LC Crystal Palace at home Wednesday 29th Oct 745pm

[SB]

Glad I was on the plane to NZ. 0-0 when I took off & 0-3 when I landed. I need a holiday from this **** show.

[Exiled_red]

Think Slot has put a lot of pressure on himself with his line up for the Palace game. The game was thrown with that line up, so now he and all the senior players that were rested have to get a result against Villa.

No excuses for them as they had no mid week game. Anything less than a hard working display that ends in a win will have the players being questioned as much as Slot imo.

I was thinking the same, last night very much feels like if anything the pressure is on even more

[Buzzo]

Think Slot has put a lot of pressure on himself with his line up for the Palace game. The game was thrown with that line up, so now he and all the senior players that were rested have to get a result against Villa.

No excuses for them as they had no mid week game. Anything less than a hard working display that ends in a win will have the players being questioned as much as Slot imo.

Yeah. I agree. You can maybe put that team out v. League 2 team but you don’t really see teams doing this v a PL opponent. So for me this was tantamount to throwing the game.

How this affects the psychology of the group is anyone’s guess but it’s difficult to see how it’s positive. Slot beasted a small group of players last season anditseemsto be showing. You need to keep the players who offer depth involved and most of the squad are either ****ed from last season, have barely played in 18 months, new to the club, youth. These are all manageable aspects of football, the question now seems to be can Slot navigate this? Early signs aren’t great.

[Exiled_red]

I posted something in the thread earlier about not even pretending to give a ****, given the subs. He could easily have had half a bench of kids and half a bench of senior players which has an impact on the game even if they aren't used in that it is in Palace's mind if they are 1-0 that the game isn't won we could bring on some of these guys and they could turn the game.

I also posted the selection was very odd as there was only really Chiesa who offered any sort of significant goal threat in the whole match squad. Maybe if we had kept it tight we could have nicked a 1-0 win or a 1-1 draw and won on pens but there when I saw the squad ahead of kick off my thought was Palace win this if they score 2 because there is no way that squad was scoring more than 1.

[kingfunk]

The game was thrown, simple as. Shows the sorry state we are in at the moment. Maybe it was the right thing to do, who knows, time will tell.

[danperkins]

Think Slot has put a lot of pressure on himself with his line up for the Palace game. The game was thrown with that line up, so now he and all the senior players that were rested have to get a result against Villa.

No excuses for them as they had no mid week game. Anything less than a hard working display that ends in a win will have the players being questioned as much as Slot imo.

yup 100%, he should at least had a strong bench imo to call upon but the complete absence means the lads have had all week to rest, which will absolutely be highlighted in the media & I do think he had put more pressure upon himself. A Villa loss might be the straw that breaks the camels back. We shall see.

[Norbs]

Think Slot has put a lot of pressure on himself with his line up for the Palace game. The game was thrown with that line up, so now he and all the senior players that were rested have to get a result against Villa.

No excuses for them as they had no mid week game. Anything less than a hard working display that ends in a win will have the players being questioned as much as Slot imo.

There wasn't much point in trying to chase the game after we went 2 down. The timing of the 2nd goal meant the towel was thrown in

[Doc_Piptorious]

There wasn't much point in trying to chase the game after we went 2 down. The timing of the 2nd goal meant the towel was thrown in

The towel was thrown in before the first whistle imo. We will find out at the weekend if the gamble pays off or not.

[Mark79]

The Villa game was must win anyway, regardless of what happened last night.

A Carabao 4th round win doesn’t relieve any pressure when you’re 4 defeats on the bounce in the Premier League.

Slot’s given the 1st team their best chance in terms of preparation and freshness for the more important game. Just hope that he can get the coaching and the tactics right and that the players can respond.

[peterbread]

I’m hoping there is a change and he doesn’t just go with the same thing that’s not worked all season. Try something different or go back to the basics from last season. Do something and don’t just hope it suddenly clicks as there is no evidence that it will. It’s well past that point now.

The first thing I’d like to see is a proper 3 man midfield that will work and press and fight.

[labourRed]

My wishes in order

1. Drop Salah for Wirtz and play him on the right. Play 442 out of possession. In possession continue to allow Wirtz to do what he likes.
2. Isak doesn't look ready - forget he cost over £100m... Play Ekitike.
3. Inject Gravenberch with whatever allows him to play.
4. Drop Mac Alistair for Jones.
5. Play direct - sack off ball retention (because we lose it anyway) in favour of urgency. You need to have confidence to play tiki-taka football, we don't have any.

[fidget]

Father in Law left 20 minutes early for the first time in his 60 years as a season ticket holder!

[Slinky Skills]

Did no one find it striking that all the senior players were there watching, that doesn't normally happen does it?

Some of them looked ****ing fuming mainly as the weather was atrocious but VVD looked like ****ing Shinobi wrapped up in all his gear but to me it didn't look like they wanted to be there.

It was almost like a **** you from Slot and he made them attend to show him and the club some respect. Normally they'd be away tucked up in the corporate rooms but last night they weren't, they were down on the dugout with the team.

Maybe I'm just over thinking things.

[Catrin]

My wishes in order

1. Drop Salah for Wirtz and play him on the right. Play 442 out of possession. In possession continue to allow Wirtz to do what he likes.
2. Isak doesn't look ready - forget he cost over £100m... Play Ekitike.
3. Inject Gravenberch with whatever allows him to play.
4. Drop Mac Alistair for Jones.
5. Play direct - sack off ball retention (because we lose it anyway) in favour of urgency. You need to have confidence to play tiki-taka football, we don't have any.

Does this mean Dom on the left or up front?

[Scratch]

My wishes in order

1. Drop Salah for Wirtz and play him on the right. Play 442 out of possession. In possession continue to allow Wirtz to do what he likes.
2. Isak doesn't look ready - forget he cost over £100m... Play Ekitike.
3. Inject Gravenberch with whatever allows him to play.
4. Drop Mac Alistair for Jones.
5. Play direct - sack off ball retention (because we lose it anyway) in favour of urgency. You need to have confidence to play tiki-taka football, we don't have any.

Does this mean Dom on the left or up front?

4-3-3 with Dom/Jones playing around Grav in the middle, I would think?

Mama
Bradley - Konate - VVD - Kerkez/Robbo
Dom - Grav - Jones
Wirtz - Ekitike - Gakpo