Crystal Palace vs Leeds United Match Thread

[Cjay]

DCL does offer the outlet especially if it turns into a match where Palace have all the possession, are camped in our half and all we have is a lump out of defence. If you have Nmecha instead then you need the defensive clearance to get over the head of the opposition defence for Nmecha to be able to get onto it. DCL as well can draw fouls and give us a bit of respite.

As it was it didn't really turn into a second half with us being stuck defending. We sort of need to merge DCL and Nmecha together - maybe that was what we were trying to get when we went after Strand-Larsen.

If Palace are camped in our half as they were then DCL would be no use as he himself is camped in our half so any clearance has to be accurate and not that long as his only way of competing requires an accurate long ball to battle for then fight for 2nd balls which as our team was so deep understandably isn't going to progress much.

He may win a foul as you say if the clearance is more of an accurate pass.

Atleast Nmecha has the pace to chase a fairly hoofed clearance over the head of the defence and if he gets it can potentially beat a man which DCL can't.

I was specifically talking about the 2nd half when some pace may have helped us get up the pitch a bit.

As it was choosing DCL meant with the best will in the works we had no outlet as he was deep as well and lacks the pace to chase any lost causes which is all we'd have at that point.

Hence my surprise (fitness aside) DF choose to take Nmecha off.

[CHAPELALLMAN]

It’s frustrating that it’s 4 games with no goals from open play, 3 without scoring at all. Farke is trying to fall over the line with draws, he has this 38 point mark stuck in his head but with 8 games to go that’s very risky.

We’ve become too predictable again, with insufficient pace, skill or individual brilliance to unlock teams who just match up our formation. If James and Gnonto were so far away from Farkes mind why have we carried them through the season and not got rid in the summer?

Spot on.

[weasel]

If Palace are camped in our half as they were then DCL would be no use as he himself is camped in our half so any clearance has to be accurate and not that long as his only way of competing requires an accurate long ball to battle for then fight for 2nd balls which as our team was so deep understandably isn't going to progress much.

He may win a foul as you say if the clearance is more of an accurate pass.

Atleast Nmecha has the pace to chase a fairly hoofed clearance over the head of the defence and if he gets it can potentially beat a man which DCL can't.

I was specifically talking about the 2nd half when some pace may have helped us get up the pitch a bit.

As it was choosing DCL meant with the best will in the works we had no outlet as he was deep as well and lacks the pace to chase any lost causes which is all we'd have at that point.

Hence my surprise (fitness aside) DF choose to take Nmecha off.

See that has been the problem when we have had 11 and DCL has been up front and his only support has been Aaronsen who doesn't play in the positions as support striker / no.10 should be. With him and Nmecha it gives us the option of both which is why I have been hoping for us to play 2 strikers and Aaronsen.

Back to the situation with 10 men though and like I said you sort of need the combination of both Nmecha and DCL rolled into one. Nmecha is unlikely to get away as clearances are generally not going to have the height and distance to clear the defenders on the halfway line (these are likely panicked clearance than having the time to measure a long ball over the top). And, like you say, DCL even if he wins the flick isn't going to flick it to a team mate. So for me in that situation you're just hoping that your striker can simply be a bit of a nuisance even if that is just winning a header and it buying the defence and midfield a few more seconds to re-group. Nmecha might have worked better or worse in that sense as he might have been able to take the ball into the corner a bit. So I don't think either or the other is hughely beneficial but the benefit I guess then becomes having DCL back for corners.

[weasel]

It’s frustrating that it’s 4 games with no goals from open play, 3 without scoring at all. Farke is trying to fall over the line with draws, he has this 38 point mark stuck in his head but with 8 games to go that’s very risky.

We’ve become too predictable again, with insufficient pace, skill or individual brilliance to unlock teams who just match up our formation. If James and Gnonto were so far away from Farkes mind why have we carried them through the season and not got rid in the summer?

I don't think Farke is trying to get over the line with draws, I feel we went out to win the match and created the better chances. We had to be pragmatic second half where a point became a desireable outcome. It isn't like we can simply turn up and the opposition will simply roll over and let us carve them open.

I think with Dan James we may see a bit more of him now that he looks over his injuries. Definitely a useful option from the bench. Same with Gnonto it is good to have the options when the 532 no wingers formation isn't working. I don't think they are exactly out of Farke's mind it is just that the 532 has seemingly been working better than a formation with wingers. If we get to the point where we have Dan James, Willy Gnonto and Noah Okafor all fit we might see us deploying 2 wingers a bit more, even just as a tactical change during the matches.

[JoeDenver]

Can you honestly see all three of West Ham, Forest & Spurs acquiring 40+ points?

I’m concerned that’s what it will take. It’s a case of if we don’t achieve 40+ points, they inexplicably will. We’re Leeds after all.

[JoeDenver]

If Palace are camped in our half as they were then DCL would be no use as he himself is camped in our half so any clearance has to be accurate and not that long as his only way of competing requires an accurate long ball to battle for then fight for 2nd balls which as our team was so deep understandably isn't going to progress much.

He may win a foul as you say if the clearance is more of an accurate pass.

Atleast Nmecha has the pace to chase a fairly hoofed clearance over the head of the defence and if he gets it can potentially beat a man which DCL can't.

I was specifically talking about the 2nd half when some pace may have helped us get up the pitch a bit.

As it was choosing DCL meant with the best will in the works we had no outlet as he was deep as well and lacks the pace to chase any lost causes which is all we'd have at that point.

Hence my surprise (fitness aside) DF choose to take Nmecha off.

Think DCL was trying to compensate for the missed penalty and Farke gave him the chance. Didn’t get the goal back that he missed, but thought he won some headers and had some decent hold up wins. Again, doesn’t offset the penalty, but think Farke might’ve discussed with DCL at HT where he was at psychologically and made a game time decision. Fair point about Nmecha as I, too, wondered about it, but I understood why he kept DCL on…in fact I called the HT subs perfectly with the exception of Bijol. Can’t believe Bijol was kept on and we didn’t wind up playing with 9 men by the final whistle.

[Sean_Nile]

Are you on one of your forum morale episodes. Gotta bring it down too many folk are pleased with a point today.

King Plod plodding on in his usual style.

It is better to have a set goal in mind than no goal at all... without a vision the people perish.

Daniel says 1 ppg let's attack that now, and on King Plod's bedroom wall he chalks up one more thing he has attacked.

snapshot of King Plod's bedroom wall

[DDB220]

Think DCL was trying to compensate for the missed penalty and Farke gave him the chance. Didn’t get the goal back that he missed, but thought he won some headers and had done decent hold up wins. Again, doesn’t offset the penalty, but think Farke might’ve discussed with DCL at HT where he was at psychologically and made a game time decision. Fair point about Nmecha as I, too, wondered about it, but I understood why he kept DCL on…in fact I called the HT subs perfectly with the exception of Bijol. Can’t believe Bijol was kept on and we didn’t wind up playing with 9 men by the final whistle.

Bijol was decent - got caught napping on the ball, booked and gave away a free kick. Other than that what was the issue. As per last game when Mateta came on he didn’t’t get a sniff. Perhaps below his usual high standards but talk of replacing him at half time ?

Particularly when our only realistic hope of a goal is from the set piece.

[1964white]

Bijol was decent - got caught napping on the ball, booked and gave away a free kick. Other than that what was the issue. As per last game when Mateta came on he didn’t’t get a sniff. Perhaps below his usual high standards but talk of replacing him at half time ?

Particularly when our only realistic hope of a goal is from the set piece.

According to my notes, that's how I see it.

The overrated Strand-Larsen didn't get a kick in the first-half & the same for Mateta in the second period.

Our CBs & Ampadu were brilliant defensively.

Another game we haven't lost when Bijol starts.

Joe Rodon was immense!

How I admire our hard-working team, they may lack the quality of many of our opponents, however our lads give every ounce of energy they possess in their bones!

[DDB220]

According to my notes, that's how I see it.

The overrated Strand-Larsen didn't get a kick in the first-half & the same for Mateta in the second period.

Our CBs & Ampadu were brilliant defensively.

Another game we haven't lost when Bijol starts.

Joe Rodon was immense!

How I admire our hard-working team, they may lack the quality of many of our opponents, however our lads give every ounce of energy they possess in their bones!

Difficult to judge Larsen, whether he justifies the price tag needs a bigger sample size - but it will be hard to shine in a team with not much creativity. We made Palace look ordinary by closing the space down in our half. I think they were happy with the point and played as such.

[JoeDenver]

Bijol was decent - got caught napping on the ball, booked and gave away a free kick. Other than that what was the issue. As per last game when Mateta came on he didn’t’t get a sniff. Perhaps below his usual high standards but talk of replacing him at half time ?

Particularly when our only realistic hope of a goal is from the set piece.

More out of caution as I had zero confidence in the match official to disregard Palace’s play-acting antics. Thought Bijol was one phony dive away from Gudmondsson’s fate.

[1964white]

From a Palace forum

I posted yesterday how lucky Palace have been reaching 39 points.

Four recent games playing against ten men.

Is it any wonder with a team of diving, cheating b*st*rds with their antics conning the referee at any given moment in a game?

[1964white]

Here's another one.

Let's hope Palace are relegated next season with their shiny new £50m toy Strand-Larsen misfiring & looking to get away from yet another club.

[1964white]

[1964white]

Even Palace fans despise their coach & players

[Jammy 07]

DCL seems to be getting some stick of late with some posters stating he's woefully out of form. From my perspective he's playing exactly the same as he has all season but obviously currently the goals aren't coming like they were earlier. Hardly surprising though given our lack of width at times.

Still giving his all and it's absolutely vital for us as a team that he stays fit until the end of the season. Also hopefully during our final 4 home games he gets better quality service from the wide areas as Gnonto and Dan James will surely be utilised more in those winnable matches.

[Cjay]

DCL seems to be getting some stick of late with some posters stating he's woefully out of form. From my perspective he's playing exactly the same as he has all season but obviously currently the goals aren't coming like they were earlier. Hardly surprising though given our lack of width at times.

Still giving his all and it's absolutely vital for us as a team that he stays fit until the end of the season. Also hopefully during our final 4 home games he gets better quality service from the wide areas as Gnonto and Dan James will surely be utilised more in those winnable matches.

I've never got the love in some have with him myself.

It really does remind me of Bamford (he's very protected from criticism).

Yes he works hard, yes he thunders into defenders, yes he had a decent purple patch earlier in the season and was important at that time.

But he's the highest paid player we have, you could find a player who would earn a fraction of what he does who can win some headers and run about a bit.

For the money he's on you have to provide more.

As a newly promoted club chances are at a premium and he is paid a lot of money to score them.

If he doesn't it will cost us points and no amount of thundering into defenders earns as many points as goals.

Giving his all should be a given on over £100k a week, I don't think that deserves praise myself.

He's a striker, score goals, create goals, that's his job.

He hasn't been doing that recently and has missed quite a few good chances.

So imo he is out of form.

[Jaydog]

I've never got the love in some have with him myself.

It really does remind me of Bamford (he's very protected from criticism).

Yes he works hard, yes he thunders into defenders, yes he had a decent purple patch earlier in the season and was important at that time.

But he's the highest paid player we have, you could find a player who would earn a fraction of what he does who can win some headers and run about a bit.

For the money he's on you have to provide more.

As a newly promoted club chances are at a premium and he is paid a lot of money to score them.

If he doesn't it will cost us points and no amount of thundering into defenders earns as many points as goals.

Giving his all should be a given on over £100k a week, I don't think that deserves praise myself.

He's a striker, score goals, create goals, that's his job.

I was annoyed at his pen.
A real top striker should notice the keeper diving an hour early. No need for power. Muppet.
Running around a lot and thundering in to things. Those habits definitely annoy you.

[Jammy 07]

I've never got the love in some have with him myself.

It really does remind me of Bamford (he's very protected from criticism).

Yes he works hard, yes he thunders into defenders, yes he had a decent purple patch earlier in the season and was important at that time.

But he's the highest paid player we have, you could find a player who would earn a fraction of what he does who can win some headers and run about a bit.

For the money he's on you have to provide more.

As a newly promoted club chances are at a premium and he is paid a lot of money to score them.

If he doesn't it will cost us points and no amount of thundering into defenders earns as many points as goals.

Giving his all should be a given on over £100k a week, I don't think that deserves praise myself.

He's a striker, score goals, create goals, that's his job.

He hasn't been doing that recently and has missed quite a few good chances.

So imo he is out of form.

DCL's general play though is still consistently good and as all his goals were scored from great crosses it's the service that has dried up as much as anything.

So out of goalscoring form maybe but still worth his place in the team.

[Cjay]

I was annoyed at his pen.
A real top striker should notice the keeper diving an hour early. No need for power. Muppet.
Running around a lot and thundering in to things. Those habits definitely annoy you.

Missing the target all together was crap.

It does, I remember when Emile Heskey who was a better number 9 than DCL and excelled at all the things Calvert-Lewin gets praised for got hammered because he missed chances for years and years.

But now it's aww but he tried really hard.

When did that happen?