Palace had no answer to defensive Sunderland - Pardew please log in to view this image Alan Pardew was frustrated to see his Crystal Palace side fail to unlock what he described as a deep Sunderland defence. Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew acknowledged that his team failed in their efforts to unlock Sunderland's defence at Selhurst Park on Monday. The home side had more of the ball throughout the game, but failed to pose much of an attacking threat and paid the price when Jermain Defoe scored an 80th-minute winner. Sam Allardyce's five-man backline worked a treat for Sunderland and Pardew admits his players should have done more to find a way through. "Sunderland set their stall out and there was no mystery to what they did," he told Sky Sports. "It is five at the back, three in front and they didn't really move much. We just couldn't find a way to unlock what was a deep defence and a deep midfield. "We overdid it a little bit in certain areas. We should have been more clean and clinical in the final third and we would have created more chances. "They asked us questions we needed to answer if we are going to go forward and evolve into a different type of team. We struggled - it just didn't happen. "I just didn’t think we hurt them enough and we couldn't get in behind. The longer it went on the more belief Sunderland got. "Bakary Sako created a great couple of moments but unfortunately he pulled his hamstring and that was disappointing as well, so it was one of those nights when nothing really went for us." Pardew felt defender Scott Dann was outfoxed by some clever play from veteran striker Defoe for the winning goal. He continued: "Jermain is always going to be a threat and that threat got them the win in the end when Scott Dann just miscalculated in taking Jermain out of the ball. "He checked his run and that is what an old smart striker like Defoe can do." Palace's next game is against Pardew's former club Newcastle United, who the manager does not expect to play in the same way as their north-east rivals. "You would expect Newcastle to be a little bit more ambitious than Sunderland, so it might be slightly different," he added. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Yes Alan we decided against doing the same thing as we did against Everton .....
Yes Alan. Is that because they've been so attacking in their last two games with 2 shots on target from 11 compared to our 4 on target from 12 tonight? Logical as always!
Even pardew accepts that you can be tactically out done despite having most of the possession. Guss most mags just don't understand the game. One team defending better than the other attacks and still wins the game is more deserving then that tippy tappy ineffective **** the mags brought to our place. Two of Sam's wins have come off the back of shrewd tactical work. We were unlucky against soton and Everton was a learning curve for Sam. How much would you rather be us than the Mags right now?
They've come back down to earth with a bang after the weekend. A lot of them are worried again after that fluke result vs Norwich and having more possession than us in the Derby. I said in the match day thread that Big Sam will have a plan. That plan was perfect as Palace didn't have an answer. We know it won't be pretty but results are all that matter - onwards and upwards hopefully.
Sam knows our limitations, it won't be pretty you're right, and it won't always be narrow wins, they'll be plenty of stalemates and they'll be plenty of narrow defeats but we will pick up a lot more points than we have been doing. To hell with point targets let's catch the pack in front and focus on keeping one step ahead of them. Tough December ahead but doesn't mean we can't pick some points up.
Palace didn't create much, the back 3 you guys put out were outstanding all game, Kaboul in particular. The worst player on the pitch by a mile was that Soare for Palace, I'll say I've only watched him a couple of times but still, what a complete sack of **** that guy is, I'm surprised you never took more advantage of that, but that's a point to raise if you didn't win the game. Fletcher being replaced seemed to give you guys some verve and production going forward, you looked good. Watmore has a lot to learn but he's got no nerves at all, full of beans that kid.
I like the 5 at the back formation, we have the hoodoo over Pardew, and also Stoke at home so lets hope that continues. Cabaye was every where though Palace's best player. I have said before we have a new harry kane in Watmore, glad he signed a 4 year deal as well.
Hey, academically we know that. If he learns to run with his head up, he'll propel himself forward very quickly. He's got a decent box of tricks on him, so he's in almost the perfect place to develop, in a team that needs him as much as he needs them. My only reservation is Adam Johnson as a mentor.
His mentor isn't AJ According to his dad its O'Shea who's been mentoring him closest and has a lot of gratitude for what he's done with him. Just shows its the experience you look for in a mentor, not somebody who plays a similar position. Makes sense really. Leave the possisional aspect to the qualified coaches. But the coming of age, adapting to lifestyle, diet ect it's good to have an experienced professional to take them under his wing, help keep them grounded, adapt to the pressures and help keep them on the right path.
That's a good point, probably best to keep Adam Johnson away from the youths, on a satirical and a serious note.
He continued: "Jermain is always going to be a threat and that threat got them the win in the end when Scott Dann just miscalculated in taking Jermain out of the ball. "He checked his run and that is what an old smart striker like Defoe can do." So what's he saying?
I think Dann was trying to block Defoe while the keeper kicked the ball away and he thought he was coming past him on his right but Defoe slowed up at just the right time and went past on the left which completely screwed Dann's block and got Defoe in - at least I thnk that's what I he means
Great win for your boys, from what I heard of the first half (listened to it on the radio in the car for about 30 mins) you were the ones having the chances with attacks on the break. Only going off radio but it sounded like Cattermole was everywhere and having a stormer - when on form the boy is an asset. Makes such a difference to the table and I'm still hopeful that Villa and two others are going to be so bad this season that even the North-east teams fail to get relegated. Looks much better now than it did a month ago!! (mid October we had 3 points each). One note - Newcastles result against Norwich wasn't flukey. They were utterly terrible at the back, the worst defensive performance of anyone we've played in a long time. If we played against that defence playing that badly every week we'd win 9 matches in 10. I'm sure people say that about us!
Agree with Kinky here. It's one of those odd things people accept in football that even though its obstruction almost anywhere else on the pitch it's not a foul to do it in your own box - just stand in between the attacker and the ball and let it run out of play or to the keeper whilst making no effort to win the ball. Every single team in the league does it though so not pointing fingers at Dann or Palace for trying to do it here. Plus it failed of course.
1 win can change the fans perspective so much For the record, I'd still rather be us as we have more points, more winnable games coming up, and IMO a better team Oh, and we don't have Sam Allardyce as manager
McClaren is no better but at least the attempted style of football doesn't make me want to kill myself, as Sam's did.
The Leicester game was the worst 90 minutes I've seen this season ........ you're in big trouble if that's what McClaren calls progress.
