Crystal Palace v Leeds United Match Thread

[CHAPELALLMAN]

I hope we see Gelhardt and Greenwood make the first team squad this season.
It never quite happened for Ryan Edmondson but Greenwood and Gelhardt are different types of players to Edmondson who i think will end up with a permanent move elsewhere.

I was sorry that Edmondson wasn't given a start after the title was sewn up,

I would love to see those two given a chance, however Bielsa ( contrary to popular belief ) isn't really one for giving youth that much of a chance.

[Irish Ian]

Yeah, it worked against Villa. But Leicester were set up different to Villa. They swamped the wings and hit long balls to Vardy.

When we needed to create through the middle we couldn't manage it as Klich was at DCM, and no Rodrigo. To then sub off Pablo was baffling?

I was surprised he was subbed, especially as Roberts doesn't seem a good fit at the minute.
But Pablo has only played a full game once since before lockdown and that was the dead rubber v Derby, so perhaps Bielsa had one eye on today?

[CHAPELALLMAN]

Feeling more hopeful about this one.

Palace tend to sit quite deep and don't create a lot of chances. They do seem to be fairly clinical though and we could struggle if they get a few counter attacks in.

We know we're good enough to win this. Has to be a 3 pointer.

Yet it's against teams that sit deep and counter that we tend to struggle. A lot of that is down to Harrison and Bamford having difficulty with packed defences - Harrison because of his poor delivery, and Bamford because of his lack of agility and slow reactions in a packed box ( he is 6 3" or so which maybe doesn't help, and unfortunately his weak heading ability does not make up for his lack of agility in tight situations ) Right now we don't have a fox in the box striker, which is what you need with teams that sit deep. Bamford does better in attacking open play with a through ball played to his feet down the middle, rather than trying to get on the end of crosses which are often poor anyway.

Also, we don;t play through the middle much - most of our attacking play comes down the wings. We really need a decent no 10 to come to the fore from somewhere, which means giving up on the failed Roberts experiment. Our crosses are usually ineffective, as Harrison does not seem to have the technical ability to cross the ball accurately, and Costa's crossing is not brilliant either.

I mentioned before the season started my concerns about our front three, and I haven't changed my opinion. We have had 98 shots so far this season, with 46 on target and 13 goals. Leicester on the other hand have had 71 shots with 40 on target and 17 goals. So we have had nearly a third more shots than Leicester with almost 25% fewer goals. Our lack of efficiency problem in the final third has not gone way - the Villa game unfortunately papered over the cracks.

[mothbanquet]

The lads just need to put the last game behind them and start on the front foot. Palace have some decent players but aren't anywhere near the side Leicester are. Need to keep grinding those points.

[Cjay]

Rumours Jamie Shack is injured, started online but Phil confirmed whispers are about that he is.

Was brilliant vs Villa but poor vs Leicester.

That being said, midfield was the one area we needed to strengthen that we didn't, cant afford any more injuries.

[Fridge]

Struijk starts for Shackleton

Raphinha makes it back onto the bench

[The Subhuman]

No Hernandez is the surprise

[The Subhuman]

Alio it seems is our number ten today ...

[The Subhuman]

I'm on site working so will miss a lot of this but will have the radio on

[Irish Ian]

no Shacks of Pablo on the bench.

trouble at Mill?

[Chilli D]

No Hernandez is the surprise

He's either injured (again) or he's had a falling out with MB.

[The Subhuman]

Not heard Pablo was injured though it's possible. He was furious he got taken off last week

[1964white]

So Pablo has been dropped for showing his annoyance

[andrewjohnsmith]

Pablo must be injured again I would think if Bielsa had an issue with the tantrum at Leicester, he'd be on the bench.

Looking at that. Could be Alioski at 10. Or it could be a back 3 with Dallas and Alioski at wing backs. Or could even be a back 4 with Strujik, Dallas, and Klich in midfield.

Reaing Beren Cross on Leeds Live. He thinks 3-3-1-3: 3 CB's with Dallas and Alioski at WB's

[andrewjohnsmith]

He's either injured (again) or he's had a falling out with MB.

I'd think he'd still be on the bench

[Leeds1000]

Thank Fook Raph is back on the bench. Maybe Hernandez was injured then? It would be irrational to leave out Hernandez with his quality due to discipline. So its our Championship team + Koch & Struijk. A few injuries and we look light all of a sudden again, but lets see how the boys perform.

I'm glad Struijk is given another go with Klich back in his favoured position. We are going to need his creativity. If it goes to form we will have plenty of the ball so the defence shoulD have a steady afternoon? As always the name of our game is clinical..... Come on the boys lets give those doubters the boot.

[mothbanquet]

It's not the first time Pablo has been subbed before time, and it's not the first time he's shown irritation at it either. I doubt the display of emotion has suddenly caused him to fall out of favour with Bielsa, who knows Pablo a lot better than we do. I'm more willing to bet it's a fitness issue.

[mothbanquet]

At least we've got Klich back further up the pitch by the looks of it. Got a feeling Raph might be decisive here.

[1964white]

It's not the first time Pablo has been subbed before time, and it's not the first time he's shown irritation at it either. I doubt the display of emotion has suddenly caused him to fall out of favour with Bielsa, who knows Pablo a lot better than we do. I'm more willing to bet it's a fitness issue.

I hope so Moth as if Marcelo has dropped Pablo he is cutting his own throat for his principles.

Truly hope Pablo is unfit to play

[andrewjohnsmith]

I hope so Moth as if Marcelo has dropped Pablo he is cutting his own throat for his principles.

Truly hope Pablo is unfit to play

I guess it's the one time when we can say "I hope Pablo is injured"