Didn't go but I am guessing that we looked like a team who are 110 million in debt and highly likely to be relegated.
Is 'minutes in the tank' some new football rhyming slang? Eg, "our new centre forward is utter 'minutes in the tank'"
I think if we had a couple of solid defensive midfielders and better centre backs we wouldn't be too bad. We look okay going forward with plenty of pace but it was ridiculous how far some of their players were just able to carry the ball up the pitch without anyone trying to make a tackle. The first goal didn't look like a penalty from where I was. Ngakia got absolutely done for the 2nd.
Really? I don't think any of our fans are saying they "want" us to do badly. Unless I'm missing something?
I reckon Hughes is as good as gone. Hopefully we retain Chalobah though. We need some continuity (with our better players I mean, obviously we continue with our financial drains of Deeney and Gray etc)
Agree with your point about pre-season. Regarding the actual season, remember that the Pozzos have no problem getting new managers in to change things if needed. Perhaps a key signing in the January window too if needed. So here's hoping for 17th or better.
Some on here genuinely are looking forward to a potential relegation more than last seasons potential promotion. Its really really weird that they crawl out from under a troll rock when we are up against it and still appear to find a fault when we are playing well.
Agreed, I think he’s gone for sure, but that’s what we need. The problem for us today playing out from the back was that none of our CM’s were making themselves available for our CB’s. They weren’t finding the pockets of space quick enough for us to shift the ball quickly, and when they did, they just couldn’t do what Hughes offers us, got closed down and panicked.
Rag tag squad, a powderpuff midfield and Deeney bringing the same old forum users to tears. The season can’t start soon enough.
Think we have a CB problem that's not been addressed really. And a big one at that if injuries occur. The team will need some luck with fitness in that department.
Last time we were in danger of the drop they brought in Pussetto for £7m and then gave him back to Udinese for free, so good luck with that.
Nope. Figment of your imagination. People want to stick it to our owners for the financial state they have left us in. As for the match day - people will get behind the team. I thought owners did well last year to give us a shot of promotion. That doesn’t mean I forgive them for the state they left us in after cup final year.
Glad he thought Cucho had a decent game even though he was starved of service. His run in the second half is something Deeney is simply incapable of.
The fact we looked sharper and more dynamic when Deeney came on speaks volumes. Much as I want to be enthusiastic its difficult to find too many positives from either of the preseason games I've seen. lack of shape and understanding is one thing but the without energy, cohesion or a tiddly bitof passion or pride it looks like a struggle this season. Palace were far better in almost every dept.
I think we will go down but today’s result/performance will have nothing to do with it. I honestly don’t know why people get so upset about pre season friendlies. In fact I don’t really know why anybody watches them.
We were 2-0 down and Palace had started bringing on their kids. Not really a surprise we looked better.
I think you are clouded by your view of certain posters (including me I imagine). I was very positive in the run in last season and very happy. It prevented administration in my view. However I’ll still give the owners two barrels for what they have done in the past. I still want the team to win and I agree with the frugal approach this year.
I’d replace our entire starting 11 with theirs, with the exception of Sarr and potentially Sierralta.
If you think this squad / team is in trouble now ….. wait until the AFCON when 1/2 our first team squads buggers off …… mark my words - we are going down with a whimper - that’s just being realistic
Is there anywhere I can watch the full match back? I missed it live but was led to believe Palace would stick the full thing up on their website, but they still haven't done so (only very brief highlights).
Pre season matches mean nothing. Pre-seasons however are very significant. Our squad is arguably in a worse position than it was in the Championship, as we have no one brave, creative or able to transition the ball as well without Hughes. We need to replace Hughes especially, but to bring someone in with equal or higher quality will take more money than we have. I hate to say it, but I always try to look at the situation without bias, and I can’t remember a side that looked more likely to be relegated before a ball had been kicked. And this is coming from a proud clapper last season.
Imagine the mess we would be in if we never won promotion. Just hope theirs 3 teams worse come the end of season. Also hope Pozzo brings some midfield talent in before the transfer window closes. What I saw of today’s game wasn’t much as for some reason my river kept flicking over to the French league, Etebo looked good but we allowed palarse a lot of room in middle to just carry the ball forward. And zaha went by Jeremy like he was a training cone for their 2nd. Think I’d rather Kiko starting even with his defensive flaws going forward he links up so well with Sarr. The little I saw of Louza he seemed to look forward hopefully he doesn’t take long to settle Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Right now I’m still believing we’ll do surprisingly well but we do need to add to the squad. Our backup players are probably too far below the level required for the Premier League. I think if we sign a couple of Premier League level players, 1 in midfield and 1 in central defence, we’ll do ok. By ok I mean avoid relegation. Right now we cannot absorb injuries. Take Sierralta out of the defence and we look weak. Same applies to our midfield without Hughes. If we play our first choice team then we’ll be competitive but just nudge a little under that, and we do look a bit like cannon fodder with the occasional good move thrown into the mix. This season be could unravel very quickly if we get off to a bad start. We have to continue our very good home record as I think we’ll struggle away.
Do you know what speaks volumes more than that? His absolutely awful performances as we got relegated, his absolutely awful performances in the Championship last season, and our instant change in form and our march towards promotion once he finally f**ked off out of the team.
Also the dross we can’t shift is the biggest anchor holding us back. Unless Gino and Scott don’t get rid of the likes of Gray Success Perica, Navarro to free up some wages and squad space then I can’t see us bringing in what’s needed. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Actually I don’t include you. I think you are on the whole fairly balanced and can see the good and bad. I don’t always agree with what you say about the owners but that’s just my opinion
err.....so if understood what I said- As Troy should be no where near the team, if we are to be successful, the fact he showed more desire, guile and energy than the rest shows what a poor position we are starting from... I know uttering the word "Deeney" lights the touch paper but please do try and read Nath before going off in the deep end
