One massive final barrier JWP needs to break to fulfil that potential is to score from a free kick. And ive got to say - we rarely seem to get any good ones while he's on the pitch atm. You see us giving them away commonly, 2 this match alone, but I can actually remember the last time JWP took one from anywhere that would he considered a good scoring position?
Totally agree. Only saw the highlights, but I didn't think any of Shane's missed chances were that heinous, & by getting into position to create the chances he failed to take, he pulled a very solid Palace defence all over the place. The last two games have seen Davis back to his assured, industrious best.
Seen on TV it clearly was a foul. However, Zaha dropping like a sack of spuds at the first hint of contact may have influenced the linesman. Basically it was an accidental foul that provoked inexcusable play acting. I'm of a generation that deplores diving and play acting far more than a bit of physicality, so bollocks to big Sam and Zaha. If that was GBH we might as well all give up now; has he never seen a recording of a game from the 70s?
Pretty good result last night wasn't it! Whole team were superb I thought, but JWP, Tadic and Redmond are starting to look a real force. Shame the ref was a bottler, though he did level things out
In fairness referee aren't helping by not giving fouls/penalties unless the player goes down like a sack of spuds. If the refs started picking up on fouls when the player stayed on there feet perhaps there would be less diving.
It's the honest player's dilemma isn't it? Play to the whistle and fail to get any protection, or dive and get the ref's attention. A case in point being Man Utd's midfield and defence kicking lumps out of Eden Hazard recently, until the ref cracked and sent the wrong player off
Probably would have said the same about Fonte to West Ham Honestly though I don't think JWP or Redmond are going anywhere either, they are in that happy place of being great for us but big clubs would be taking too bigger risk with them. Tadic on the other hand certainly thinks he's good enough, and I think his play will get better as the end of the season/transfer window approaches. My feeling is he will want to go to a big club in the summer, whether he is actually good enough is another matter.
The Police were too occupied with the robbery taking place in Swansea at approx. 21:30 last night by a gang from North London.
So Sam has a problem about Zaha over the top plunge to the floor resulting in no foul given............but perfectly ok with a blatant pen not being given against his team...........hhhmmmmnnn
I think it probably was a foul. I also got the feeling the ref was trying to even things up. He was making terrible decisions all night both ways.
To be fair to Sam, I don't think the interviewer asked him about the penalty shout. He was fed a line in the hope of a response, & he delivered. Hope he keeps them up. I like Sam and I like Palace. There is a picture-postcard, old school naffness about both club and manager. Like Selhurst Park itself, a little seedy, a little rundown, but good humoured and defiant.
I also think it's clever of Sam to react in this way so all the media attention is on him and not his players to keep the pressure away from them.
When you talk about the penalty shout, are you talking the handball or the barge on Long. I've not seen the latter on TV so would like to know whether it was as clear cut as it looked from where I was sitting. Overall, we played some amazing football last night. I thought at one time we might be out-muscled, Benteke in particular was borderline physical. And Palace have some excellent attacking players so even though we dominated there was always the threat of a quick break. Much has been said about the midfield and the attack but what about the defence? If you'd have suggested that back 4 at the start of the season there would have been, 'meltdown'. As it is they coped admirably. Not really tall enough or, maybe, physical enough yet very composed on the ball. Please, please, please a 'no-sell' summer and this team is headed only one way.
I thought at the time the challenge on Long was a clear cut penalty, watching the replay I haven't changed my mind, but we all know that there is an unwritten Rule in the Referees handbook, "Do Not award a Penalty for a foul on Shane Long under any circumstance".
It's an interesting season, because apart from Virgil I don't really see anyone leaving in the summer. What's more, when I look around the teams in the PL and the players that might be available in summer, I can't see much room for improvement on what we've got. I also think that the "big clubs" have bought so many of our players (and some others!), that they are beginning to have such good squads with such good players. There is beginning to be no room for more "good players" like the ones we now have. Yes we may still lose the EXCEPTIONAL players to big clubs (so we may lose Virgil in the summer) but I honestly don't see anyone else leaving this summer. IF Gabbiadini, Redmond and Ward-Prowse excel next season then we may find ourselves without them eventually, but they'd have to have a seriously good season - which we would benefit from. Can we have another cup final next year please - and win it this time!
Yes, I thought that Sometimes it's good to have a player develop rather than 'explode' on the scene. With JWP, Stevens, McQueen, Targett and Sims we have a clutch of players who continue to improve and learn while playing at a high level. We may've wished not to blood Stevens as quickly but I guess the chances of buying another CB for next season (if everyone stays) have receded now. I think, whatever else you think of him, Cortese was right to spend on youth development and Staplewood. Others of course continue that approach. It does make watching your team more pleasurable (imo) when there are a couple of players developed by the club featuring. With everyone fit I'd just worry about Forster, how was he last night? I've only seen the goals so no idea if he looked a little more grounded to planet earth.
