[Albion] Player Ratings Palace (H)

[Weststander]

I don't think there's any doubt who the better keeper is, but I do wonder if we missed Steele's experience down the spine of the team together with Pascal and Danny

Steele, Dunk, Webster, Milner, Gross, Lallana and Webeck were always talked about as the experienced members of the squad who focused the kids throughout training and matches. There were some brilliant kids, but only one of the experienced spine out there today

Plus his quick-fire and accurate distribution, initiating attacks before opponents got into team shape.

 

[Not Andy Naylor]

That team isn’t THAT inexperienced. The defence, Lamptey aside, is our strongest defence.

The biggest problem is we’ve got a tactically inept manager and the players who we’ve spent big on, who were supposed to come in and improve our first 11 as established players, have either been woeful (Wieffer) or injured (O’Riley, Ferdi).

And I think that's the problem. While we were busy signing wingers, playmakers and lightweight forwards in summer, did nobody suggest that we might also want to upgrade some components of our defence that were rather, er, old and slow? We've been crying out for some pace in the back four for ages and trying to play a high line with the personnel we have was never going to end well. Ferdi has yet to convince me, Pervis either can't defend or has no interest in it (watch his performance at defensive corners today), Dunk has never been fast, and Tariq is just not up to it. Hinsh and Veltman being fit would have helped today, I think. But who is the heir to Dunk?

 

[Mike Small]

Verbruggen - 3. Not his fault but poor for all goals. Hardly made it hard for Sarr with their third. Spillled two chances in the first half too
Lamptey - 2. He really can't play for us again. Shame. That second goal is embarrassing.
Dunk - 1. Set the tone with giving away a pointless free kick from our corner in the first minute. The three palace centre backs are miles better than him. It's outrageous he's waltzed back in. Makes me think the job is too big for Hurzelar and he's lost respect from the players.
JPVH - 2. Some ok balls forwards, some terrible ones. So weak for the first goal.
Pervis - 3.
Baleba - 6. Poor decision making as always but did some good things in the first half.
Ayari - 3. Too lightweight and was carried today.
Rutter - 4. Seems like he cares. Didn't play well though.
Minteh - 2. Amazed he lasted soo long. Terrible against a low block. His only role for us will be starting against an expansive team or to bring on if winning
Mitoma - 4 Lacking confidence and had to shoot when Minteh for some inexplicable reason pulled the ball back to him when 0-0.
Pedro - 2. I have been so pissed off with him since Bournemouth. A MASSIVE primadonna. Slows the game down, takes too many touches. Today was occupying the wrong areas. He prances around like he's above all this and threw his arms in the air when Ferguson didn't get to one of his balls. f*** off and sort your own game out.

Subs:
Enciso - 8. Thank you for trying and ooing like a player. Has to start next game.
Ferguson 2. - he's not good enough is he. Unable to hold the ball up or link with others.
Gruda 3. - better than Minteh

Fabian - 0. He's one of the worst managers in the PL isn't he? Looked completely and utterly lost and I don't think the players are motivated by his 'walues' and 'process' David Brent platitudes. Worrying.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

It's not particularly constructive, but:

Bart 4: Looked dodgy throughout. Some awful, panicky kicks as well.

Lamptey 4: You can't train being too small to be a defender out of someone. As soon as he is targeted, there's nothing he can do, especially when the RW offers no support.

Dunk 3: Really poor. Doesn't communicate or have any presence at all for a captain. Should've done better with the free header.

Van Hecke 3: Mateta scared the shit out of him. Passing was appalling. Three consecutive horror shows after being PotS before then.

Pervis 3: The throw across our box, the back pass which nearly went in and not paying attention when a short corner had been played to him summed it up. Got very lucky with the disallowed goal.

Ayari 4: A whole load of nothing.

Baleba 5: Not a very good first half, got caught out a few times. Better in the second, nothing beyond a few nice touches and ball carries though.

Georginio 4: Won a few challenges first half but offered bugger all going forward.

Minteh 3: Offered no cover in the first half. At least tried a bit in the second, when it was too late. Awful decision-making going forward. Should've been off at HT.

Joao Pedro 3: Even my 10 year old was asking why he was playing RW and giving us nothing to aim for in the middle. Every 'move' seemed to break down when it got to him. Needs to stay on his bloody feet.

Mitoma 3: Totally ineffective.

Enciso 6: At least tried and gave us some attacking impetus.

Gruda was OK. Rest N/A

Bet the sponsors had fun choosing an MoM today

Re Pervis and the back pass, Bart offered him no angle, he actually played it to the correct area.
That was on Bart

 

[Milano]

No criticism of players, manager or club is over the top after a shitshow like that

Verbruggen - 2 - Barely ever makes any saves. Didn't today either.

Lamptey - 3 - Struggles against grizzled, streetwise opponents and did today
Estupinan - 2 - Worse performance in an albion shirt.
Van Hecke - 2 - Worst performance in an albion shirt. Might have expected a better pass completion rate had he played blindfolded
Dunk - 2 - Slowed us down. Glaring mistakes when chasing the game and lack of ability on the cover are understandably setting alarm bells ringing

Baleba - 7 - Really good. Wonderful touches and made got knows how many tackles
Ayari - 3 - Poor selection. Lost the physical battle in a congested midfield. He looks good when there was acres of space. This one is on FH

Minteh - 1 - Appalling decision making. I don't remember seeing a winger so dominated by a full back. Our right is a big problem
Rutter - 3 - A few nice moments, but some poor passing. His worst game for us by far
Mitoma - 2 - Rarely took responsibility. Still sort of feel you have to keep him on as you know he can do something
Pedro - 3 - Didn't hold the ball once through the game I don't think. When was the run in behind?

Subs - Enciso and Gruda buzzed around nicely and should both get more time

The manager - 1 - Got it all wrong. Selection, tactics, subs too late. . Absolutely bossed by Glasner. He should have to stand in front of the fans and explain that

All of this. It’s almost like you wrote it for me. Re Dunk slowi g us down - I thought the same at Fulham but thought maybe just me, not today though, he is ponderous on the ball. Looked a L1 defender today.

 

[Wardy's twin]

Some low comments about Ayari but better marks . Personally thought he had a better game than most. Problem is we have 2 young lads playing midfield really need 3 and given the lack of options that has to be wieffer.

 

[Hugo Rune]

In retrospect, the team to beat Palace was this:

———————Verbruggen——————-
Veltman—-Van Hecke—-Igor—-Estupiñán
———-Baleba————-Milner—————
March—————Enciso————-Mitoma
———————-Welbeck———————

A team Hürzeler couldn’t select due to injuries and what is now an automatic selection problem with our legendary captain.

 

[Oh_aye]

Only Baleba and Enciso emergency with any credit.

Another big gripe I have is our diving. They are all at it. Its just constant. I'm not even arsed about the morality if it, its just so poor and transparent and almost always when staying on your feet and making something happen is a perfectly viable alternative.

 

[Gabbiano]

Only Baleba and Enciso emergency with any credit.

Another big gripe I have is our diving. They are all at it. Its just constant. I'm not even arsed about the morality if it, its just so poor and transparent and almost always when staying on your feet and making something happen is a perfectly viable alternative.

Ironically there was one moment in the first half, where Mitoma was being wrestled in the area, would have got a penalty if he'd gone down.

He passed it to Estupinan who wasted the opportunity.

 

[Krafty]

Only Baleba and Enciso emergency with any credit.

Another big gripe I have is our diving. They are all at it. Its just constant. I'm not even arsed about the morality if it, its just so poor and transparent and almost always when staying on your feet and making something happen is a perfectly viable alternative.

I was waiting for someone to call this out. The diving from us yesterday was embarrassing. It shows our weak mentality, falling to the floor rather than actually creating something meaningful. The players are better than this shit.

 

[aolstudios]

Bart - 4
Lamptey - 3
Pervis - 4
Dunk - 3
JP - 4
Ayari - 4
Baleba - 5
Mitoma - 5
Minteh - 2
Rutter - 4
Pedro - 5

Enciso - 6.5
Gruda - 6
Ferguson - 4
Wieffer - n/a

 

[slartibartfast]

I was waiting for someone to call this out. The diving from us yesterday was embarrassing. It shows our weak mentality, falling to the floor rather than actually creating something meaningful. The players are better than this shit.

I was in the west upper, and obviously will never feel like watching any of the "highlights" from that ever again - so have not seen any of it "on TV" nor any footage later. But that early Minteh thing, where the keeper's foot cleared the ball , then Minteh stood there thinking "was that near enough to my head to make a fuss about ?" Then clearly decided it was, so suddenly put his hands on his head and flopped to the floor - looked total nonsense to me. In fact I yelled out "Oh get up Minteh !" in frustration. Now - I havent seen it since, so maybe the keeper did kick him in the head, but it certainly didnt look like it in real time. Just embarrassing.