Got some free time so right i would start the match thread. I expect palace to be tight this game and I've got a bad feeling about this: We hate physical defensive teams which is exactly what hodgsons side is. We hate pacey tricky players which Townsend and zaha have in abundance. Lastly zaha always turns it on against us and forfor whate reason our model professional and usually defensively solid captain Dave always has a mare against zaha. He's deffo his kryptonite. Hopefully hazard is back, i imagine Barkley starts but I'm hoping kovacic is on instead of jorginho (never going to happen). Rlc to come on as a sub later on. Giroud should play over morata as sahko will have him for breakfast
Tricky one this as London Derby’s can throw up anything. I think we are a different kettle of fish under Sarri so predicting a 3-1 score line.
That half sums up Morata perfectly scores a good strikers goal, then fails to control the simplest of balls over the top with no pressure on him at all, I really think he couldn't control a bag of cement.
Kepa underwhelmed most if not all times. Luiz & Alonso perfect example of how to not defend. Pair concede again. Will be lucky to get a draw today & 4th spot with those awful pair, Tbh. Alonso is poor man's Van Anholt.
Yes new Lampard was waste of space today.. Frankie never lacked effort or application even when he was 35 and had worse legs than 27 year old Cescy.. Barkley hang your head.. How the Fcuk Luiz misses that header.. Certain goal.. Free header
I know mate,think my main worry is the Kante position.We're much more solid at the back with him playing the DM. Still lets see what happens.
Pretty poor match , and just when I bag Morata he scores 2 good goals, then misses a sitter. Still ,looks better than 2 weeks ago. Barkley went backwards 6 weeks, Willian was ordinary, Alonso back passed too much, midfield was disjointed, altogether a bad day at the office except for the score. Winning while playing poorly is a good sign , though that seems perverse. 3 points, 2nd place, thank you very much.
Yeah we aint winning no title, not this season. We may challenge, for a time, but I see us eventually falling away a little. I would settle for 3rd or 4th, this season, for sure.
Last time I read this we won the league. Never known someone to get it so wrong so often. Keep reverse jinxing us Stan
I think we all knew this would be a transitional season yet here we are 2nd place, unbeaten, scoring well, more attractive to watch. It could have been a hell of a lot worse. I thought we'd really struggle until xmas but the players have adjusted well to a new manager and system. Is it perfect, no but give it another 6-12 months and it could be. Only really City look markedly better than us, and we knew that before a ball was kicked. I think where we'll get found out is away from home against the top teams though.
Agreed We are on par with Liverpool. As the league shows. We need one or two signings to be the real deal though. I think one more Midfield signing (Kovacic is a loanee, and although he is good, he isnt what we need) and a striker and we are ready.......