham

[RichC]

Prefer the look of our run in vs theirs however as you say we are so inconsistent

[Chazza]

We've got to play Everton somewhere in that lot.

[RichC]

Yeah, that was the postponed game wasn't it. Give them something to win this year I guess

[Yozza]

We've got to play Everton somewhere in that lot.

Yeah - weird how that the BBC website doesn't mention them?!

[Roboklopp]

Yeah - weird how that the BBC website doesn't mention them?!

Aye, Everton will be pissed off the Beeb have missed off their cup final.

[Rich]

Pardew's whinging is perfectly understandable, he's just seen his team throwaway 3-points, first his keeper makes an absolute hash of a standard clearance and then Delaney needlessly brings down Benteke. Was it a soft penalty? In real time it looks soft but Delaney's knee makes significant contact with Beneteke's foot which undoubtedly would have affected his balance.

Yes, Tekers made the most from the fall but IMO a penalty. Really well taken too, I give Big Chris some serious credit with that one, not sure who else in our squad would have taken it so coolly, probably Milly and that's it.

A great win as we welcome United to Anfield on Thursday, bring it on!

[BG1973]

Just thinking about the difference between 11 v 10 today. Milner going off meant everyone in the attacking half had one less passing option and thus the 10 were more direct than 11. Its partly why I'd like to see 4-4-2 diamond, it actually allows creates space despite everyone bar the full backs being parked in the middle third of the pitch as the strikers can get ahead of the diamond and stretch the opposition centre backs in particular and so give the sole No 10 more room to pass. When you have three playing in a line behind the sole striker it all gets a bit "to me, to you, to me, to you" esp when you throw in Henderson and or Can high up the pitch.

You might be right but the sending off was so close to us going a goal down its difficult to determine what was the greater catalyst for being more direct.

With Leicester upsetting the apple cart this season it gives me hope that teams without super bucks can still compete. It's going to be a real journey watching this team develop.