Newcastle United 1 - 2 Crystal Palace - 02/02/21 - post match p20

That graphic is being hella generous when it comes to positions, too. 😂

Wouldn't mind the 'throw on strikers' approach to getting an equaliser if the players were coached better, or a bit more intelligent enough to grasp the fact they collectively need to change their approach.

I remember Neville saying with Man United they had to sustain pressure on sides and waited for them to cave, like not giving/letting the other side win fouls, high temp quick and passing, ringing the box with players to keep the ball in the area when it breaks etc. 

Their all still going to play their own way, and not understand they need to all shift approaches to a way that sustains pressure and gets the ball into the box/behind the defence.

Ties into a wider disjointed approach to when Bruce plays Carroll, or subs him on - we never actually cross the ball for him that much, or he never really busts a gut to get in the box when he goes deep. Personally don't think he's even that much of a threat in air/crosses any more anyway

Good angle of Shelvey’s laziness and the awful marking and positional all over!

how poor was Batshuayi ? I advocated for us to sign him on loan a few times.  very poor for Palace

Good angle of Shelvey’s laziness and the awful marking and positional all over!

 

 

 

Never developed that side of his game. Strong case to say he's a worse player than what he was when he was at Liverpool but now he's a notably slower; even in recent seasons I can remember him having a little turn of pace to shimmy away from a player. 

Never had a great physical side to his game, and never become defensively aware. That's why he never cut it at Liverpool,  Monk who'd watched him from sidelines long enough at Swansea quickly called him out as lazy once he was stuck in charge.

He's always had technique and good ball striking, that's all that's sustained him as a PL player.

In another world he'd have never joined us, got relegated with Swansea and spent the rest of his career at Championship level. Happens to countless players you always take for granted are PL standard but never find their way back.

In all seriousness, someone who's been retired seasons like Frank Lampard got to match fit they'd be better in our midfield.