Crystal Palace Home Wed Oct 29th KO 7.45pm

[Rob Fort Worth TX]

It’s been 20 years since we last played Palace in the League Cup suffering a 2-1 loss at Selhurst Park in the 3rd round. Gerrard equalised following Dougie Freedman’s strike and then Marco Reich bagged the winner in the second half. Starting XI that night: Carson, Warnock, Whitbread, Hyypia, Raven, Hamann, Gerrard, Kewell, Potter, Crouch and Morientes.

We should see lots of rotation for this and expect Woodman, Nyoni, Endo, Gomez, Rio, Ramsay and Chiesa all to play a part. I expect Ekitike, Mac Allister, Virgil and perhaps Szobo to start too.

Absolutely no clue how Palace will approach this or how we will play. No idea whatsoever.

Narrow home win with Palace scoring but if Palace go strong then away win (despite them winning only once in the five games since they beat us).

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[threeps]

Away win. Palace play exactly the type of football we cannot defend against, but are one of the best at it. That’s not a negative against their style, they are just a very good and strong team.

Slot will rest players so will field an 11 that’s barely played together.

Apart from Woodman I’ve no idea who will play.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[D1rtyH4rry]

I really think it’s a bull by the horns job for us. We need to start showing some dominance. Respect the opponent and what they can do of course, but I want them to be more concerned with us running them ragged, than we are of their direct approach. I’m not really fussed about the league cup, having said that, winning something early might help the squad settle.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[fulcrum]

Can’t see us keep a clean sheet…..ever again…, especially if we go all out, they will counter and score. Tricky because confidence is low and we have to stop the rot. But the league cup is an unnecessary distraction and even if we went on to win it, it wouldn’t be a worthy accomplishment for such an expensively assembled team of high profile players.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[threeps]

Slot has mentioned that we are struggling to defend against longs balls this season. Seems the shift towards this style has caught him out. But surely one tactic to counter a long ball bypassing the midfield is to employ a strict DM?

Gravenberch played DM last season but not in the strict sense and I think we all know Slot doesn’t like to use them. Gravenberch has mentioned a few times that this season he has more freedom to get forward which is a worry when it should be the opposite.

An idea, if Grav is needed higher up the pitch then play Endo. Not just for this game but all games when you suspect they will employ a Wimblemdon style tactic, versus the Burnleys and Man Utds of the league. Grav and Szoboszlai in the middle and Wirtz or Gakpo on the left. So yeah back to 433, or without wide attackers in a diamond shape and two up front.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Songman]

All that matters is beating Villa on Saturday. So I’m not going to waste my time predicting the line up for this game, but I think it’s going to be strong.

Slot needs to use this game as a blueprint to fully get us back on track. And he needs to show us that he can overcome real adversity, because that is the hallmark of all the top, elite managers.

Also, the players need to show us that they fully understand what it means to play for Liverpool FC, no messing about, just give 100% and get the result.

BUT we must not fckin concede the first goal again. We have been warned about this glaring weakness a thousand times, especially from set-pieces, yet we still keep doing it – 5 times in the first 15 min in the last 5 games, totally unacceptable.

Now let’s teach Palace a proper lesson.

• This reply was modified 1 month, 2 weeks ago by Songman.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[gingerlfc]

I know “on paper” we play a 4-2-3-1 but when on the pitch it hasn’t looked like that at all.
I get that it can look different in and out of possession but there are no 2 holding players who can protect the defence or help build the attack.
With the fullbacks, frequently they underlap when attacking which congests the already congested area between the width of the box.
Surely they can provide width allowing the goal threats of Gakpo and Salah to work in and around the box.

Basically I’m saying, how about we play an actual 4-2-3-1 on the pitch not just on paper?
2 holding midfielders.
Wide fullbacks when attacking being covered by the 2 and when out of possession funnelling back into position. All 4 fullbacks strengths are bombing down the wing supporting the attack.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Songman]

But we played 4231 with Gravenberch and Mac Allister holding, consistently, to devastating effect last season when we won the league, and at times even 424. Whether they were pure defensive midfielders or not didn’t matter, because we got consistent results.

Though I do agree with what you say, in that Gravenberch and say a pure DM like Zubimendi would be perfect. But Hughes got overexcited and spent £124m on a striker we definitely didn’t need.

Also Slot and his team are paid huge amounts to work 12 hours a day or more to sort out problems on the pitch, and they should know far more than any of us fans, so I’m sure they have considered playing with 2 pure DMs, say Gravenberch and Endo, but whether that will happen in practice is unknown.

• This reply was modified 1 month, 2 weeks ago by Songman.
• This reply was modified 1 month, 2 weeks ago by Songman.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[threeps]

Ginger the fullbacks situation I think is one of the most puzzling. We bought two very attack minded fullbacks and either invert into midfield with them or slide into a back 3. If they do go forward there’s no cover from midfield if we lose the ball. It’s very odd and why I asked why did Hughes buy them if Slot wasn’t going to use them to their strengths.

With a 4231 with sitting 6s and wingbacks I’d be tempted to put Szoboszlai as the 10 and Wirtz on the inside left postion. Szoboszlais pressing is too important to either drop or have as a 6.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[gingerlfc]

Threeps, this why “on paper” the players we bought made sense.
Its how we set up and use them is the issue.
The 2 sitting don’t have to be out and out DMs nor 6s; they just have to be literally holding the position for the most part.
If one pushes on a bit the other has to hold.
At the min, all too frequently there’s no one in midfield which leaves us wide open and unable to build out from the back. It also congests the space Wirtz and others want to work in.

I’ve said it before, the players arnt the problem here, it’s how they’re used.
Yes some arnt in form, and that’ll happen over the course of a season but the platform has to be provided for by the manager to give them the best opportunity for success.
Currently I’m not seeing it.

On this particular match there could be literally anyone starting. Talk of Calvin Ramsay starting at RB.
Which is why I’m not even gonna try and put forward what’s gonna happen. What I do want to see is a coherent plan how to effectively win this game, how to defend and how to build from the back.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[threeps]

100% agree Ginger. We bought mostly good players, some excellent ones, but not for whatever Slot is trying to do. Why I think we were all excited in the summer before we saw how they be played.

Always think form and tactics are linked. Put players in a role or style they are happy with and their confidence increases, they execute actions better and know where everyone else will be. Play in a tactic that invites pressure and good quality opportunities for the opposition to score then they will feel pressure just doing simple tasks.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[plastic1]

VVD needs a rest. Can’t risk Ekiteke. Szobo needs a rest. Don’t care about the result here.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[gingerlfc]

For some reason Slot has all but ripped up what was successful last season structurally wise and yet brought in players suitable for that system.
It makes no sense to me.
Perhaps he’s over thinking it, perhaps he’s trying to change too much at once.
Whatever it is it’s not working and he needs to change it.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[threeps]

The result isn’t that important to me but the performance is.

If we lose but you can see positive change I’d probably be happier than if we play the same as the weekend but scrape a lucky win.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[plastic1]

Ginger. He is definitely over thinking and trying to be too clever.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[gingerlfc]

I’m with you here Threeps.
I want to see a coherent plan on the pitch.
It’s likely to be a much changed team so I can understand things arnt gonna flow as they should but there has to be a change in set up.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Hightown hope]

Interesting back 4 for tomorrow night, I’m told. Ramsey in and Robbo at centre back apparently! Should imagine Mateta will be wanting to play! Mind you, think he’d be wanting to play against konate and Virgil as well!

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[threeps]

Ramsey Gomez Robbo Kerkez?

In front of Woodman.

Think I’d fancy scoring let alone Mateta.

Have also heard a rumour or two that Ramsey would start.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[gingerlfc]

There’s a few players I think should start.
Like Endo, Chiesa, MacA, Kerkez.
I’ve also the like of Ramsay and Woodman being possibles to start.
I would want to see Robbo wrapped up away from this and kept for the next few league games as Kerkez needs to come out and play his way back again.
Weirdly I think Slot has wrapped Gomez up a bit as he’s afraid of having no back up incase Konate/VVd get injured but I think he should start this game.
Possible start for Ngumoha here also.

Slot may decide to go stronger though.
There may be possibilities for a coupla shared mins between players depending on fitness etc of some players.
Then there’s the likes of Nyoni who may get mins.

• This reply was modified 1 month, 2 weeks ago by gingerlfc.
• This reply was modified 1 month, 2 weeks ago by gingerlfc.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Songman]

All that matters is beating Villa on Saturday, and getting fully back on track in the league. And Slot must select tomorrow’s team with this in mind.

I don’t care who plays tomorrow, though of course we go all out for a morale boosting win, so time for the squad players to take their chance to show us what they can do.

• This reply was modified 1 month, 2 weeks ago by Songman.
• This reply was modified 1 month, 2 weeks ago by Songman.
• This reply was modified 1 month, 2 weeks ago by Songman.
• This reply was modified 1 month, 2 weeks ago by Songman.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Author]

Posts