Match Reaction - Palace 1-2 FA Cup Winners

[Niall_Quinn]

Wenger out.

[Letters]

Good win. Pub teamed it a bit but got an important result in a game we had to win.
Wenger :bow:

[AFC Leveller]

as someone said, the players won it for wenger. his tactis were shocking, and he still wums up the place by insisting on playing a containing game.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Great result....and we're actually up to third.....I'm getting a nose bleed. The Chavs held by the worst lot in the league and Manure beaten.....CHORTLE :d

[crashley]

Wenger was being an utter bell end at the finale there, everyone knew that as soon as he switched Sanchez for Dwayne Dibley, we'd have no pace based out ball & be under fire for the full 5 minutes. Of course they were going to score!

[Niall_Quinn]

I wonder what this team could do if we had a proper manager in charge? We're a pretty decent team dragging a huge weight behind us.

[Letters]

Great result....and we're actually up to third.....I'm getting a nose bleed. The Chavs held by the worst lot in the league and Manure beaten.....CHORTLE :d

Cannot believe we're 3rd. :lol: What an awful league.
Only 12 points off the top, still have Chelsea to play at home so call it 9.
Title's coming home tbh.

[Letters]

Wenger was being an utter bell end at the finale there, everyone knew that as soon as he switched Sanchez for Dwayne Dibley:haha:

[Niall_Quinn]

Only 12 points off the top, still have Chelsea to play at home so call it 9.

They won't score 9 :doh:

[Niall_Quinn]

1 Chelsea 26 34 60
2 Man City 25 26 52
3 Arsenal 26 20 48
4 Man Utd 26 18 47

BLitWtbf

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Crap really but Wenget is a master of getting three points in the pub games.

[Marc Overmars]

Yay

[fakeyank]

The ground was worse than what you get at the park. Surely there must be regulations that teams playing in the PL have a decent fucking ground!!

Other than that, we pubbed a win. We were atrocious barring a couple of moments. Well, who cares though.. we are 3rd above Utd, who are one of the worst PL sides in the top half. If we do not beat them in the remaining two fixtures this season, we might as well relegate ourselves to the Championship.

[Master Splinter]

Good 3 points but terrible from the manager and most players.

Palace are possibly the worst team in possession and started without their two first-choice midfielders and they had more possession than us. That says everything about the performance.

Palace were charging around like rabid Scott Parkers all game and approached it in a way that would cause most teams problems, but they collectively and individually have no football brain. Just some care with the ball and better choices from the manager and there would have been no need to huff and puff over the line.

Ozil played well, held on to the ball and created chances in a tough away game for once and WUMger decided this was the day to take him off early. He is utterly mental. Welbeck made the difference today. Not a great afternoon for most of the others. Brainfarts and carelessness everywhere.

Well done to Clattenburg for being equally awlful for both teams.

Negative WUMger :doh:.

Pub-team Arsenal :bow:.

With that village alehouse scuffle out of the way, onwards to dishing out some beatings hopefully.

We go again.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Don't understand the moaning tbh. Crystal Palace away is one of the hardest fixtures in the league; they've already beaten the likes of Spurs and Pool there.

Loud fans, difficult pitch to play on combined with some really good pacy players. They made it really difficult for us and it was a real struggle. Tactics were a bit shit especially in the second half and we were lucky with the second goal (first one was clearly in the area!!) but we've played better this season and got nothing so I'll take it.

3rd place now ahead of Utd and barring a Southampton win tomorrow against Pool, we should remain there. Onwards and upwards I say. :D

[Niall_Quinn]

Tactics were a bit shit especially in the second half

That's why. Until we solve that problem no meaningful progress is possible.

[Letters]

Don't understand the moaning tbh. Crystal Palace away is one of the hardest fixtures in the league; they've already beaten the likes of Spurs and Pool there.
:gp:

Haters gonna hate :shrug:

[The Emirates Gallactico]

That's why. Until we solve that problem no meaningful progress is possible.

Stream was choppy so I'm going to have to try and find some better highlights online later but personally I thought it was Palace's hard work and industry (they're a bloody good side!!) that made our tactics seem as bad as they were, though I do agree that Wenger should have been more adaptable and changed things when things weren't going right.

Plus I reckon had Alexis put away that third when Ozil played him in, Palace's spirits would have been killed there and we would have cantered home with a 3 - 0 win. As it was with just a two goal lead Palace were still in the hunt and we nearly ended up drawing it. Fine margins and all.


https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B-Yn0hCIYAAiJlD.jpg

I'd go for gay for Giroud there tbh. No homo. ##


Inb4 Jamie Carragher rant about dressing room photos.

[AFC Leveller]

That's why. Until we solve that problem no meaningful progress is possible.

You do worry that if we go to Old Trafford and play this way (we've got previous at spuds and pool) in the FA cup then it will end in tears.

good teams can suss us out and peg us back. Palace were inches from doing that.

[selassie]

All that matters is 3 points. I think there will be plenty more games like this but it's just the way it is. Top 4 will go down to the wire IMO.

Need to improve our performances though because I don't think we'll get away with what we served up today against a half-decent side.

[Alpha]

Sometimes , it may look ridiculous if fans have to complain after winning a game . It doesn't matter how the the team have won because a win is a win .I wonder what those moaning fans would have said if Arsenal were held like Chelsea ? or lost like Barcelona or Man United ?
Are they looking for perfect football ? Well you can't get that every day.

[Niall_Quinn]

Sometimes , it may look ridiculous if fans have to complain after winning a game . It doesn't matter how the the team have won because a win is a win .I wonder what those moaning fans would have said if Arsenal were held like Chelsea ? or lost like Barcelona or Man United ?
Are they looking for perfect football ? Well you can't get that every day.

It's a real problem to have a manager who watches a player get skinned alive all match and does nothing. An even bigger problem when the same manager is sitting next to a pacey full back. Team did okay considering they were heavily handicapped from the outset and did well to hang on when Monsieur Crackpot started making random subs at the end.

[Injury Time]

Sometimes , it may look ridiculous if fans have to complain after winning a game . It doesn't matter how the the team have won because a win is a win .I wonder what those moaning fans would have said if Arsenal were held like Chelsea ? or lost like Barcelona or Man United ?
Are they looking for perfect football ? Well you can't get that every day.
More than once a season would be nice though :ilt:

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I question how much of it is to do with a midfield of Coq, Cazorla and Ozil....

We have many gripes with Wilshere, Arteta and Ramsey but perhaps the balance of the midfield is a little different with one of those guys in there...

Just glad we won though and nice to be up to third. Several players are playing well simultaneously which is something we've struggled to make happen all season. A mentioned had Sanchez put away his chance it probably would had led to us controlling it a little more and panicking a little less.

[Alpha]

It's a real problem to have a manager who watches a player get skinned alive all match and does nothing. An even bigger problem when the same manager is sitting next to a pacey full back. Team did okay considering they were heavily handicapped from the outset and did well to hang on when Monsieur Crackpot started making random subs at the end.

It is frustrating but also very hard to assess as long as we do not have the medical sheet of those players left on the bench and we did not monitor them on the training ground . Are they fully fit to start ? Is there any risk of set-back ?
The manager took everything into account before taking any decision . But the best thing is we won the game .

[Penguin]

I didn't watch the game (only the highlights on MOTD) but it looks like we rode our luck a bit. The penalty should have been a free kick and Welbeck looked just offside for the second. Very, very important three points considering the other results.

Why Bellerin was on the bench? :blink:

[AFC Leveller]

I didn't watch the game (only the highlights on MOTD) but it looks like we rode our luck a bit. The penalty should have been a free kick and Welbeck looked just offside for the second. Very, very important three points considering the other results.

Why Bellerin was on the bench? :blink:

Injured last i heard.

[Power n Glory]

I question how much of it is to do with a midfield of Coq, Cazorla and Ozil....

We have many gripes with Wilshere, Arteta and Ramsey but perhaps the balance of the midfield is a little different with one of those guys in there...

Just glad we won though and nice to be up to third. Several players are playing well simultaneously which is something we've struggled to make happen all season. A mentioned had Sanchez put away his chance it probably would had led to us controlling it a little more and panicking a little less.

Rosicky is the missing link. Always has been. I don't think Ramsey, Wilshere or Arteta will add anything positive to our midfield. They've had long lay offs and will struggle to find their groove.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Rosicky is the missing link. Always has been. I don't think Ramsey, Wilshere or Arteta will add anything positive to our midfield. They've had long lay offs and will struggle to find their groove.

I agree, although Ramsey has had a long time this season to struggle to find "his groove", we need a holding midfielder in the summer and that's going to make us overloaded in the central midfield position and i now see him as someone we could potentially cut our losses with. His brilliant form last season would see to it that we'd get plenty of money for him

[Niall_Quinn]

It is frustrating but also very hard to assess as long as we do not have the medical sheet of those players left on the bench and we did not monitor them on the training ground . Are they fully fit to start ? Is there any risk of set-back ?
The manager took everything into account before taking any decision . But the best thing is we won the game .

If they are on the bench then surely they can play? Otherwise WTF is going on? Monreal has stepped up a lot this season, but he's still a sitting duck for pace. Wenger must know this. People say "narrow margins" make the difference and this is true. If you want to be consistent and be on the right side of those narrow margins then sure, you need to take some risks, but suicide is a sure thing not a risk. You start Gibbs if he is fit. You neutralise the threat and let the rest of the team benefit. Then if Gibbs can't make the 90 hopefully the team has done enough by the time a switch has to be made. If the manager makes this fundamental mistake against a decent team then we could be out of the game in the first 20 minutes. We've seen it before and that's the worry, he doesn't seem to learn and then use painful lessons.

Winning is good. The 3 points are vital. Nobody says otherwise. But we want to keep on winning and keep on getting the three points. In a casino if you have a system you stand a chance of coming out on top. If you are just gambling then the house wins in the end. In football if you have a system then you can see consistency and progress. If you are just making it up as you go then expect to lose big at some point, usually when it matters most. This is what Arsenal fans complain about, the false dawns. Win, win, win, here comes the big game... get a hiding. We've seen it before and the signs are we'll see it again. This is entirely down to the manager.

[Power n Glory]

I agree, although Ramsey has had a long time this season to struggle to find "his groove", we need a holding midfielder in the summer and that's going to make us overloaded in the central midfield position and i now see him as someone we could potentially cut our losses with. His brilliant form last season would see to it that we'd get plenty of money for him

Rambo and Wilshere aren't going anywhere anytime soon. We're more likely to see Rosicky and Cazorla shipped out because of their age.

[Niall_Quinn]

Why would we want Wilshere or Ramsey to be going anywhere? If we stop falling for the "next great British hope" bullshit in the media and focus instead on having a well balanced squad with decent players in every position then we'll be in good shape. We're not far from it. Wilshere and Ramsey might not be as good as the hype surrounding them, but they are solid squad members and they are committed to the club.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Rosicky is the missing link. Always has been. I don't think Ramsey, Wilshere or Arteta will add anything positive to our midfield. They've had long lay offs and will struggle to find their groove.

Rosicky has only failed to be a first team player for a number of years because of the scepticism over his fitness.

The point I'm making though is that if Ramsey, Wilshere, Arteta are in that midfield trio with Coq and Carzorla rather than Ozil what we lose in attacking nous we gain in a little bit pf physicality and because of that tend to control the midfield better? I'm speculating really, but I am happy to see Ozil, Santi and Coq in midfield though I agree with NQ......losing Rambo and Jack, no thanks for me.

[Özim]

Why would we want Wilshere or Ramsey to be going anywhere? If we stop falling for the "next great British hope" bullshit in the media and focus instead on having a well balanced squad with decent players in every position then we'll be in good shape. We're not far from it. Wilshere and Ramsey might not be as good as the hype surrounding them, but they are solid squad members and they are committed to the club.

Wilshere a good squad member? If you're looking for a overrated, overpaid wannabe with a poor attitude who likes to spend 90% of his time in a hot tub smoking anything he can get his hands on in your squad perhaps.

[Letters]

Made up stats :bow:

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Give it a rest Zim. :lol:

Clearly Jack on current form isn't a nailed down starter and is at best a squad player but to say he's not a valuable squad member is ridiculous. He's the sort of quality you need in your squad if you want to challenge Chelsea/Man City

The likes of Spurs/Liverpool would kill to have a player of his quality on the bench to call on.

[Letters]

Jack's form has been a bit patchy although he's been outstanding for England this season.
He is quite the prat but he's clearly a good player. A good option to have but needs to earn it if he wants to be first choice.

[fakeyank]

I dont rate Jack much. I think he was much better 2-3 years back and become a liability now. I wouldnt shed a tear if he leaves the club.

[Letters]

I wouldn't cry either but he's a good option to have on the bench and if he sorts his life out he could be first choice.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

i've thought for a while we should lose one of Wilshere or Ramsey, last season i was definitely for losing Wilshere this season i am for losing Ramsey. He might have scored a spectacular goal in the Champions League but on the whole he has been a liability.
How many times have their been gaps at the back because the guy wants to be Frank Lampard and score a spectacular goal rather than dig in and do the hard work, he left Coquelin to single handedly protect the back four against Spurs and was one of the key reasons why we just could not keep the ball and ended up losing.
When he's in form he's good on the ball, has a good assist rate and is a excellent goalscorer, but when he's not he stinks up the place....

Wilshere i think when he's played deep will deal with things better, he is good at dealing with the second ball when we've cleared our lines, his range of passing although not in the calibre of Ozil is pretty decent...if he relied on his passing game a bit more than trying to take people on all the time he'd be so much better

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

These are the same conversations we have had with all our midfielders seemingly on rotation.....Santi, Ozil, Rosicky.....and many were suggesting not too long ago that Cazorla was very expendable and even that his career at the top level was finished. Certainly at Arsenal. Look at him now. As far as I'm concerned he is a world class player.

That's not to say we should keep them all indefinitely but relatively young players who are clearly talented should not be let go at all easily, regardless of the fact we have better options at this exact moment in time.

I think when he has been fit, Jack has been very good this season. He tends to punctuate games with a few silly moments which overshadow or mask the fact he has actually played well and then he exacerbates things further by getting caught with his pants down off the field and sprinkles various injuries on top to finish which further stokes the ire of many fans. All of it goes a long way to obscuring the fact he has been good even during the times when few others were playing well around him this season.

If he wants to get in the side he will need to raise his game and get serious off the field and I want to see him rise to the challenge rather than just seek the first bus out the club for him.

[Power n Glory]

Rosicky has only failed to be a first team player for a number of years because of the scepticism over his fitness.

The point I'm making though is that if Ramsey, Wilshere, Arteta are in that midfield trio with Coq and Carzorla rather than Ozil what we lose in attacking nous we gain in a little bit pf physicality and because of that tend to control the midfield better? I'm speculating really, but I am happy to see Ozil, Santi and Coq in midfield though I agree with NQ......losing Rambo and Jack, no thanks for me.

I hear you, but for me, Rosicky is the best central midfield player we have to do the job. Defensive midfield and attacking midfield we have sorted, but central midfield is another story. We've seen Ramsey and Wilshere play that role and both of them are guilty of pushing too far forwards or surrendering possession too easily. They don't protect the ball well enough or distribute it well enough at the moment. The balance was perfect with Coq, Rosicky and Cazorla. They got the winning streak started when we were in a slump and we should be looking to that combo to keep it going whenever possible.

[selassie]

I agree, although Ramsey has had a long time this season to struggle to find "his groove", we need a holding midfielder in the summer and that's going to make us overloaded in the central midfield position and i now see him as someone we could potentially cut our losses with. His brilliant form last season would see to it that we'd get plenty of money for him

Hmmm..I dunno about that, Ramsey has an incredible engine, he definitely offers this team something unique, I don't see any of the others doing what he does.

I accept he has been sub par this season but I wouldn't give up on him just yet. I agree that we need a holding midfielder or more defensively minded midfielder, maybe someone like Schneiderlin, I really rate him.

If we do get a new midfielder in then Arteta and Flamini should definitely be moved on, and one of Wilshere/Ramsey/Rosicky are going to be surplus to requirements too IMO.

[Dein-machine]

AGAIN - we get to 2-0 at half time & then decide to stop offering an attacking threat. How many times does this have to happen especially against pub teams for Wumger to realise we aren't good enough to sit back - we nearly let Brighton back in FFS.
We are an attack minded team & when we are 2-0 up we have to go for 3. There maybe some argument about being sensible against the big teams but no possible reason in the world to sit back on a 1 or 2 nil lead against inferior opposition. The obvious outcome will be that they finally take one of the chances that falls to them & we're in danger of dropping points. When you also take off your quick attacking players it also results in us being less of a threat on the counter.
If Palace had scored 2 goals to draw level on Saturday with 10 mins left - who then becomes the likely winner.