Crystal Palace v Aston Villa post match thread

[LukeJames]

We could do with a game on Tuesday really but now have 2 weeks to mull over that.

The decision is that bad on every level, you can put one decision down to a mistake or ineptness but on the back of everything else that happened in that game he was always going to find a way to rule out our goal whenever/if we managed to score.

[The Edge]

 

We are now 18th having just played some of the worst "Premier League" football I've seen in a while. I honestly think we are in big trouble.

Thanks amfy.

I also meant 'Konsa', not 'Kinda'!

Eh?

[CT]

I know Specsavers offered Jack Leach free glasses for life.

...but any chance you can offer Kevin Friend the same deal too?

I think Dean Smith was spot on afterwards. Fucked off at the decision but said we didn't really deserve a point. We were certainly robbed of one though.

I've not been impressed at all with Trezeguet, some apallling theatrics when he's barely touched and not involved nearly enough today, again. Thought his first booking was harsh, but knowing you're on a yellow and then doing that was ridiculous.

Lots to do now before West Ham.

[CT Villan]

At what point does gross incompetence become wilful negligence. If this was in a business relationship somebody would be getting sued or fired, yet we have to just take it on a chin as part of the game. I think back to the 6 Nations rugby and the refs were highly-respected and extremely professional - I'm trying to figure out why it works in rugby but not the EPL. How can there be such a gulf in ability unless by design. There is so much money involved in the EPL that I would not be surprised if corruption played a part, we know it does at FIFA.

...and yes, the moon-landings were filmed in Milton Keynes and JFK was shot from a grassy knoll by the Wombles.

[LukeJames]

Remember when we used to say the that one of the bonus's of going up would be to not have to deal with the Championship referees any more? Sigh.

[john2710]

What's the chances Grealish gets charged for his reaction?

If the ref blows the whistle for a dive before the ball goes in the net, & I'm not convinced he does, then the VAR should look at it & have given a penalty. If he blows up after the ball goes in then VAR should give the goal.

You've got to question the refs integrity.

[wolfman999]

Remember when we used to say the that one of the bonus's of going up would be to not have to deal with the Championship referees any more? Sigh.

Unfortunately, in order for games to be played, there has to be a referee and if all the shit ones like Friend were dumped, there would be about 2 games played in the whole of England.

[KevinGage]

I don't think we need to panic, but I do find it slightly perturbing that out of three losses, two of them I'd put down more to our failings than opposition strengths. We all knew the Premier League was a step up, but I don't think we've really settled on a positive way to play. We're very counter-attacking and so far, we're not too brilliant at it.

I was concerned with this against Everton.

We won, but it felt like Everton were the home side for a long stretch of that game. Deano also said after that match that the aim was to go more direct to Wesley and let Grealish and Jack feed off the scraps.  I actually thought our use of the ball when we did have it was better than that, but I wouldn't have expected him to talk that way.

At our best last season, we simply overwhelmed teams.  Home or away. Think Derby and Boro away, and Derby at home etc. We were relentless.

You have to pick your battles in this league, and I wouldn't slate us playing on the counter at home to the likes of Citeh or Liverpool etc. But Palarse home or away is one of the games where we need to show far more attacking intent. Even with the obvious caveat of no easy games in this league/ it's still a step up yada yada yada. 

[PaulWinch again]

Yes I think this is probably the biggest thing Deano needs to overcome. We need to be brave and start playing on the front foot more. I don’t think counter attack is our strongest suit and we’re a bit disjointed thus far.

[curiousorange]

Yeah, I'd agree with that. We seem timid, almost like we don't want to go too attacking in case we get embarrassed. But I'd rather lose trying to win than lose not trying to lose. We put up with enough of that shit under managers we shan't mention.

[amfy]

A review of the incident couldn’t give us a goal after the whistle was blown but surely it could have given us a penalty instead of a free kick against us? Isn’t it supposed to review debatable penalty decisions - clear and obvious errors?

[CT Villan]

One bright spot for me today was Keinan's hold-up play, he did really well when he came on. Granted it's not the sub I would have made, but that's why I'm sitting at home in my underwear typing on the computer and Dean Smith is Villa manager.

[brontebilly]

Player ratings from today?

3 points from 4 games is a poor enough start, losing to an awful Palace side with Jordan Ayew scoring a bitter pill to put it mildly.

Grealish was certainly pushed at end but did look a bit of a swan dive for the second challenge.

[eamonn]

We're being outmuscled by bigger and more physical players in midfield who also have technique so McGinn's bum-roll and Jack trying to take multiple players on is not going to be a tactic that always works at this level.

[villadelph]

VAR should not be a tool to validate referees. It should not be used to protect tough decisions. It should be used to get decisions right. The ball was already away and there was clearly contact, minimal or not.

This might sound petty, but is there some form of protest we can lodge? It seems fairly pointless as the FA will always protect its referees.. there needs to be an independent body because this was just plain unacceptable today. The reaction from the media and talking heads says a lot. My fear is anyone with a pair of eyes can see the contact on Jack, who didn't even protest the foul, but a career referee in a booth can't get it right. In fact, he offered support to Kevin Friend for his call. It's truly insane.

I was not happy with our performance today, but Luiz and Taylor getting cautioned with their first fouls was ridiculous. Trezeguet's first yellow was no such thing.

There has to be some course of action or a REAL review board that can hold a standard for the referees in the worlds top league. Kevin Friend will sleep tonight without a care or remorse. Fucking clown.