Crystal Palace v Aston Villa post match thread

[Steve67]

We have some good footballers in midfield.
But we lack ‘power’ in there.
That’s the only word I can come up with to describe what I think is missing.


Oh, and trezeguet was a tosser today.  He really needs to have a word with himself and cut out the diving for a start.

Physicality?

Absolutely. We look tiny in midfield.

I think we need both Luiz AND Makamba in midfield.  We are too easily pushed aside.

[Clark W Griswold]

We have some good footballers in midfield.
But we lack ‘power’ in there.
That’s the only word I can come up with to describe what I think is missing.


Oh, and trezeguet was a tosser today.  He really needs to have a word with himself and cut out the diving for a start.

Physicality?

Absolutely. We look tiny in midfield.

I think we need both Luiz AND Nakamba in midfield.  We are too easily pushed aside.

Maybe. As a lot of us were saying the other week, Luiz pushed further forward and Grealish pushed wide.

[Clampy]

I like what i've seen of Jota so far but maybe away from home it would be best to leave him out for an extra midfielder like Hourihane.

[themossman]

Jota looks like a one on one off player.

[eamonn]

Barcelona’s midfield of Xavi, Inesta, Busquets with Messi out wide weren’t exactly giants. Size has little to with it. It’s always talented players used correctly.

It's a fair point but that was an exceptional midfield and not the norm. I don't really expect Villa to be able to field players of that calibre. Yet.

The best midfield of all time is often cited as a reason for physicality not being required. Unfortunately our players are nowhere near that standard and it can't be a coincidence that every team we've faced so far have big, powerful athletes in the middle of the park.

[LeeB]

We need to Kienan in the team, to help us get our players on the ball further up the pitch.

He will be a star for us, I'm utterly convinced of it.

[The Edge]

On reflection im finishing my say with this. It took a combination of a fortunate bounce for Ayew and a diabolical refereeing decision/performance to beat us. Palace won at Man Utd last week and currently sit 4th in the Premier league. So lets not get all doom and gloom just yet. Theres still a lot of positives. Come mid December we will have a better idea of where we're at. Come January they can tweak the squad where it's needed. UTV

[Sexual Ealing]

On reflection im finishing my say with this. It took a combination of a fortunate bounce for Ayew and a diabolical refereeing decision/performance to beat us. Palace won at Man Utd last week and currently sit 4th in the Premier league. So lets not get all doom and gloom just yet. Theres still a lot of positives. Come mid December we will have a better idea of where we're at. Come January they can tweak the squad where it's needed. UTV

I agree with this. Also, they have one of the best players in the league in Zaha.

[AllanW]

The 'Ban Kevin Friend' petition is picking up speed. Please sign and tell your friends

https://www.change.org/p/football-fans-ban-kevin-friend-from-refereeing-premier-league-games?recruited_by_id=b1dcb990-cc0b-11e9-a436-3739f2073faa&share_bandit_exp=initial-17591627-en-GB&share_bandit_var=v1

[baddowvillans]

Sorry Allan but that just makes us look small time. 

[OCD]

We need to Kienan in the team, to help us get our players on the ball further up the pitch.

He will be a star for us, I'm utterly convinced of it.

Wesley had a bad game and Keinan did well when he came on. He's fast making himself a real option as opposed to a kid playing understudy.

[AllanW]

Sorry Allan but that just makes us look small time.

Not started by us, that I'm aware of, and is the culmination of mistakes this man has made in refereeing over the last 4 years. Look up the fan reaction to his incompetence at Sunderland, Manyoo and others.

Plus - if we join in at least we begin to show the PGMOL and PL that the fans will not put up with this gross lack of fairness. Something most people are in favour of.

Plus - who exazctly will think us 'small time'? Who?

[Axl Rose]

Sorry Allan but that just makes us look small time.

Not started by us, that I'm aware of, and is the culmination of mistakes this man has made in refereeing over the last 4 years. Look up the fan reaction to his incompetence at Sunderland, Manyoo and others.

Plus - if we join in at least we begin to show the PGMOL and PL that the fans will not put up with this gross lack of fairness. Something most people are in favour of.

Plus - who exazctly will think us 'small time'? Who?

Probably #levelhampton levellers.

[Villa75]

I'm not one for slagging off refs each and every game but, Friend was a joke yesterday.

Jack was fouled (just outside the area) so, at the very least he should have blown for a free-kick. Jack is then off balance and stumbles towards Cahill, where they clash. Neither Cahill or Jack are at fault for that.

Just one thing though. I wish Jack wouldn't do that little exaggerated arc of his back when he's about to hit the ground. It's unnecessary, and looks like he's feigning a foul, even when he's not.

[gpbarr]

We did not lost the game because of a bad referee or VAR (though agreed they were both awful).

We lost the game because we picked the wrong line up. Jota is a back up for Grealish because playing them both leaves us short in terms doing the "hard yards" in midfield. Before worrying about goals, one has to control midfield especially if Dean wants to play it out the back as he suggests. We must put Hourihane or Marvelous alongside Luiz, push Jack further forward (he is dropping way too deep when we are losing the midfield battle), and then trust that he, McGinn, the two FB, and Wes can supply the goals.