Result apart - and a flukey winner - I can honestly say without doubt that is our best performance of the season. Simply for workrate and desire alone. If these players had been putting in this much effort in every game we'd be, maybe not mid table , but in a Paul Lambertesque zone of safety.
Something has evidently not been right in the dressing room for a while. Perhaps its taken the fans abuse, and public airing of it, to shake things up and make the players aware, at very close quarters, that lack of effort is simply unacceptable?
A few notes:
Crystal Palace are a decent side and their defensive organisation is an example to the likes of us.
Kozac was poor. Yet still looked 2x a better striker than Gestede, for intelligent movement and ball control alone.
Quite telling that our centre back pairing looked better without (and I'm not joking here) probably our best player being left out. He simply isn't a centre back. I'd be very tempted to give him a try in Sanchez's role as DM. He can tackle, pass, drive, protect the defence and bully the opposition. I think he'd be ideal in that role IF he can adapt to it.
Short of that, fuck Hutton off and tell Richards to ignore his contract clause (alleged) and put him at right back. He owes us, his mistakes at CB have significantly contributed to our position. He seems like an honourable chap so I'm sure he'll oblige.
Gil was busy but needs to work a leetle bit harder.
Not over impressed by Bunn so far. Although he didnt have a lot to do tonight. GK a priority for next year.
Special mention:
Jordan Ayew - I slagged him off for the first month after his debut but since the Blues game he has been our player of the season by miles. Brilliant again tonight, he's quick, great touch, not afraid to shoot and his workrate is outstanding. If only we could have paired him up with Benteke. Theyd have scored close to 40 a season between them. One minor critisism - maybe he spends too much time outside the box to be a 'sniffer' type striker.
Any way , we won, too little too late and all that but I'm happy for once. Keep it up lads.
