KaKa

Judging by his comments after the game he was clearly not impressed by the way our play was executed today. Just because we lined up the same way, doesn't necessarily mean the instructions and approach was supposed to be exactly the same. Howe has previously talked about having specific plans for every game, and we can never really know what tactics were discussed beforehand if the players fail to execute.

Had all the Arsenal defenders this week and Pickford ... nice.

I actually think he would be a big nuisance coming on late in games when players are tiring, as his energetic play and harrying would cause problems. However, if we are offered that kind of money in the summer, I think we probably have to take it.

Again a glaring lack of self belief. This again led to him taking the easy option and looking for the referee to bail him out, as is typically the case with him. Instead of doing everything he could to try and get a shot off from a great position, as soon as he feels the slightest touch, he chooses to go to ground, rather than take responsibility. Incredibly disappointing stuff.

Think the word at the time was Almiron wasn't keen to leave mid season. Could see that happening in the summer tbh.

Didn't a Saudi team offer £20 million in January?

It's a hybrid system not a fixed one. Didn't work tonight as it needed some changes based on the Palace team we went against. Worked a treat against Spurs though, so not as straight forward as player A and player B being better in a certain position.

It was the same setup as against Spurs. Out of possession Krafth, Schar and Burn as a back three, Murphy and Anderson at wing back and Longstaff and Bruno in midfield. Barnes, Isak and Gordon forward three. In possession more of a 4-3-3, with the front three staying the same, Anderson coming into midfield with Longstaff and Bruno and a back back four of Murphy, Krafth, Schar and Burn. We were switching between the two depending on whether we were in or out of possession.

Kudos to the new Palace manager. Seems they got a good one. His 3-4-2-1 works well, and they are getting more and more comfortable playing it. He's getting the best out of their better players already too, and Mateta, who has always had some great physical tools, is now being unlocked in a better setup. Eddie sticking with the Spurs setup to match their 3 at the back system was probably the right shout, however, we shouldn't have done so without actual wing backs. Murphy and Anderson dropping into those positions defensively didn't work going against a proper 3-4-2-1 and a manager who uses this tactic all the time and specializes in it.

Always worried anytime we play a team that presses well this season and has a lot of energy in midfield. Only Bruno can deal with it really. Longstaff is so depressingly poor in those situations and so we struggle to then really get going. Anderson is still going to have his ups and downs as a younger guy, so can't be too upset with him. We miss having Joelinton's strength to hold off players and carry the ball in there so much. Willock's ball carrying also has been missed in there. Just been a lot of managing through this issue so much of this season. It has sucked.

Yeah, exactly. They were playing a diamond type formation and he ended up in that right channel a lot, it was a different sort of role. Their build up play was also very slow and control based, so didn't get him into space much.

Really glad our scouting was more refined and was able to see past that. Appears many others didn't. No context applied for the type of player he was, the team he was currently playing in and how his attributes would translate to the Premier League.

Can't let @Froggy get too comfortable on here man. Nothing personal!

Oh man, the cope is real. Unfortunately for you, getting older doesn't automatically mean improvement, especially at your club. Ask Martial. Our strikers value has already doubled and even your fans are all over the place gagging for him, along with everyone else. We'll soon see the mess you'll make of Hojlund, who you won't get your money back for right now. He's already looking worse each week from how he started. You are in the mud.

You can have your Carabao and busted flush Brazilian who the Coventry boys were skipping past for fun. I'll have Isak thanks. What's especially funny about your proclamations about Isak, is that you then spent even more on Hojlund who has been more injured and had an even lesser goal record prior to signing for you. Hold that L man.