Match report from a Palace fan's perspective...worth a read

He posted this on a poker forum I'm involved with. I've asked if I can C&P it, but I don't think he's seen it yet to reply and don't want to do so without his permission.

However, there's no issue with me linking to it.

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=59459.msg1750283#msg1750283

I thought it was very balanced, to be honest, and his analysis of the overall game is very good so it deserves a wider audience, IMO. It definitely filled in a lot of the gaps I had from the text updates and one-sided match stats.

Hope some of you find it interesting.

 

And almost as soon as I'd posted that, he replied and gave permission for the C&P......


"There are loads of things about today's game that could be analysed, but the way i word myself I think I haven't got enough time in the day to get into it all. Will keep this as succinct as i can!

First and foremost I would have to say Barnsley were excellent at containing us. I was very impressed by their attitude, and they didn't let us breathe at the back with the ball with us trying to go forward, and they wouldn't let us have a clear cut chance without someone making it really really difficult for us. I support Ireland as my Mum is from there and their performance, for basically the last 80 mins (first 10 mins Jason Scotland could well have put you 1-0 up and you were troubling us), was much like how Trappatoni would have the Greens set up, soak up all the pressure and try and hit on the break.

You always did the move of hitting O'Grady with the long ball and I am not sure I have seen anyone win so many headers, you would fancy Ramage, Jedinak, or Delaney to have his number half of the time, but I am nearly certain he won about 90% of the headers, and you had one guy planted off him looking for the knock down. And with that hoof and knock down you would have quite often eased the pressure your backline was feeling and have a quick and effective way up the field. Was impressed with O'Grady just for his strength and heading. Then I thought your white/blonde haired small guy in centre midfield did very well defensively. He had Zaha's number on a few occasions, but it did help that he was the second man, in what you did all day of, as soon as you saw Zaha running with the ball, two men were there to close down. He was less effective for it and you had other tricks up your sleeves to really frustrate us all day. Another was how you must have studied Zaha, he does a certain cut back, which one of your men had basically tackled before he did it and completely owned him. One more time, Zaha was in the penno box and looking to get past one of your men and he rather nonchalantly took the ball off Zaha the instant he tried to step in behind, as if he was no threat at all. Saying that though Zaha did have his way a lot of the time with your men, but had much more trouble than with any other team that has been to Selhurst recently.

Aside from the above compliments though, we should have won the game, but appreciate the fact you worked so hard for the draw. Murray had a decent chance that Steele, saved excellently, really waited until the last minute to drop to the floor, but at all times left his body upright to inhibit the possibility of the cheeky dink over him. Steele also did excellently in saving a great free kick from Moritz. I was studying Steele before the free kick, he clearly knew how dangerous Moritz was and where he would likely go. He positioned himself in the middle of the goal where other keepers would be covering the post laid bare by the wall, it was the anticipation that gave him a chance to save a free kick so well placed. But if Moritz went the other way, tricked him, he just would have made Steele look a little silly in my opinion but maybe I am wrong.

Bolasie was exceptional today and I was miffed to see him subbed off. He is great at getting past players in more of a bulldozer fashion with skill rather than the outright flair of Zaha, and he had a great time in getting past your players, but I have never seen a player frustrate me as much as him. Gets himself into superb positions and then completely fluffs any shot on goal from range. I think he has had close to 60 shots with only three goals all season, and someone has got to lock him up in the training ground and just get him on the shooting practice! His final ball was lacking too, but so was Murray generally. Today we too saw one of the rare times he has been taken off with 10 mins to go when we were still in a contest.

He was pretty dire. He hasn't scored in at least 4 games now and he was looking generally anonymous. If a chance falls to him though, his finishing isn't bad, but I don't know if he is doing enough to create chances for himself. I believe most of his goals have been tap ins after him getting great service but him also being on the same wavelength as a lot of our crossing providers. At the moment, we are smacking balls into the back post when he has run into the front and vice versa. So with this miscommunication going on, Murray is rendered a little useless.

I saw that when Wilbrahim came on to take his place. The guy was only on for 10 mins and had three chances that most probably arose from his own ingenuity. He was unlucky with a tame effort outside the box after fending off one of the centre backs, had a pretty easy looking header he glanced wide and then a cut back which he had to twist a little for making it a little awkward which he ballooned over the bar. The reaction from the stands was that Wilbrahim was useless, how could he squander all those chances? I would say match practice, but a lot of the fans probably didn't stop to think that he had 3 solid chances in 10 mins whereas Murray had one in 80. I would like to see Wilbrahim start the next game and just see what he could be about. His finishing could come and it could work, if not to serve as a reminder to Murray his place isn't cemented in the team.

Phillips, had a chance that he ballooned over too. We had a freekick in the dying embers of the game which was aggravatingly taken, a little touch by Williams before Dobbie had a crack, but by then their man was on top of him.

Frustrating all around. Jedinak is running at 75% and I can't quite put my finger on why, I think he is jaded. When he is going great guns we do so much better, but for at least 3 games now he really hasn't been his normal self. As he is currently I would not rate him in the same way as I have done before at all!

I think we needed that really lucky goal, to open the floodgates of the mental fatigue that we probably have now of not scoring in 4 games. Maybe if we get one, everything clicks and we will feel a bit more confident going up front.

As it stands though I worry a lot about our position in the play offs. The goal for us has to come and we need to get on top of this drought quickly, and if necessary luckily, and then build from that. But well done to Barnsley, they looked like such a better outfit for wearing our kit too, and I want them to stay up and I think it will be with ease if they play with as much tenacity as that."

 

Thanks for posting this; a good balanced summary of the game.

 

Cheeky bugger! Invite him to join our forum, Sheriff.

 

What a brilliant, detailed report