Crystal Palace v Everton. 9th November @ 15.00.

[Ring master]

Like last season, we are leading the table in number of draws

think we are going for a record of 0-0s,whatever it is

 

[deipnosophist]

Most teams would have difficulty breaking down opposition with 10 behind the ball and crowding the midfield, but our passing was terrible today. Hard to get behind Palace because they pretty much sat on their own 18th yard line but we lacked invention, looked for intricate passes too much and took too long to get the ball into the box. Our defending was also woeful, and that is the biggest worry going into the Derby. I think we will create much more against liverpool because it will be more of an open game, but the gaps between Jags and Distin were not good. Barkley to start ahead of Ossie, otherwise same team, and fingers crossed we don;t get bum r@ped

...the other teams they have played have managed it

 

[sageyefc]

Still think we wont see the best of us untill after xmas, roberto needs 2 or 3 more players of his own style and the current players need to keep learning his ways. Just look at the ****e last year, they had the same problems as us, not being able to break teams down, but with time and a few of brendas own players now they look dangerous and expansive.

 

[paulbefc]

They'll come out and open the game up. We can exploit that. It's breaking two banks down that foxes us. We'll win that one. International has come at the right time for us really. Liverpool wont have wanted that and start to refocus again.

I really, really hope so.

 

[bluelife]

20 points after 11 games last season...and guess what this year?

And it's around this time last year that it started to become average...

 

[the sniderman]

I hope you're right. I guess I am really thankful this one is at Goodison, as I imagine in their current form they'd rape us to death at Anfield.

I still think Suarez will score about eight past us.

react!! react!! react to my last sentence

 

[bluemangroup]

And it's around this time last year that it started to become average...

Hooray for continuity!

 

[Ihaters]

I suppose the fact that we're fuming after a draw that puts us 5th is a good indicator that our expectations are (quite rightly) on the way back to where they should be.

Fume away lads, it's healthy, but keep some perspective.

Not really, I would suggest we're more fuming because the worst team to hit the premiership for ages made us look utterly clueless and we changed nothing to rectify it.

 

[Azza]

BBC has us with 72% possession... Didn't watch as I've been in work but what?! Were we that bad?

 

[Aberblue]

Still think we wont see the best of us untill after xmas, roberto needs 2 or 3 more players of his own style and the current players need to keep learning his ways. Just look at the ****e last year, they had the same problems as us, not being able to break teams down, but with time and a few of brendas own players now they look dangerous and expansive.

They spent massively in January and in the summer. We won't be able to do that, especially as we wasted £6M on Kone.

 

[dannyboy]

We are playing a high line and our midfield is a little susceptible to being pressed. That doesn't bode well against a team with two very quick forwards in form and the high intensity occasionally dirty midfield press they employ. I suspect we will absorb and then hit them in the break so we will create more, but we will have to deal with a hell of a lot better forward lines than we have in the last few games.

Yeah, Jagielka and Distin are going to have their work cut out but as I said I'll be disappointed if Suarez and Sturridge take them to the cleaners.

For me their weakest part of the team is central midfield, McCarthy and Barkley really need to get on top of Lucas and Gerrard, don't give them any time on the ball.

 

[ijjysmith]

BBC has us with 72% possession... Didn't watch as I've been in work but what?! Were we that bad?

Mate we could have had 100% and not scored today.

 

[davek]

I really, really hope so.

Open games this season we've done very well. Teams shut up shop: draws. It's a toss up between us and Liverpool, tbf. But Lukaku is due a big performance...as are a couple of others. Liverpool on the other hand are flying and can only go in one direction.

We'll be fine in the Derby.

 

[Allezfan]

I don't think saying that we're disappointed with going 5th is a particularly accurate appraisal of the situation. It's a false position as we're almost guaranteed to be back down a couple of places once other teams have played this weekend.

Yeah given who spurs and city are playing there's no way we'll finish this round of games anywhere higher than 7th.

 

[deipnosophist]

If RM comes out with "but there were a lot of positives today..." I will scream