Well that makes it an even 10 teams we have a chance of beating on paper . Or for the glass half empty posters 10 uwinnable too.
In all seriousness I have been having a few issues with images but I think I've sorted it now, check out the top of the OP I've just edited it and it's a lot better now
You see I wouldn't rule out beating some of the top ten either, I don't see it as cut and dried I guess and on our day, we could and indeed have, beaten the best. The classic for me was back in the 70's I think where we beat the Champions Liverpool home and away (1-3 at Anfield) but were doubled by Sheffield United who came bottom.
Our bench do look stronger than the first team, and on paper Palace's looks much better but hopefully we'll get something from this game.
I might be the only one who think Grabban is so lazy, Jerome brings a lot to the team. Jerome chase everything & make things happen, the play-off final proves that.
Well it's bold! The midfield should keep the ball pretty well, and Grabban's pace should scare the Palace defence deeper and give Wes space to work in. It's a side which will work very hard defensively too.
I am not wanting to start a major argument here but it almost has a kind of CH feel to it where AN is looking not to lose and possibly nick one the other end.
You're not alone TH, Grabban is NOT Premier League quality and IMO we should have moved him on close season. I really hope he makes me eat my words but I can't see it. You're lucky if you get 2 or 3 chances as a striker during a game in the EPL and considering Grabban normally needs 3 before he even hits the target there is no way he should be starting ahead of Jerome.
Which makes me think is Jerome carrying a niggle of some sort? Maybe he will come in after an hour? Do we have our bench listed anywhere please?
I don't think it's quite that - looks to me like it's following the standard formula Neil used last season: 1) dominate midfield for the first sixty with Hoolahan on for the chance of some creativity against their fresh defence on the off chance 2) on 60 mins, bring on Redmond and a striker to attack their tired defence Neil doesn't like to play on the counter until we've gone a goal up, so this doesn't look like a counter-attacking team which is why it can't be quite the Hughton rigid defensive formula IMO. I definitely disagree on Grabban being lazy. That's the one thing I think Hughton sees in him is exhausting the defence early on. As for whether he's PL quality - judgement reserved, but I do wonder. RvW and VOO out on loan before the end of the month I suspect. That's two of our most expensive signings not in the squad - we need to sort out our transfer policy tbh.
Agree about the transfer policy Rob, it sucks. OK it's a lot more complicated bringing in new players than it used to be but come on, it doesn't seem to have affected other clubs. I'll say it again; "McNally pull your finger out!"
Good analysis there Rob and makes sense. I think you had a typo though in 3rd para line 1 where I suggest you meant to say AN. I agree in that Grabban is not lazy and will put in a shift, but does lack the quality to finish and at this level, that counts a lot. Hope you are right about the subs on an hour, that would work for me.
As a club we don't see to do very well with non-British/Irish signings in general (ok, Tettey and Olsson). If we want to be a long-term premiership club, I think that really has to change.
