KingArthur

Just fking shoot when you get in the box man.

We really need a player in the mould of Maddison, who can receive the ball between the lines and create with combinations. But we arent going to do that unless we sell Bruno.

Yes, players are partly to blame of course. The point of that holding the ball is of course to lure the opposition to break their formation, but when it's Longstaff or Murphy, it really doesn't work like that. Bruno can do that and Schär perhaps. Or Burn, who can only pass with his left. Krafth especially (lost the ball for the first goal btw) was awful in possession. He really didn't do anything but play it to Murphy, who was facing his own goal and sometimes marked by 2 players. Longstaff should have made a run to right wing in these cases (something he did last year) but was nowhere to be seen. When we got near to opponents box, we were way too sloppy with the final pass. Palace seemed to use Krafth and Schär as pressing triggers, and were happy to let Burn keep the ball (and pass it to whoever was on his left side, cause that is what he does)

I think our starting shape was weird. Guess we tried to match their formations, but we really couldn't get away from their press. Isak was way too isolated and was too far away from Gordon. Barnes was useless in this kind of game. Sadly we have pretty much 0 options in midfield. edit. I don't think Burn was LB. We clearly had 3 CBs, Murphy right WB and Anderson played as a left WB a lot. Is Tino still injured? Surely he would have been a better option than Murphy or Krafth?

I think it is pretty obvious we will not be spending big. We are continously linked with a lot of players, because of our owners and cheap clicks. We are also close to our limit in PSR, and we need to buy players that clearly strenghten the first XI. We will not be spending 50 million for a midfielder. Not when we have players like Krafth, Lascelles, Dubravka, Almiron and Murphy playing big minutes. Nevermind our 2nd choice striker being injury prone and nearing the end of his career. We have 7 players for 3 midfield places that are good enough. Without huge injury crisis that is enough. Of course if Bruno leaves, then we need a big player BUT not a player like Gallagher. He is a good player, but not any better than we have, and not a defensive midfielder. And before someone says neither is Bruno, he is still a good number 6 in Howe's system. RW, ST,CB. Those are priority. (RW depends on Minteh situation also, but I think we are selling Almiron so would buy 1 anyway.)

Our wingers before Gordon were ASM, Almiron, Murphy? Maybe Anderson and Fraser? We really needed a winger anyway. And saying "what about Gordon" is a poor excuse anyway, you cannot spend most of your budget on a midfielder, when we desperately need reinforcements elsewhere. Gallagher doesn't bring anything Joelinton or Tonali already aren't already providing us with. Except I would say he is not as strong in duels as Joelinton. If Joe would have left, I would understand Gallagher as his replacement. We conceded because our midfield was injured or dead tired. And we had 17-year-old playing twice a week with Bruno and Longstaff, because no one else was fit. Who are we going to sell to make room for Gallagher? Anderson? Longstaff? Both are most likely cheap and HG.

Why? He wouldn't be a starting midfielder when everyone is fit. And even if he would, he is not a big improvement. If we are going to spend 50 million, it needs to be a winger or a centreback.

We have absolutely no need for Gallagher. No point spending money for him.

Only sad thing is I have Romero who got -1. Jackson coming from the bench with 12 pts, so looks like 87p. Palmer as a captain seemed to work...

I see that fixture list and see 3 away defeats for Chelsea and home wins against Bournemouth and Everton, maybe against West Ham. 7-10 points is my guess.

To be honest, cannot see Chelsea getting a lot of points from those fixtures. And ManU were horrible again against Bournemouth, they will drop a lot of points still. 6th would be good result from this season.

Certainly we are not buying a left back? We got loads of options there, when we have pretty much zero options for CB and injury prone Wilson to cover for Isak. If Gordon is used at RW occasionally and Minteh seemed good enough, I would buy CB and ST. CB a starter and striker a younger cheaper one. Goalkeeper after that.

I didnt see the whole game, but looked like we were defending 5-4-1 without the ball? Anderson was following Porro all the way. Seemed to work perfectly.

Who on earth watches these shows? Must be boring as hell.

Because that ("fouls" like that) happen all the time. It is an idiotic thing to do, but they don't get any advantage doing that.

They have quality players all over the pitch, we dont.

I think some of the blame goes to Howe, but mostly it is because the sheer number of bad injuries. I mean losing a player for a week or 2 is one thing, but our players are out for a month as a default. Paul Dummett should be nowhere near PL game in 2024, same goes for Ritchie, who was likely the other choice to play left back. I mean Howe's options have been ridiculously limited for months. And yes, his playing style is a factor, but knee injuries or ankle injuries have nothing to do with that, or Pope's shoulder.

Anderson is forcing the play, we need a bit of control. Too many turnovers.

Anderson -> Willock please

Just offside. I like Hall, but he has been dispossed few times quite easily and it has put us under pressure.

Problem with Dubravka is that he clearly has no idea when to rush out. The few times he has done it is has been a mess. He isn't going to get better at it anymore, but how the coaches just dont tell him to stand on the edge of box when we have a high line surprises me. He is just too deep all the time

Ffs Dubs

Our coach messed up totally, and to be honest the best before date for many of our players are long gone. Wales was ridiculously dangerous from every set piece. Finland most likely will change head coach now, even though Kanerva managed to get us to the Euros for the first time. Bad line up, bad changes, and lots of individual mistakes. Wales very dangerous from counters. Johnson cost more than whole Finnish team combined.

But as a Finnish it is horrible to watch. Hradecky is great, but how can we defend so badly.

Tonali certainly is the Longstaff replacement? Joelinton-Bruno-Tonali should be our starting midfield next season. We do not need a LB if Hall finally is seen as an option. More likely that we sell a LB in Targett or and release one in Ritchie.