Community Shield vs Crystal Palace

[Yozza]

TBF I don't even think it should have got to penalties

How was the handball by Macca not given?

[vlahka]

They probably thought because his hand was right next to the players chest, it would have been chested down for him to strike like he did anyway. Or they could use the man city excuse for their handballs and say the player was looking at the ball. They didnt deserve the penalty anyway since they were diving all over the place. Even that absolute disgusting one where their player ran into the ref, fell over holding his face then his leg then heavily limped off after not getting a free kick. The ref didnt even move when the player ran into him. It was like the wind. This is why I hate that excuse people give abo9ut players falling over because they're running and the slightest hit unbalances you and so it should be a free kick. People dont fall over that easy unless they get rewarded for it.

[memzey]

In terms of options in midfield, I think we are OK. We are light at least one centre back and one forward. This could go up depending on further departures.

Lack of personnel is not the reason behind our defeat yesterday. We were sloppy and lacked intensity throughout. Additionally, when Ekitike went off, we were missing a focal point and seemed to not be able to get going at all. A common theme throughout pre-season has been our susceptibility to counters, especially in the left back area. We need to figure this out but don't need to bring players in to address it.

[Cerbie]

They probably thought because his hand was right next to the players chest, it would have been chested down for him to strike like he did anyway. Or they could use the man city excuse for their handballs and say the player was looking at the ball. They didnt deserve the penalty anyway since they were diving all over the place. Even that absolute disgusting one where their player ran into the ref, fell over holding his face then his leg then heavily limped off after not getting a free kick. The ref didnt even move when the player ran into him. It was like the wind. This is why I hate that excuse people give abo9ut players falling over because they're running and the slightest hit unbalances you and so it should be a free kick. People dont fall over that easy unless they get rewarded for it.

I thought that was bizarre, but the comment my McCoist about the ref giving himself a yellow card was funny.

What wasn't funny was Wharton's challenge on Frimpong, nothing given, it was at least a yellow and possibly a red.

I think we have had all the favours we are going to get from Tierney on VAR this season after that game.

[BG1973]

Yeah that was bizarre.

[rudedog]

I thought that was bizarre, but the comment my McCoist about the ref giving himself a yellow card was funny.

What wasn't funny was Wharton's challenge on Frimpong, nothing given, it was at least a yellow and possibly a red.

I think we have had all the favours we are going to get from Tierney on VAR this season after that game.

I think definately yellow, red would have been very harsh though.

[danperkins]

In terms of options in midfield, I think we are OK. We are light at least one centre back and one forward. This could go up depending on further departures.

Lack of personnel is not the reason behind our defeat yesterday. We were sloppy and lacked intensity throughout. Additionally, when Ekitike went off, we were missing a focal point and seemed to not be able to get going at all. A common theme throughout pre-season has been our susceptibility to counters, especially in the left back area. We need to figure this out but don't need to bring players in to address it.

this is spot on imo. We were either a bit lazy or they were fitter.. maybe both. Also, they have the same very effective bedded in team as last year & our lads are still getting to know each other. We certainly had more quality but they had more continuity and a bit of quality themselves too. It's the charity shield who gives a **** really, once we make the necessary additions (sooner rather than later) and start to roll in the league it's all good.

[DerKrampus]

I think we missed Grav - that said Szob was excellent and his passing was VVD'esqe.

[vlahka]

We were dodgy against counters last season too. This isnt something new.

[danperkins]

Yeah we did get undone on the counter a lot last season. I'm hoping that the addition of pace in both full back areas will help this. In fairness to Palace, they are one of the best at that style of play.

[Cerbie]

this is spot on imo. We were either a bit lazy or they were fitter.. maybe both. Also, they have the same very effective bedded in team as last year & our lads are still getting to know each other. We certainly had more quality but they had more continuity and a bit of quality themselves too. It's the charity shield who gives a **** really, once we make the necessary additions (sooner rather than later) and start to roll in the league it's all good.

Ekitike was the standout for me. Some of his link-up play was superb, almost like Bobby 2.0.

We were without Grav yesterday and his availability for a pass and ability on the ball to move play forward quickly will be important. There was one counter attack that failed yesterday when we managed to 5 vs 2 or 3. I hope we can see more of that this season.

[BigChief]

I think we missed Grav - that said Szob was excellent and his passing was VVD'esqe.

Didn't watch the second half so maybe Szob improved. But in the first half he was caught on the ball and forced into bad passes in dangerous central areas which gave palace their breaks forward (one that led to the penalty too).

Palace set the traps well enough and we fell into them. To be fair to Szob he could have done with more support from Kerkez/Gakpo/Jones in those situations. Just a tweaking issue which will be ironed out in training hopefully.

[DerKrampus]

I wouldn't be surprised if our midfield is back to Szob, Grav and Mac Allister with Wirtz moving into the front line alongside Ekitike and Salah.

[danperkins]

Ekitike was the standout for me. Some of his link-up play was superb, almost like Bobby 2.0.

We were without Grav yesterday and his availability for a pass and ability on the ball to move play forward quickly will be important. There was one counter attack that failed yesterday when we managed to 5 vs 2 or 3. I hope we can see more of that this season.

Also no Mac for most of the game and he's clearly not match fit either. Two huge players to not have in & will make an enormous difference when they are in and fully fit.

[SB]

Also no Mac for most of the game and he's clearly not match fit either. Two huge players to not have in & will make an enormous difference when they are in and fully fit.

And not having an out & out striker on the bench to bring on when we took Ekitike off.