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Ben Dyke
1 Posted 10/11/2013 at 23:10:50
Thanks Paul for nice report. I think the other weekend results put things a bit more in perspective about this match. We played poorly by the Newcastle first half standards but credit palace for playing the right tactics and frustrating us as well, especially as it was on the back of such a terrible run of results.

We drew to a poor team but City lost to Sunderland and Newcastle beat Spurs. We all would have taken this position in league after 11 games before season started as its a transition time. Its frustrating that we haven't played great for a few matches and we'd better match Liverpool's appetite at the very least next time out.

I hope Barkley starts again soon in Ossie's place like most of us as at least he offers more going forward and he only loses possession as much as Ossie does.

Jamie Sweet
2 Posted 11/11/2013 at 00:38:28
I agree with Howard as MotM. His save from Thomas was the only moment of genuine quality in the entire game.

We bossed the first 25 mins, but as soon as the commentator said "It's only a matter of time before Everton score here", it was all downhill from there. So I blame the commentator, whoever that bastard was.

I also agree we need to get Barkley back in the starting eleven. I just think he works better in the system we're trying to play due to his eagerness to link midfield with attack.

Paul Ferry
3 Posted 11/11/2013 at 02:43:12
Cheers Paul:

Howard 7 - Baines 4 - Distin 6 - Jagielka 6 - Coleman - Barry 6 - McCarthy 5 - Pienaar 7 - Mirallas 3 - Osman 4 - Lukaku (what on earth could he do and what do we expect, the service was Jimmy Tartbuck poor) can't give a mark because of absence of service from aforementioned below par midfielders

Paul Ferry
4 Posted 11/11/2013 at 02:52:53
sorry coleman 5
Dick Fearon
5 Posted 11/11/2013 at 09:39:41
Against Spurs Ossie was a second half sub and won the game for us with a goal and a sparkling display. I suppose it was too much to expect the same tactic would be used at Palace.
Jim Knightley
6 Posted 11/11/2013 at 14:43:16
It could be worse yes...arguably it should be worse, as I don't think we deserved anything against Palace, or Spurs, or Chelski. Our points total is acceptable, and our league positioning relative to others is more than acceptable, but our performances? The last two matches are about as bad as I've seen us play a long time. And that's even more worrying when one considers that Palace are probaly the worse team in this league, and that Spurs are stuttering at the moment.

We must improve, or we will not finish above 8th, which will look much worse given our decision to feed a second string in the Capital One Cup, and essentially surrender a chance of silverware. The tactics are dull, and uninspiring. We are not making chances, and are keeping clean sheets by fortune, rather than strong defending. It is early days, and Martinez needs time of course, but at the moment this is not good enough irrespective of potential contributory factors.

If I remember rightly, we face Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United in 3 of our next 4, with Stoke at home after Liverpool. We need to use these big games to get some momentum, and get our football going. Too many players are not performing at the moment... and we either need to rotate our squad a little, or look to vary our tactics slightly to better suit the current 11.

Clive Lewis
7 Posted 11/11/2013 at 14:57:11
I think the worry is we could be turned over easily by 3 out of the next 4 matches, lets face it we have had some look with poor finishing. If we play anything like we have been against the Shite, Arseanal and Manure they we could be on the end of a bit of a battering.

We need to really sort out our defense and midfield.
We are letting through too many runners and maybe need some steel in the midfield.
Osman is not good enough to start games he is too weak and gives the ball away too much for a passing team. The defensive coaches are just not working well, and lets face it, if you recruit coaches from a poor performing defensive team then the warning signs are worrying

Realistically we have moved from and overly defensive manager to a slap happy attacking passing manager, however the attacking part is failing at the moment and you are left with the midfield keep ball situation. The worrying thing is how long can the defense hold out before confidence starts to go shite.

The flip side of this is everything could turn out fine and we could be very good. I think we will know what direction the team is taking after Christmas and the new year. I must admit I am slightly worried, we have done OK but we have had a lot of luck.

Denis Richardson
9 Posted 12/11/2013 at 16:56:40
Thanks for the report Paul - out of curiousity, were you in the home or away end?
Paul Traill
10 Posted 13/11/2013 at 13:53:13
I was in the away end Denis.
Harold Matthews
11 Posted 13/11/2013 at 15:22:38
It was very noticeable Paul, even before kickoff, that the pitch, from a low camera angle, had holes and bumps all over it.

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