Crystal Palace pre-match thread

[johnny the fox]

Glad we are playing them early while the pitch is still reasonable.. it tends to be s h i t e there..

[Steve_Guppy_Left_Foot]

Fact is Warnock will be bricking it if he's watched us play this season, rightly or wrongly. I can see us having more of the ball in this game than any game so far this season (50%+). We need to play with more width, a 4-4-2 for me, with Leo and Vardy up top, Mahrez in for Nuge and Schlupp in for Hammond from the United game. If we were setting up the same as against United I'd go with the same 11, I don't think Nuge or Hammond deserve to be dropped, just that in the 4-4-2 we need wingers and a striker/midfielder needs to be dropped to accommodate this and I just can't see how we can drop Vardy, Ulloa, Cambiasso or Drinkwater after the United game. Tough decisions to be made whatever Nigel decides to go with. 

[ty fox]

Based on that, and what the Palace fan said about their big powerful centre backs, is there an argument to drop Ulloa and play with some more pace?

 

4231 with Cambiasso and James/Hammond anchoring

 

Schlupp Drinkwater Mahrez

 

With Vardy up front.

 

They would run their back 4 ragged and offer more pace to counteract the likes of Zaha, but we would miss Ulloa's presence in both boxes.

Honestly I think we would be nuts to not play ulloa he is in great form and an immense player

[foxfanazer]

Based on that, and what the Palace fan said about their big powerful centre backs, is there an argument to drop Ulloa and play with some more pace?

4231 with Cambiasso and James/Hammond anchoring

Schlupp Drinkwater Mahrez

With Vardy up front.

They would run their back 4 ragged and offer more pace to counteract the likes of Zaha, but we would miss Ulloa's presence in both boxes.

Just don't think you can drop Leo. Only needs a half chance and he'll score. I think we should put out our best team and let them worry about how they're gonna handle us

[Happy Fox]

Seems like Warnock wants to make it difficult for us.

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2769419/Neil-Warnock-confirms-Marouane-Chamakh-s-availablility-home-clash-against-Leicester-Saturday.html

 

Chamakh will be available,' Warnock said. 'He was very close to being available last weekend but we felt it was not worth the risk.

'There won't be many changes from Everton. At Everton we were fantastic, so I don't envisage many changes.

 

Leicester beat City's Manchester rivals Manchester United 5-3 last weekend and are seventh in the table with two wins and one loss in their five matches since promotion from the Championship.

'They've made the Premier League look quite easy, really,' Warnock added.

'I'm hoping they get a more difficult game on Saturday.'

[Lestoh]

We've made the PL look easy? Nah, I think that was United.

[GingerrrFox]

Schmeichel

 

De Laet

Morgan

Moore

Konchesky

 

Mahrez

Drinkwater

Cambiasso

Schlupp

 

Vardy

Ulloa

 

Subs: Hamer, Wasilewski, James, King, Albrighton, Nugent, Wood, 

 

To quote a generic phrase this season is all about "different horses for different courses". What enables us to gain the best possible result against sides like Chelsea/United etc is going to be the opposite to what is needed against sides such as Palace. Against the "big sides" we have to be hard to beat, dangerous on the counter attack and expect to give up a lot of possession. However against Palace we will need to be more creative and look to dominate both with the ball and without. 

 

Example: I'd leave Dean Hammond out. He has been magnificent for us this season and has been arguably one of our biggest assets since he came into the side against Everton; however all these matches have been against Top Premier League clubs and he's had a specific job to do in pressurising the opposition. Against a side like Palace we need to have as many attacking options on the pitch as we can to dominate the game and gain a victory that we all know we are capable of. It's not that he's played badly but for me you play the squad rotation game and bring in a more creative attacking player. 

[Captain...]

Honestly I think we would be nuts to not play ulloa he is in great form and an immense player

 

But that is exactly what Warnock thinks, he will expect us to play Ulloa and will plan for it, whereas if we don't then his plans go out the window.

 

Although he also won't expect us to play Logan up front and Mahrez in goal, but we probably shouldn't do that.

[Haydos]

Based on that, and what the Palace fan said about their big powerful centre backs, is there an argument to drop Ulloa and play with some more pace?

 

4231 with Cambiasso and James/Hammond anchoring

 

Schlupp Drinkwater Mahrez

 

With Vardy up front.

 

They would run their back 4 ragged and offer more pace to counteract the likes of Zaha, but we would miss Ulloa's presence in both boxes.

 

I would much prefer Vardy over Schlupp. Even if it isn't his best position, if you give him reign to play off Ulloa up top he'll be dangerous. Ulloa still holds the ball up and brings others into play well which you need with one up top.

 

Schlupp has looked awful for the best part of this season. Technically he seems worse than Dyer which is worrying.

[foxfanazer]

But that is exactly what Warnock thinks, he will expect us to play Ulloa and will plan for it, whereas if we don't then his plans go out the window.

Although he also won't expect us to play Logan up front and Mahrez in goal, but we probably shouldn't do that.

Understand what you're saying but it's different having a plan for him than actually stopping. Also we play as a unit so it would be hard to isolate one of our players imo

[Bagworthblue]

we mustn't forget what Ulloa brings to the team defensively at set pieces and Palace have some big lads so I wouldn't be inclined to bench him and lets face it he isn't going to be benched. 

[cjslcfc]

It's so difficult to leave out so many players but we have to think about the different challenges that Crystal Palace give us, compared with United. First of all, they are going to be a lot more physical and solid at the back. No way are Vardy and Ulloa going to win everything like they did on Saturday. Secondly, Palace are going to play with a lot more width and are going to have the two wingers as focal points, whether it be Zaha, Bolasie or Puncheon starting. I'm sure many remember the trouble these wingers gave our full backs the year they went up! Playing the same formation as Sunday would leave our full backs exposed to these two so I would expect to see us revert to two wingers to help with this. Finally, Palace will play less patiently, more directly and will have a more combative midfield. With players like McCarthur and Jedinak, you can expect our midfield to be in for a battle. With all of this in mind I feel a change of formation and a change of a couple of players is in order. It's hard to do this after Sunday's result! However, we need to take the right approach so that we can win this game, and Sunday's team just doesn't fit:

 

 

Kasper

 

De Laet

Morgan

Moore

Konchesky

 

Mahrez

Drinkwater

James

Schlupp

 

Vardy

 

Ulloa

 

Bench: Hamer, Cambiasso, Hammond, King, Wasilweski, Nugent, Knockaert

 

Let me explain why I think these changes are necessary:

 

First of all, the change of formation has been mentioned above. We just can't line up with the same formation as Sunday.

 

Secondly, Nugent has been dropped for a couple of reasons. I appreciate the importance he has had BUT I feel we need that little bit of extra pace to get in behind Palace and after Vardy's performance on Sunday it is impossible to drop him. I feel Vardy can do Nuge's job and offers us a bit more in the box and the channels. I don't want to drop Ulloa as, even though they will be able to deal with him better physically, he is still very good on the ball and the kind of poacher we need to nick a goal to get the win at Selhurst.

 

Thirdly, Cambiasso, despite his performance, is not someone I want to play in a two man CM away from home against a physical Palace side. I just feel it might not be the right game for him, even though he did manage it at Stoke away, since they are not as physical as they once were. Therefore, I have gone for DD and MJ. Drinky is a key player for us and will offer the attacking threat to help us break them down. James is a great foil for him and hopefully after a good run out on Sunday he is fit and ready. He offers more physicality than Cambiasso and is also good on the ball. The partnership of these two will be ideal and they managed to dominate many physical 2 man or 3 man midfields last season.

 

Finally, I want Mahrez back in for his trickery and pace. These will help us to break down a stubborn defence and I'm willing to put his Stoke performance down to his international match in midweek and arriving back so late. Schlupp again offers pace and physicality, as well as decent defensive capabilities against some tricky wingers. Mahrez may leave us exposed so that is the weakness I can see.

 

In all honesty, I feel this gives us the best options to win the game. If it doesn't work we have plenty of options on the bench to change our approach.

[ty fox]

Understand what you're saying but it's different having a plan for him than actually stopping. Also we play as a unit so it would be hard to isolate one of our players imo

Agreed, I'm sure nw will try to stop him but by doing so does that not free up more space for vardy or nuge so I think he's gotta play

[fuchsntf]

Sit back and enjoy...Let NP get on with what hes paid for, he has before , and will pick his team how HE sees it.

He sees the players every day, he knows who is up for it, or who is not quite ready, or even when he has choices, he makes

his own descisions. Lets be happy with that, and enjoy Saturday.

Even noticed Warnock is being very complimentary, he knows he has a team that also can compete.Are the talons of the Eagles flexable and sheened enough to take on the cunning foxes. Tally-ho...

[davieG]

After their barn-storming victory over Manchester United, Leicester City will be expected to field the same side at Crystal Palace on Saturday.

But assistant manager Craig Shakespeare said that is not necessarily the case.

After beating Stoke two weeks ago, City made four changes for the visit of United last Sunday.

They switched from their 4-4-2 to a diamond midfield and are expected to emerge at Selhurst Park with a similar side and system.

 

However, while Shakespeare said that will possibly be the case, he did not rule out changes for the very different but equally difficult challenge posed by Neil Warnock’s side.

“Possibly,” said Shakespeare when asked about keeping the same team. That is up for discussion. What we will do is look at the strengths and weakness of the opposition and pick our team accordingly. 

“Last season, for instance, we had a settled team and picked the same 11.

“This season, I think you have to be a bit more adaptable in the Premier League and give yourself the best possible chance to win the game, but also to make sure you are not conceding it too early. We will plan and see where we go.”

After Palace, City face Burnley and Shakespeare said there will be no change of approach from the one that brought them a historic 5-3 over Manchester United.

“We have to approach them in the same way and make sure we are competitive, and pick the right team to win the games,” said Shakespeare.

“Palace have a new manager and had a great result on Sunday at Everton.

“Burnley have kept clean sheets and are very hard to score against. They bring different challenges and in the Premier League all the games are difficult. 

“We have to make sure we go there with the right mentality and focused. We all knew it has been a tough start but there is a lot of belief in the changing room, among the players and staff, in what we can achieve and what we are capable of.

“I think this group of players can achieve lots of things this season. We haven’t set targets in terms of points. We aim to be competitive in every game. Where that takes us we don’t know. We have to make sure we are ready for whatever comes.”

Read more: http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Leicester-City-Craig-Shakespeare-won-t-rule/story-22999897-detail/story.html?#ixzz3ELR0hI2E 
Follow us: @Leicester_Merc on Twitter | leicestermercury on Facebook
Read more at http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Leicester-City-Craig-Shakespeare-won-t-rule/story-22999897-detail/story.html?#8UkfTzBVuHu1D7yR.99

[ScouseFox]

unchanged side, in one and a half games this side has scored 6 goals and looked sensational at times. full week of rest should do the likes of hammond and cambiasso no harm. and vardy too if he was cramping up a bit at the finish. 

 

vardy/ulloa were both seen out wide and both seen leading the line at different times on sunday, with nuge in behind. it worked amazingly well. think you'd be a fool not to start with that again. hammond/james much of a muchness atm, hammond is playing out of his skin but james is technically the better player, can't say i'd be disappointed to see either in the side. defence picks itself. 

 

if it's not looking good at half time, like stoke for example, we can switch it all up, see mahrez, maybe the likes of powell or albrighton and even schlupp or wood off the bench and we can play a completely different system and side with just one or two changes. that's what's so great about our squad at the moment. we can switch from a classic 4-4-2, to a diverse looking 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-1-2-3 or any number of different formations just by making one or two changes involving the forwards and mahrez/knocky. god we're good. 

 

think we'll get a point from this. would be over the moon with a win and probably for the first time this season a little disappointed with a defeat. 

[gerrytaggart]

However the first half goes I expect us to have a great second half.

Tough game, a draw would be good, a win would be fantastic.

[LCFCCKEANO]

Horses for courses, same as we started vs Stoke, bring Vardy off the bench late vs Tired legs, away from home defence is way to important to sacrifice defensive attackers early on i.e Ulloa, Nugent, Schlupp. Vardy can have an impact late on, but we cant sacrifice team result based on one player having a good match

[ScouseFox]

interesting comments from warnock about making it difficult to play our game or whatever it was. he gonna pack out the defence so we can't counter? or sit back and try and counter us? hmm

[Buzzell]

Kasper

RDL

Moore

Morgan

Konchesky

Hammond

Cambiasso

Drinkwater

Nugent

Ulloa

Vardy

Tight game, 2-1 victory for us. Nugent and Vardy with the goals.

[Gary Eatfood]

They mentioned on MOTD the other week that Palace have never won a Premier League home game in the month of September.

On that basis I'm saying 2-2.

[Chug Laguna]

They mentioned on MOTD the other week that Palace have never won a Premier League home game in the month of September.

On that basis I'm saying 2-2.

 

Always love these, its as if it is honestly something that matters aside from a completely believable coincidence combining a historically poor team in a good league and a random time of year...

 

We can't win today boys *glares angrily at calendar on wall*

[Adster]

But that is exactly what Warnock thinks, he will expect us to play Ulloa and will plan for it, whereas if we don't then his plans go out the window.

 

Although he also won't expect us to play Logan up front and Mahrez in goal, but we probably shouldn't do that.

 

 

Yeah but just because you plan to do something, doesn't necessarily mean it'll pay off.

 

I'm sure all of Real Madrids opponents plan to double up on Ronaldo or attempt to stop him more, doesn't stop him bagging goals for fun .

 

I know Ulloa isn't Ronaldo, but you get the idea. 

[eddylcfc]

kasper

 

de laet

morgan

moore

schlupp (pacey wingers in bolasie and zaha)

 

hammond

drinky

cambiasso

 

mahrez - rw

ulloa

vardy - lw

[ScouseFox]

kasper

 

de laet

morgan

moore

schlupp (pacey wingers in bolasie and zaha)

 

as opposed to di maria, januzaj, hazard, alexis, aiden mcgeady and the rest of the premier league who've been dominated by konch so far this season?