Djenepo is quick as **** that is why defenders drop off him as they fear him turning and blazing past them, they need a couple of yards head start. Boufal doesn't have that pace so they get tighter to him to try and stop him using the ridiculous feet he has.
Only 13pgs after a home draw & a Xmas 4 or 7 pts (depending on how you look). Must be a lot of hangovers or stayaways out there?
I wasn't suggesting that at all as I put setting up chances later in my post. He has had much better days than today for sure and Palace marshalled him well but he is brave and that's what I like about him the most and totally different to our main creative outlet (Mo El) from last season. He dribbled, passed and crossed today but no shots IIRC
Its pretty unfair to expect Boufal to be the only player who opens up Palace in the first half hour. The whole team were unable to get anywhere in that period (I believe we used passes, crosses, dribbles as well) and Palace were exceptionally well organised again. Djenepo comes on against tired opponents with fresh legs remember and he had pace as well as bravery - taking nothing away from him, he was dynamic. We were unlucky this game, I'd say we were unrecognisable compared to 6 weeks ago, some of our passing in the final 20 was phenomenal, long beautiful balls into space, incisive forward passes between the lines. We have most definately turned a corner. And fair play to Ralph, the subsitutions were well timed and worked well.
Fair enough mate, we all see different things. For what it’s worth, I’ve been very sceptical about Boufal in the past, but I think we lack a bit of creativity in midfield, and he can provide it, especially against teams like Palace who don’t allow you any space. So can Djeneppo btw, but probably not playing through the middle. Anyway, the good thing is we have plenty of attacking options. Now we just need to cut out the defensive errors, because from where I was sitting that looked a very soft goal we conceded.
From where I was sitting, it looked a very good set piece with a good solid header. Defensively we are looking fine at the moment.
Who has been feeding JWP with raw meat? Have you noticed that the upturn in our fortune has coincided with the arrival of our new DoF?
We’re certainly looking better. Possibly because we finally have a settled CB pairing. But I don’t think we should be conceding that easily from set pieces. McCarthy should have done better from where I was sat, and who was marking Tomkins? Did he get a free header, it looked like it?
Got a run on Stephens. Was a great delivery and header tbf, think everyone was expecting him to shoot.
Yes, it’s wasn’t far from perfect. A “VanDick” might have stopped but we are light in the air with that back four, regardless of how better/good they’ve been recently. I said to my son in the first half, that other sides will target that.
The @BBCMOTD running order: WHU/Lei, Nor/Tot, Wat/AV, New/Eve, Wol/ManC, Bur/ManU, Bri/Bou, Sou/CP. Loads of goals, a sacking and bloody VAR. @BBCOne 10.30. Saving the best for last?
We zonal mark not man mark (sadly) so Bertrand and Stephens we’re marking three attackers. Bertrand was in front of Tomkins and lost him so Stephens left the other CB to challenge Tomkins but was too late. McCarthy had no chance by the way Archers
Undeniably settled but distinctly familiar. The same two have played for us for 3 seasons now in one form or another. Stephens has had his good patches before, Bedders has always been reliable but unspectacular. The threat of a new signing will be part of it I suspect, the new DoF might have a part in steadying the whole ship. Whatever, we certainly have changed in character and attitude across the pitch.
VAR has done us a few favours this season. But it’s still utter dogshit. If the linesman has done his job in the first place this afternoon, we wouldn’t all have been left hanging
