Salah has a higher penalty conversion rather than Ronaldo, Messi and Kane. Hopefully he’s got those stinkers out of his system now
4 Likes
It’s weird that goals scored in the shield don’t count to the players tally.
1 Like
Where other than another attacking option would you reenforce which changes today. I can’t see Slot been so naive to not realise 3 departures and only 1 arrival is the right way to go.
Friendlies never do.
Yeah but Ron has taken 7,000 
Regression to the mean
Don’t be silly this is a major trophy since Jose and Arseteta won it.
2 Likes
We missed Gravenberch a lot today…His ability to receive the ball on the turn under pressure is key to how we play…
Glad to see our new RB , new CAM and new ST contributing today!
The down sides today were pretty evident to see…
We lacked a CB as Gomez is a semi perma crock, we lacked a ST/CF as Szoboszlai is no CF, and it is still kinda sad to see no one in the squad being able to deputise for Salah effectively and possibly a DM who can deputise for Gravenberch…
3 Likes
1 Like
The positive I saw today is that I liked every single new signing.
The negative is that it seems we must improve on how easily we concede, and given that half the back line is new, it may take some time.
Also, I wonder whether we are a bit behind in endurance, as we seemed to decrease intensity and duelling ability in the last half hour. Hopefully we can be ready in that regard by Friday.
Hard to judge without Gravenberch, and maybe it’s crucial that we haven’t played with all starting back 5 and keeper yet, so maybe that’s one thing that will improve. Macca didn’t look like 100% from minor injury yet, and Van Dijk still ill…these three things may immediately improve the problem, and each game makes the back line gel better together.
2 Likes
It was Hughes on Frimpong?
didnt enjoy the result,
but did enjoy some of the play from Wirtz, Ekitike and Frimpong,
on Frimpong, scored a nice goal, and i saw him win a challenge,
I guessing he’s already half way to equalling TAA’s tackles won in season!
also, was surprised by the midfield selection, as Jones isnt a holding midfielder or a ball winner, why not start with Endo who can win challenges and has the intelligence to read the game and fill the holes in the midfield.
2 Likes
Decent first half, not so much in the second. Reminded me of our form after we were knocked out by PSG in the UCL, where it seemed to become a thing of starting well, and then sitting back or running out of ideas or steam. I hoped it was just a change in the way we set-up last season to manage games, but we’re doing it again this time, and we don’t have the luxury of league title wrapped up, or being so far ahead.
Frustrating that Rio or Chiesa didn’t get on to offer us more out wide when we needed the legs to stretch Palace on the break. When Elliott came on for Wirtz, I just knew he’d take a penalty and miss. I hope it’s not his last moment in a Red shirt.
Ultimately, this game doesn’t matter. A good home performance on Friday against Bournemouth will energise us for the Isak derby and Arsenal games.
1 Like
While I don’t think Jones was at his best and we certainly missed Gravenberch today, Jones was for me our best midfielder today outside of Wirtz.
Szobo and Macca both lost the ball in the press (Szobo multiple times) leading to direct Palace chances. Don’t recall Jones losing possession at all today (he may have but can’t think of any scenarios).
Also, we were better before Jones was subbed off than after the sub. Not sure how much of that had to do with Endo on for Jones or how much was Szobo going up top for Hugo. But we lost control of the game after those subs.
MOTM for me was Wirtz. One assist and two other chances created that should have been assists (Gakpo chance and Salah chance, with Gakpo one being more difficult). I thought Konate played well and liked the attacking work of both Frimpong and Kerkez, but defensively a lot of work to do.
6 Likes
lots of comments regarding our defending, which i thought wasnt a fair reflection, not sayiong we were great, but when you are allergic to the ball for about 15-20 minutes something has to give…
there is something about this slot team that doesnt seem to care about retaining possession as much as i would like them to.
yes we won the league etc etc etc, but there are periods during games where its almost like a tactic.
i mean how can a team with Dom, Curtis and Wirtz in the centre not retain possession?
2 Likes
Only just found out the ball left Flimpong’s foot at 20:20 before scoring that goal.
3 Likes
Re Konate, yes was very good but didn’t he play Mateta on for the chance just before they got the penalty.
You never like to lose a game, but it all has its purpose in helping us get ready for the season.
My thoughts on the newbies
Ekitike looked like a silky player. Lovely touch and a very nice goal. He also worked hard, pressed, and shielded the ball from the defender. Lots to look forward to with him.
Wirtz did lots of good things - vision, touch, passing. He saw a lot of the ball, and as they continue to all get in tune with each other, I see him going from strength to strength.
Frimpong was up and down the flank all day, great pace, showed real tenacity and even won some headers too.
Kerkez had a solid enough debut, but the positioning needs some work, not just him, but the unit. It will come.
Slight concerns
Szobo seemed to give the ball away quite a lot in the midfield, and a couple of times it led to big chances for Palace.
Defensively we are not a well drilled machine yet. I expect it to tighten up, but as it stands it is too leaky and there is work to do.
Mo was peripheral. Obviously he is a brilliant player and there is a lot more to come from him, but it is something to watch.
Van Dijk wasn’t quite fully up to speed, though he’s just off the back of illness so I’m sure he will be a bit sharper next time.
Reasons for optimism
Some of the passing and movement in the final third was sublime. I fully expect us to smash a number of teams this season as it starts to click.
All the new players did well, and there is the promise of more to come from them.
We will surely make another signing or two in the last part of the window, including another forward and a central defender.
If we hold our own in the early part of the season to stay in touch, while the changes we have and will make bed in, I expect us to get stronger and stronger as we go.
Up the reds!
Edit:
Just wanted to add well done Alisson. Flew to Brazil to be with his wife through surgery, so missed a fair bit of pre-season. It felt like he just got off the plane, got his gloves on, and instantly looked the part again.
5 Likes
Fark Moi
That new contract virus is powerful!
1 Like
This might be the season (sadly) that I’m right about selling Mo. On the flip side, him doing a job as a body out wide may be okay given our new firepower (with Isak potentially to come).
The defence and midfield were poor and have been (by all accounts) in preseason. We need another CB urgently to adjust to our patterns so we don’t have to play an ill Virg (FFS!) and Dom really showed we shouldn’t be playing him in that deep role (yet, anyway). Graven-performative-birth is essential and really could do with a dedicated backup (is Endo trusted enough for this or are we hoping Bajcetic will be this?).
Let’s hope we can be much more defensively solid on Friday and we should be okay for Bournemouth (which I think is laughably a must win given we then have two tough games)