Crystal Palace v Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[Sexual Ealing]

I like playing Palace because it reminds me of their excellent badge. Best in the league, IMAO.

[cdbearsfan]

Sheffield United have the best badge. But they've just lost to Dirty Leeds so they can get fucked.

[usav]

This will be really tough. Game 4 of 5 in 14 days with the same midfield pairing for all of the games. That’s before you consider our dreadful record in South London!

[Somniloquism]

I would have preferred a time frame for Kamara instead of Pau.

The good thing about Pau coming back is he’s not going to weaken our defence (it’s already not very good) but he really adds to our game in possession.

Plus his return could see the return of the only combination of defenders that has been functional over the last 18 months (2CBs, Konsa @ RB).

do you have any stats to back that up ?

I’m hoping some people might remember our games a bit better than others.

It could be in vain though. I was listening to a pod earlier, on which the host comes across as a bit of a smart-arse. Last week he mentioned ‘Duran’s two goals against Leipzig’

TBF he did score two, just one was called back as Cash was just offside.

[Brend'Watkins]

I like playing Palace because it reminds me of their excellent badge. Best in the league, IMAO.

Something that nobody said about it in 1972 when they were ‘The Glaziers’. Still, it is a cool badge now and a good bit of rebranding by the club. When they had that eagle flying around their ground before kick off 10 or 15 years ago was also cool too.

[PaulWinch again]

Our away form is diabolical. If we want a shot at Champions League places we are going to need to significantly improve it. We’re normally rubbish against Palace, need to buck that trend.

[Baldy]

Apart from Everton and Seagulls the two teams with most draws are Palace and Villa. They have only won two at home this season, we have only won once away since mid October. Draw written all over it.

But, we have Unai. He will use the 5 subs wisely and maximise our energy levels to the full.

1-2 to the Villa.

89th minute winner off McGinns left buttock.

[john2710]

Our away form doesn't give me much confidence that we'll get anything from this game.

But if we want top 5 we're going to need to put together a few back to back wins, starting tonight.

[Drummond]

We just need to get at them. Konsa on Eze. Mings or Disasi on Mateta.

Let the forwards do their thing and just fucking win.

[Jon Crofts]

Handy hint by the way for those travelling from Brum/north generally by train. Get the Northern Line to London Bridge then a fast train to Norwood Junction. It's not much further a walk to the away end than Selhurst and it saves spending a lifetime on the crawler from Victoria

There are fast trains from Victoria to Selhurst that take around 15 minutes.

[AV84]

Is Rogers out injured?

[Somniloquism]

As reported earlier, Emery stated Roger and Mings were being assessed before the match. Although Rogers might not be missed as much and can do with a rest if he misses out.

[Dave]

Yeah, Rashford - Asensio - Bailey behind Malen, with Watkins to get half an hour at the end wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.

[Somniloquism]

And if both Konsa and Disasi play, it frees up Bogarde for midfield which means Tielemans or McGinn can be further up the field as well if Asensio doesn't start / tires.

[JUAN PABLO]

Be watching it tonigth with my Palace season ticket holder father in law , as he is 80 he is really struggling to get to the games in midweek , he says the transport system is getting worse and he cant keep getting hotels etc on bank holidays and mid week and its starting to take its toll , he asked me If he should give it up .

He has a soft spot for villa , as his grandson obviously picked Villa over Palace , we both bought him kits when he was born and he always goes on about Villa lending Palace their kits back in the day , another reason he likes Villa , not that i know that full story.

Its going to be a tough game but we have the quality to sneak a 2 -1   win here , expect Hughes to get his booking and Pete loves Mateta , so be careful of him and Eze of course .

Rashford and malen to score for us and keep another dream alive.