Match Thread Everton v Crystal Palace - Preview, Match Report and MotM Poll

[davek]

...he’s certainly competitive, which is no bad thing.

In respect of that particular incident, I think only he knows the true intent. He certainly looks at the defender but he also tracks the ball. He’s up against a taller man but has a good leap and uses his leading arm/elbow for leverage. It was the trailing arm I thought he might have used to leave something on the defender but you’d have to ask Richarlison if he did that on purpose.

I believe you;ve played the game at a certain level? Well tell me that Richarlison didn't look to stick one on Sakho there yesterday. You'll KNOW that's what he's done. Maybe he thought he was going to get a crafty challenge from Sakho and wanted to get his retaliation in first, I dont know. But he defo has intent to get his arm into the Palace player's face.

 

[davek]

If you watch, Sakho also has a look at the same time Richarlison has his first look.

They're both checking each others' positions.

Richarlison then has another look but there's no leading action with his elbow. It's just a straight leap for a ball that he probably knew he wouldn't win but as a CF he's wanting to try and make the effort - and you know full well he'd get blasted by our fans anyway if he didn't go for those balls.

Think we all accept he was an idiot against Bournemouth, and he's far from the finished article, but if that's a red we might as well pack it in and go home.

I didn't say he did. His forearm hits Sakho.
I think it was cracked by someone else earlier: we have Ferguson coaching these players with his 1980s methods. That wont do these days.

 

[Blue Roo]

Pen all day long. Can't believe there is any debate.

Zaha is as slippery a customer as they come.
When playing Palace there needs to be one game plan overall and one for to him.
It was obvious, one on one on the counter - take the foul. Standouts were Ganas, Zoumas and Dignes.
I lost count of how many fouls, yellow cards he garnered.
It was bordering on molesting at times.
And if this had been done to Rico, ohh the fume.

The lads did a good job of preventing him getting into the box.
But just as the defence was looking a bit ragged, compared to above, in waltzes the fairy.

Coleman tried to play at the ball one on one with Zaha.
Probably a poor move, def a bit of desperation
No clear connection with the ball, connected with standing leg, Zaha went down
Zaha won the contest > pen

The way to take the ball off Zaha is to have one man first playing the body, one man to mop up.
A lot easy to do outside the box.

It was a intriguing and fascinating battle.
And the lads did well up until the pen.
In the end - they has Zaha, we have Pickford!

What was frustrating was not being able to do it up the other end...for most of the game.

 

[Eggs]

I believe you;ve played the game at a certain level? Well tell me that Richarlison didn't look to stick one on Sakho there yesterday. You'll KNOW that's what he's done. Maybe he thought he was going to get a crafty challenge from Sakho and wanted to get his retaliation in first, I dont know. But he defo has intent to get his arm into the Palace player's face.

....he certainly looked at the defender ahead of the leap and I thought right away that he’d left one on him with his trailing arm. I immediately said to my son that he’s got a bit of snide in him. I don’t mind that trait, I dare say he’d been getting plenty himself and words had been exchanged, but you’re right in saying his game management has to be a lot smarter.

 

[BlueToff]

Pen all day long. Can't believe there is any debate.

Zaha is as slippery a customer as they come.
When playing Palace there needs to be one game plan overall and one for to him.
It was obvious, one on one on the counter - take the foul. Standouts were Ganas, Zoumas and Dignes.
I lost count of how many fouls, yellow cards he garnered.
It was bordering on molesting at times.
And if this had been done to Rico, ohh the fume.

The lads did a good job of preventing him getting into the box.
But just as the defence was looking a bit ragged, compared to above, in waltzes the fairy.

Coleman tried to play at the ball one on one with Zaha.
Probably a poor move, def a bit of desperation
No clear connection with the ball, connected with standing leg, Zaha went down
Zaha won the contest > pen

The way to take the ball off Zaha is to have one man first playing the body, one man to mop up.
A lot easy to do outside the box.

It was a intriguing and fascinating battle.
And the lads did well up until the pen.
In the end - they has Zaha, we have Pickford!

What was frustrating was not being able to do it up the other end...for most of the game.

Think we saw this when Lookman came on.

A player who can drive with the ball and has that pace and trickery to pick up space and exploit it.

It's great to have an option like that, when he's on form.

 

[BigBlueConk]

Poor game, but good to win at the end.
Our level is once again, the best of the mid-table and you still have to get over the line.

A few interesting away games coming up will define where we are at in case there are any doubters...

 

[Tommy Chong]

This weekend is the real test. If we can come away from 'The Theatre of Wet Dreams' with something then I'll be real excited about the rest of this season!

 

[BigBlueConk]

MotM..

Bernard was poor.
Walcott was anon.
Richy made wrong decisions.
Seamus a long way from the player he was.
Gana was hot and cold for me.Some great stuff and then plays a bad ball.
Gomes was steady.
Keane and Zouma were safe enough best part. Set pieces though.
Gylfi was steady.
Lucas looked assured and a good signing.

Which leaves me with Jordan. Him then!

 

[Blue Roo]

Tells a lot about the performance when MOM is Pickford>Gana> Keane>Gomes.

I think there is cause to be as optimistic as after the last match
But for very different reasons.

What had previously been some of our weaknesses were some of our strengths this time.
1. Palace didn't find space in midfield and in front of our back four following build up. We pretty much answered this every time.
2. Handle their counter attacks well, much more assured than the West Ham match for example.
3. Handled the Palace set pieces well.
4. Won the game, when in the recent past we would have lost this 0-2. Gone down to a pen, chased the game, put up a spirited and brave showing, then conceded another goal on the counter - the attitude, focus, the will and expectation to win, is changing
5. The fans.

 

[The Penalty Box Dancer]

MotM..

Bernard was poor.
Walcott was anon.
Richy made wrong decisions.
Seamus a long way from the player he was.
Gana was hot and cold for me.Some great stuff and then plays a bad ball.
Gomes was steady.
Keane and Zouma were safe enough best part. Set pieces though.
Gylfi was steady.
Lucas looked assured and a good signing.

Which leaves me with Jordan. Him then!

I woudn't say Bernard was poor, it wasn't his greatest game but we set the standard high for himself with his performance at Leicester and people expect that week in week out now.

I thought Gana was good yesterday. I agree with you in ways about Seamus, he isn't the player he once was but still gave a lot in our attacking third. I think you've been a bit harsh om some but it wasn't the best of games and Palace were quite physical.

 

[John Ebbrwool]

I’ve lost my voice after that game. I’m looking forward to seeing Gomes get a bit of confidence, he was a bit wayward with his passing at some points but I think he could end up being a bit of a player for us this year. We’ve been desperate for some brains and skill in the centre of midfield, just having that extra man in space will make a difference when attacking.

 

[Blue Roo]

I think its more clearer after this match what shouldn't be done from an attacking POV.
Rico needs to be on the wing attempting to do what Zaha did to us.
He needs the freedom to express himself.

The caveat to this is the type of side we play. For eg I'd be playing Rico at CF against City.
But not against a side who is going to sit deep and counter.
It was telling that as Palace played less phase and and went more direct to Zaha (ie less space through the centre for Rico when we got the ball back, his performance got worse. He didn't really look confident or know what he was meant to be doing - dribbling to nowhere and losing it. When he's on the left he knows exactly what he's got to do, he understands the options.

Bernard for me is not a winger in this side/set-up. I think he would be better in the Iniesta type role. Using his ability to hold on to the ball while being a link between defence and attack, between the left and the centre or right.

How Silva will set up the team to play to the strengths of Rico, Bernard, Sig and Gomes is the key. Its no way near settled at the moment.

 

[Steve0]

Keanes delightful and perfectly weighted intentional through ball to Tosun has been described on the BBC as a 'long punt clear.

That really grind my gears.

 

[Ring master]

This weekend is the real test. If we can come away from 'The Theatre of Wet Dreams' with something then I'll be real excited about the rest of this season!

I think we will to be honest,we have played very well so far all our away games,and a big pitch should mean a lot more space for us to attack in,

 

[ToffeeTim]

Keanes delightful and perfectly weighted intentional through ball to Tosun has been described on the BBC as a 'long punt clear.

That really grind my gears.

To be fair he told Chappers on MOTD2 that he was trying to hit it long into the channel to clear his lines lol