Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[pauliewalnuts]

Our first win at Selhurst since a certain Mr Atkinson ran the length of the pitch and scored the goal of the season in 1992.

Sure we won there in 96/97 when Wimbledon played there

I thought the game in 92 was at Plough Lane.

Nah.

[brontebilly]

To be honest lads, I can understand us sitting deeper in the second half. Both out full backs got destroyed in the first half so unfortunately leaving less space behind was probably the least worst option. Great shift put in by the players but we were reduced to aiming for spectators in the stand for most of the second half. We played a lot better at Burnley and I thought were in complete control before the penalty. Sometimes thats the way it goes, if Palace had a Danny Ings we would have been soundly beaten tonight. Bolasie is someone who would definitely improve us.

Tonight was more evidence that we are really going to struggle to score goals this season. Benteke created his two chances himself, was a decentish move for Weimann's chance. I thought Westwood's set pieces were good, Benteke was inches away from heading one of them in the second half that would have been a certain goal. But that is it. No threat out wide, no-one from midfield breaking forward, no decent shots from distance. No guile either, Cleverley and Westwood making five yard passes to each other without moving is where we tend to get stuck. Players are supposed to pass and move, ours just pass most of the time. Delph is badly missed in this regard.

Cleverley worked hard but added no quality on the ball. The game apart from the set pieces passed Westwood by. Gabby was anonymous. I said before the game that its pointless playing him up top with Benteke in a partnership and that was the way it turned out. Understand that we probably had to change things to get Weimann and Cleverley on the flanks supporting the full backs but Gabby really was hopeless. Cissokoho had a horror show first half but was far tighter after the break to Zaha, illegally so a lot of the time. Hutton struggled with Bolasie but again was much better second half. Okore did some good things but this was a game too far for him tonight. Positionally he was a bit of mess and made loads of poor decisions. Clark was by a mile our man of the match. Took some whack in the face early on to save a certain goal. Tough too, passed a fitness test and took a load of knocks on the night. Not sure if he is a long term option for us but fair play to him since he got back in the side. Deserves to stay in it for sure.

On Lambert, in hindsight starting Cole was asking for trouble but wouldnt hold it against him. Not starting Sanchez was daft but the early Cole injury helped us. Think switching to a flat 4 in midfield gave the fullbacks a bit more protection. Gabby was doing sweet fuck all when he was on the left. Definitely thought he should have brought on Richardson and Grealish around the 75 min mark. But not his worst night on the sideline imo.

Guzan 5, Hutton 6, Okore 5, Clark 8, Cissokho 4, Weimann 6, Westwood 5, Sanchez 6, Cleverley 5, Gabby 3, Benteke 8

Leicester at home at the weekend is another winnable one. Weimann and Cole out so changes needed. Time to release Grealish from the start. Would look at bringing Senderos or Vlaar back in for Okore if either are fit. Gabby simply has to be dropped, even if options are limited.

----------------------Guzan
Hutton, Vlaar/Senderos, Clark, Cissokho
Bacuna, Cleverley/Westwood, Sanchez, Richardson
---------------------Grealish---------------------
-------------------Benteke

[darren woolley]

Get in there three points and a clean sheet a well needed win.

[godzvilla]

I think some people on this site write their self serving ´reviews ´..if you can call them that, before the game . Me ?  I,ll trust the pro,s to give me a  fair assessment ...........UTV & glass half full .................Godzvilla !
Taken from from tomorrows Telegraph :
 “ Nothing ever seems to happen very quickly at Villa these days, but Paul Lambert’s team are showing gradual signs of improvement. They are now unbeaten in four games, and even in Ron Vlaar’s absence, they defended with real guts and precision. There remain question marks over who will get their goals when Benteke does not, but put it this way: it is a dilemma Crystal Palace would love to have right now.
Benteke’s goal after half an hour was just reward for Villa’s dominance of the ball, although it came from the most opportunistic of openings. Scott Dann tried to dribble the ball past Benteke in the right-back position, got his pocket picked, and thereafter all he saw of Benteke was the number on the back of his shirt “

[Rudy65]

To be honest lads, I can understand us sitting deeper in the second half. Both out full backs got destroyed in the first half so unfortunately leaving less space behind was probably the least worst option. Great shift put in by the players but we were reduced to aiming for spectators in the stand for most of the second half. We played a lot better at Burnley and I thought were in complete control before the penalty. Sometimes thats the way it goes, if Palace had a Danny Ings we would have been soundly beaten tonight. Bolasie is someone who would definitely improve us.

Tonight was more evidence that we are really going to struggle to score goals this season. Benteke created his two chances himself, was a decentish move for Weimann's chance. I thought Westwood's set pieces were good, Benteke was inches away from heading one of them in the second half that would have been a certain goal. But that is it. No threat out wide, no-one from midfield breaking forward, no decent shots from distance. No guile either, Cleverley and Westwood making five yard passes to each other without moving is where we tend to get stuck. Players are supposed to pass and move, ours just pass most of the time. Delph is badly missed in this regard.

Cleverley worked hard but added no quality on the ball. The game apart from the set pieces passed Westwood by. Gabby was anonymous. I said before the game that its pointless playing him up top with Benteke in a partnership and that was the way it turned out. Understand that we probably had to change things to get Weimann and Cleverley on the flanks supporting the full backs but Gabby really was hopeless. Cissokoho had a horror show first half but was far tighter after the break to Zaha, illegally so a lot of the time. Hutton struggled with Bolasie but again was much better second half. Okore did some good things but this was a game too far for him tonight. Positionally he was a bit of mess and made loads of poor decisions. Clark was by a mile our man of the match. Took some whack in the face early on to save a certain goal. Tough too, passed a fitness test and took a load of knocks on the night. Not sure if he is a long term option for us but fair play to him since he got back in the side. Deserves to stay in it for sure.

On Lambert, in hindsight starting Cole was asking for trouble but wouldnt hold it against him. Not starting Sanchez was daft but the early Cole injury helped us. Think switching to a flat 4 in midfield gave the fullbacks a bit more protection. Gabby was doing sweet fuck all when he was on the left. Definitely thought he should have brought on Richardson and Grealish around the 75 min mark. But not his worst night on the sideline imo.

Guzan 5, Hutton 6, Okore 5, Clark 8, Cissokho 4, Weimann 6, Westwood 5, Sanchez 6, Cleverley 5, Gabby 3, Benteke 8

Leicester at home at the weekend is another winnable one. Weimann and Cole out so changes needed. Time to release Grealish from the start. Would look at bringing Senderos or Vlaar back in for Okore if either are fit. Gabby simply has to be dropped, even if options are limited.

----------------------Guzan
Hutton, Vlaar/Senderos, Clark, Cissokho
Bacuna, Cleverley/Westwood, Sanchez, Richardson
---------------------Grealish---------------------
-------------------Benteke

Agreed, save as Okore to start on Sunday. You cant drop him.

Clark looked good, as did Baker when he is paired with some experience.

Gabby will def start Sunday as Andi out.

Horrible win, but three points is three points. No doubt, Lambert will be saying we played like Brazil 1970. We go again

[ChicagoLion]

I think some people on this site write their self serving ´reviews ´..if you can call them that, before the game . Me ?  I,ll trust the pro,s to give me a  fair assessment ...........UTV & glass half full .................Godzvilla !
Taken from from tomorrows Telegraph :
 “ Nothing ever seems to happen very quickly at Villa these days, but Paul Lambert’s team are showing gradual signs of improvement. They are now unbeaten in four games, and even in Ron Vlaar’s absence, they defended with real guts and precision. There remain question marks over who will get their goals when Benteke does not, but put it this way: it is a dilemma Crystal Palace would love to have right now.
Benteke’s goal after half an hour was just reward for Villa’s dominance of the ball, although it came from the most opportunistic of openings. Scott Dann tried to dribble the ball past Benteke in the right-back position, got his pocket picked, and thereafter all he saw of Benteke was the number on the back of his shirt “

Dominance of the ball, this bloke obviously did not watch the game. A Pro you say-meh

[Chris Smith]

Hard earned three points and yes we rode our luck at times but surely with the run of injuries, late goals and a sending off we have had we were due to have some come our way. One things is certain, the players put in a real hard shift tonight which shows that it does matter to them.

[dave.woodhall]

I think some people on this site write their self serving ´reviews ´..if you can call them that, before the game . Me ?  I,ll trust the pro,s to give me a  fair assessment ...........UTV & glass half full .................Godzvilla !
Taken from from tomorrows Telegraph :
 “ Nothing ever seems to happen very quickly at Villa these days, but Paul Lambert’s team are showing gradual signs of improvement. They are now unbeaten in four games, and even in Ron Vlaar’s absence, they defended with real guts and precision. There remain question marks over who will get their goals when Benteke does not, but put it this way: it is a dilemma Crystal Palace would love to have right now.
Benteke’s goal after half an hour was just reward for Villa’s dominance of the ball, although it came from the most opportunistic of openings. Scott Dann tried to dribble the ball past Benteke in the right-back position, got his pocket picked, and thereafter all he saw of Benteke was the number on the back of his shirt “

Dominance of the ball, this bloke obviously did not watch the game. A Pro you say-meh

Because he doesn't agree with your view that it must have been shit because it was Villa, not only is he wrong but he wasn't even at the game he was paid to report on. 

[olaftab]

Get in there three points and a clean sheet a well needed win.

A bit OTT Darren...have you been smoking?

[ciggiesnbeer]

I am just happy  to read an article about Villa that is a bit more upbeat for a change. Thanks for the link Godsvilla(!).

[exigo]

Just back from the game. Cracking away atmosphere, as ever.

Terrible tactics, second to every ball, clueless at times. But man alive, those three points could turn our season around. Get a bit of confidence into the team, bring back players from injury, and we'll pretend this blip never happened.

Nice to finally be looking onwards and upwards.

[Steve67]

Credit where it's due. Well done Villa and Lambert.

[pauliewalnuts]

Hard earned three points and yes we rode our luck at times but surely with the run of injuries, late goals and a sending off we have had we were due to have some come our way. One things is certain, the players put in a real hard shift tonight which shows that it does matter to them.

I don't think we rode our luck at all, to be honest. If there was any luck involved, it was that we were playing a team so utterly blunt up front. We defended resolutely, too.

I do think, though, that that game was yet another demonstration of our weakness - constantly giving the ball back to the opposition, dropping deeper and deeper, Weimann and Gabby effectively contributing nothing for far too much of the game, Westwood and Cleverly doing the same job, but not particularly well.

Great to get the points, and it wasn't flukey, but at the same time, we can't go on playing like that, because most teams will prove less rubbish up front than Palace.

[mrastonvilla]

With Weiman missing and Cole injured I hope Grealish gets his chance on Sunday

[Chris Smith]

Hard earned three points and yes we rode our luck at times but surely with the run of injuries, late goals and a sending off we have had we were due to have some come our way. One things is certain, the players put in a real hard shift tonight which shows that it does matter to them.

I don't think we rode our luck at all, to be honest. If there was any luck involved, it was that we were playing a team so utterly blunt up front. We defended resolutely, too.

I do think, though, that that game was yet another demonstration of our weakness - constantly giving the ball back to the opposition, dropping deeper and deeper, Weimann and Gabby effectively contributing nothing for far too much of the game, Westwood and Cleverly doing the same job, but not particularly well.

Great to get the points, and it wasn't flukey, but at the same time, we can't go on playing like that, because most teams will prove less rubbish up front than Palace.

By luck I meant stuff like Guzan dropping almost everything and that low cross in the second half that seemed to go through about 8 players and missed them all. In recent weeks we seem to have punished for everything but tonight, for once, it went our way.