Best team lost (Palace post-match)

[rurikbird]

I wonder if Mourinho's words played a part in the Crystal Palace demolition. The players clearly noticed what was said by the managers after the Spurs game and parts of the Palace game felt like they wanted to prove they can win the "Mourinho way" if you will – play on the counter and finish clinically. It was amazing to see – in our best performances in recent years, like the Leicester game last season, we were still wasteful with chance conversion and it was the total dominance in other aspects of play and the number of chances created (not necessarily converted) that stuck in the memory, but here it was as if the players said "oh, actually we can flip that."

Poor old Roy had no idea what's coming...

 

[Woland]

I actually thought that they battered us between about the tenth minute and when we got our second against the run of play. If they'd have taken a chance or two that could easily have been another Fulham. I know that sounds weird looking at the result but it was on the cards for a short while.

 

[Hyena]

Mourinho is a dick but his words often have a grain of truth. He said the same after the CL final.

If you make better chances, and take them, you deserve to win. There are no points for pretty football per se.

Every team has a period of dominance in a match but the team has to stay focused on the final outcome.

 

[Hyena]

That mis pass from Jordan Ayew to Zaha when he could have shot sums it up.

It's the confidence and ruthlessness in your key men that makes the difference between 1st and mid table

 

[Woland]

Maureen is falling apart because he thought he might actually win the league and he's used to us fucking up against him when that happens. He realised that he hadn't just lost a football match, he hates us, we got him fired from Man U and we just buried his antiquated tactics again with a weakened side, and he's got no chance.

He was still bleating on about it in his press conference yesterday, we're under his skin and he's not far from cracking up again, the massive fucking shit stain

 

[Modo]

MOTD link for the ooters:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tTY1qRxqEfCRdzJ0eJoiyFMr_GJV2xgV/view

https://mega.nz/file/2lRzHCaZ#lTsCpsfQIPdVv9Omo0xc4A3icoNGVu0kSBJMentX3PI

 

[RedStar]

I actually thought that they battered us between about the tenth minute and when we got our second against the run of play. If they'd have taken a chance or two that could easily have been another Fulham. I know that sounds weird looking at the result but it was on the cards for a short while.

It was very weird, we scored very early and then did our qualude overdose routine for about 20 mins. I was fully convinced we were going to get done at the at point, we were being over run in the middle and bullied in defence. The game turned on the Ayew chance, which Matip deserves credit for, and the next min Mané scored a goal from nothing and Palace just gave up.

Thought that Schlupp looked a very decent but unpolished player for Palace. Zaha just looks like hes praying for a transfer in Jan

 

[Squiggles]

Here's a question I've been mulling over. Does our dominance and control of midfield and fullbacks actually restrict us from scoring and creating chances?

Take a look at the first half yesterday. We were sloppy in possession which encouraged Palace up the pitch and then we created better chances and thrived the space. Should we be sacrificing some control of a game to provide the front three more space?

 

[Stevesquash]

Here's a question I've been mulling over. Does our dominance and control of midfield and fullbacks actually restrict us from scoring and creating chances?

Take a look at the first half yesterday. We were sloppy in possession which encouraged Palace up the pitch and then we created better chances and thrived the space. Should we be sacrificing some control of a game to provide the front three more space?

This is a very odd question just hours after our biggest EVER away win in our history. 7 goals.

We've scored more than every other team in the league. Even with Our centre forward playing poorly for most of the season, and you question if there's a problem creating chances....

 

[Modo]

This is a very odd question just hours after our biggest EVER away win in our history. 7 goals.

We've scored more than every other team in the league. Even with Our centre forward playing poorly for most of the season, and you question if there's a problem creating chances....

Timing of it is maybe odd but before this game we had trouble scoring against Brighton, Midtjylland and Fulham. We were clinical against Palace, basically every shot went in.

So I think it's a valid question and the answer is partly that our system is heavily reliant on our front three creating chances for themselves. Hence why many teams concentrate on stopping Trent and Robbo because they're not too worried about our midfield.

 

[Mamma Mia]

This is a very odd question just hours after our biggest EVER away win in our history. 7 goals.

We've scored more than every other team in the league. Even with Our centre forward playing poorly for most of the season, and you question if there's a problem creating chances....

Not just more, we've scored a whopping 10 goals more than the next team, and 17 goals more than City.

 

[Fabio]

Timing of it is maybe odd but before this game we had trouble scoring against Brighton, Midtjylland and Fulham. We were clinical against Palace, basically every shot went in.

So I think it's a valid question and the answer is partly that our system is heavily reliant on our front three creating chances for themselves. Hence why many teams concentrate on stopping Trent and Robbo because they're not too worried about our midfield.

I'd love it if we had an actual consistent creative force in midfield. It's exactly what our games been missing at times.

 

[Fabio]

Not just more, we've scored a whopping 10 goals more than the next team, and 17 goals more than City.

But 24 hours ago it was only 3 more.

It's a perfectly valid question and idea.

 

[Mamma Mia]

But 24 hours ago it was only 3 more.

It's a perfectly valid question and idea.

I'm not dismissing the post, just marvelling at how good we are.

We've only lost once after 14 games, despite a ton of injuries, some horrible VAR decisions, and a seemingly sluggish start.

We're fucking boss.

 

[Mamma Mia]

I'd love it if we had an actual consistent creative force in midfield. It's exactly what our games been missing at times.

Good job we've just resurrected one

 

[Stevesquash]

Oh only 3 more than any other team. Well I know we should always be looking to improve but still, it seems a daft time to raise it.

We had 7 different assisters yesterday.

I would say that our methods of scoring are increasing rather rapidly.

Robbo, Trent crosses. Yes we've plenty of these.

Individual prices of skill from usually Salah and Mane.

Bobby scoring or linking play well has been missing and is back. This transforms us.

Jota added something to our front three.

Curtis looks threatening every time he gets the ball in the final third.

Hendo is getting better and better at threading the passes.

Big Joel has taken the mantle of being a big nuisance from corners.

With thiago, ox, shaq(?), Jota, to come back in over the next few weeks and even taki looking more threatening I'd say we're well placed to be scoring a lot more over the next few months.

I'd be placing my thoughts on how to keep our threat whilst not giving up the chances we gave to spurs and Palace.

 

[Fabio]

Good job we've just resurrected one

Problem with the undead is they generally fall to pieces under little pressure

 

[Red Bird]

Here's a question I've been mulling over. Does our dominance and control of midfield and fullbacks actually restrict us from scoring and creating chances?

Take a look at the first half yesterday. We were sloppy in possession which encouraged Palace up the pitch and then we created better chances and thrived the space. Should we be sacrificing some control of a game to provide the front three more space?

Yesterday, I think it had more to do with the poor use of the ball rather than dominance and control. We had a spell, after scoring, when we kept passing the ball to Palace. To me the biggest weakness of our midfielders (what a statement to make when you've just won 7-0, eh?) is mostly the lack of awareness of what is around them and hence anticipate being pressured on receiving the ball. It's what tends to give opponents chances and confidence.

Fortunately, Henderson (he had an understatedly excellent performance, yesterday) also acknowledged the same sloppiness.

 

[Red Bird]

I'd love it if we had an actual consistent creative force in midfield. It's exactly what our games been missing at times.

Did you hear Joe Cole, yesterday just before the match? Something along the lines of Liverpool's poor defence being the reason why it's in the position it is. I had to check that we were still atop the table just in case I had missed an earlier match!

 

[Squiggles]

This is a very odd question just hours after our biggest EVER away win in our history. 7 goals.

We've scored more than every other team in the league. Even with Our centre forward playing poorly for most of the season, and you question if there's a problem creating chances....

Er, that game is why I asked the question?

Whilst we have scored well many of our games have been a grind and challenging because the opposition is so pinned back. If adjusting the balance of our play to allow teams to come onto us allows us allows us to score more freely then its certainly worth a debate. Our front three our the most dangerous players in the world with space and often our ability to dominant all facets of the game leaves them little space in which to operate.

 

[Stevesquash]

We often recycle the ball back to Alisson.

Teams then either push out or they don't.

We can't force them to push up if they set up with a bus and that's their tactic.

It's then up to us to find a way through. Which we are doing, with increasing success and by different means.

 

[peterhague]

I'd love it if we had an actual consistent creative force in midfield. It's exactly what our games been missing at times.

One of the positions I've wanted us to strengthen for ages. I always say the team would be complete if we had a Gerrard as one of our midfield 3.

I guess we all thought Keita was going to be the guy. Now it looks like Jones just might be.

 

[Bradley]

The strength in our midfield is that when asked they can do a variety of jobs. That's certainly true of Henderson and Gini.

Both can play the controlling midfielder or can step up into more creative roles. Gini us more threatening here but Henderson has shown plenty.

Will be great to add Thiago to the mix.

 

[Frogfish]

Here's a question I've been mulling over. Does our dominance and control of midfield and fullbacks actually restrict us from scoring and creating chances?

Take a look at the first half yesterday. We were sloppy in possession which encouraged Palace up the pitch and then we created better chances and thrived the space. Should we be sacrificing some control of a game to provide the front three more space?

You want us to become Spurs 😱

 

[Frogfish]

One of the positions I've wanted us to strengthen for ages. I always say the team would be complete if we had a Gerrard as one of our midfield 3.

I guess we all thought Keita was going to be the guy. Now it looks like Jones just might be.

It will be Thiago.

 

[peekay]

This is a very odd question just hours after our biggest EVER away win in our history. 7 goals.

We've scored more than every other team in the league. Even with Our centre forward playing poorly for most of the season, and you question if there's a problem creating chances....

It is a very valid question. As impressive as our display was, I don't think we are going to convert 7 out of 8 chances in every game. If we were consistently doing that, the Spurs game would have been over in the first half. So we cannot use the last game as a model.

I don't agree with @Squiggles 's premise as if we cede control, we might more likely concede and then the opposition might revert to low block for the rest of the game. If Crystal Palace had scored in the first half in one of the chances they had, then this question might not have arisen. But the question is definitely not odd.

 

[Stevesquash]

I think given the variety of the chances we are now creating, and the volume of goals we're scoring, and the players we are getting back it shouldn't be a problem, but let's agree to differ because I don't think I'm going to persuade you. Nor vice versa

 

[rurikbird]

Here's a question I've been mulling over. Does our dominance and control of midfield and fullbacks actually restrict us from scoring and creating chances?

Take a look at the first half yesterday. We were sloppy in possession which encouraged Palace up the pitch and then we created better chances and thrived the space. Should we be sacrificing some control of a game to provide the front three more space?

I think that’s a very good question, actually. Pep of all people has been recently experimenting with this idea of giving up control in favor of creating more big clear-cut chances - this is how they were able to eliminate Real Madrid in the CL last season. It remains to be seen if what we saw vs Palace was a part of some kind of trend for us. What’s beyond doubt though is that the unique intensity of this season means the high pressing teams who also play in Europe (unlike your Leeds and Southampton) had to dial it down and try to find other ways to win - you simply can’t steamroll opponents playing with a small squad every 3 days.