Crystal Palace on Saturday - How do you see it going?

[teacoffeeteacoffee]

"After the reverse at the weekend and Manchester City next weekend this is already looking like a must win, or min must not lose. Palace losing to the Bees at the weekend probably won't do us any favours as they will be hurting and desperate to get off the mark in front of the noisy Palace ultras. I think everyone will expect a couple more of our summer signings to feature from the start. Can't say that I'm too optimistic my friends - Palace are a decent outfit now with a good coach, one that we probably missed out on. Bugger. 3-1"

[Grumpster]

"Made some really good signings in the positions needed and then he wheeled oit the same useless cunts who he'd signed the players to replace. Hopefully was because he felt they hadn't yet picked up how he wanted us to play un training, as otherwise very fucking worrying considering he reckons he'd been watching us for a year and must have seen how shit those players are. I'm there Saturday and I have a decent record at palace, so fully expect an Eze hatrick."

[goose]

I’d go with 3 centre backs and play AWB on the right of those 3 if he’s fit. Really important not to go behind early in this one.

[british is best]

3 1 to the mighty hammers . Once we click it's going to take a good side to stop us . And I don't think we're far off from doing so .

[Hammer and Pickle]

"I’d honestly take a draw now and wouldn’t get all upset about a battling loss as long as Bowen, Paqueta, Kudus, Alvarez, Emerson and Areola are joined by five others on their level from the start. There’s no better time than now to start becoming a competitive unit."

[kylay]

"Really not sure how the second game of the season could in any way be considered ""must win"". Particularly with a new manager and so many new additions. We were also an old, slow, thin team to begin with. It's going to take time and be a bumpy ride. I'm just hoping to see improvement on last week. I'd like to see Tobido along side Kilman for the whole game and Paqueta moved out to the left with Kudus in behind whoever is up top. I guess that leaves JWP next to Rodriguez."

[Alwaysaniron]

Let's be honest Palace away or at home is a fixture I really don't look fowrard to. They're always a 'big' team (by that I mean tall and musculer) and we usually struggle. I don't fancy our chances at all to be honest and will be looking to kick off our season by about match 5/6 when we have gelled more as a team and got rid of the fucking lazy wasters that are still robbing a living from us fans.

[Eerie Descent]

"Trunds, much as I wouldn't have him anywhere near starting, I wasn't as pissed off as I was about Antonio starting. However, the most worrying thing of all was giving him the armband once he dragged Bowen. I'm going with the theory that it was the players that decided it on the pitch, probably out of hope more than anything. I'm expecting big changes for Palace. He can't have watched that Saturday and do anything else. As I say, if that same team starts, I'll get my pitchfork out with you."

[El Scorchio]

Soucek was the biggest surprise in the line up for sure. And then surprising again that he played the entire game. Surely JWP starts this one because something must change. It highlights we are pretty thin in CM with Alvarez out. Need to sell one or two if we can and get a couple in.

[Lee Trundle]

"I can't imagine you of all people thought you'd be seeing Soucek lumbering around in the first game of the season, Eerie."

[Jasnik]

"Some players will adapt and the ones that don't will be out of the team. Was impressed with the new CB when he came on. My only worry as others have mentions is the lack of pace in the team. As CP seem to have a lot of that. Also Bowen didn't have the best of games, but was that because he was basically playing right back? As when he went off that is where they scored from. Lets give it some time ."

[Eerie Descent]

"Lee Trundle 5:16 Tue Aug 20 You've completely made that up I reckon, I can only remember that slightly strange Massive Attack character saying stuff like that. When he come out with ""Big Lopetegui fan here"" and went on to talk about his work with Spain U19's, I knew he was one to swerve. There were others, like myself, saying let's wait and see, as he does have a body of work behind him. Far from my first choice, and I'm concerned about the first starting line up, but it's a bit early for you to be getting your cock fully out and stroking it. However, if Antonio starts against Palace, I might stroke it for you."

[ludo21]

"LT - I'm optimistic that it will come good just might take a bit of time. The fixture gods weren't kind to us either! AWB and Todibo must start and will be interesting to see how they cope with Eze. Unlike most I like Mavropanos and thought he played well last weekend which is why I quite like the idea of three at the back. If we did that then I wouldn't play a striker, have a front three of Bowen, Kudus and Summerville running at their defence with each supporting the other and perhaps Emerson given a freer role on the left with AWB concentrating on Eze and defensive duties on the right."

[Lee Trundle]

"There were plenty saying Lopetegui is great because he changed Wolves immediately as soon as he joined them, ludo21. They game me hope we'd see something a bit different in that first game."

[ludo21]

Watched their game at Brentford and Palace were the better side. I too like TM's team and that's a good shout. Will JL play 3/5 at the back though? Personally happy to see him try it and then repeat v City the following week if it shows merit. Taking their last ten games into account Palace are the form team in the PL and we must be just about the worst so I'm not too optimistic about the outcome... I think it may take a little longer for us to turn the corner. 3-1 to Palace unfortunately.

[Moncurs Putting Iron]

Hopes that....Manager will hear and read that we were prepared for and wanted to see the new blood given opportunities and will be forgiving of any time it takes to bed in. Fears that...We will continue to 'showcase' our fringe players to expedite the mass sell off we need to balance the books and make late plays in the market.

[Swiss.]

We will lose. Should have sacked Moyes earlier and got Glasner. Excellent manager. It going to be hard to change the football philosophy and integrate the new signings. I’d say we will end up lower half this season.

[,]

"Jalopy has to shore up our defence. We could, and maybe should, have been beaten by a greater goal margin on Saturday."

[,]

"Jalopy has to shore up our defence. We could, and maybe should, have been beaten by a greater goal margin on Saturday."

[Lee Trundle]

"Call me mental, but surely the best way for the manager to get his way of playing across to the new players is to actually play them? He's wasting his time trying to get that way across to the likes of Soucek and Antonio, I reckon."

[Fauxstralian]

They were the form team for the last part of last season and though I didnt see it I believe they were dominant for long periods at Brentford and very unfortunate to get nothing. If we persist with Moyes players ... Coufal Soucek Antonio JWP & Ings ... we could be in for a similar chasing that we got at the end of last season Hopefully AWB & Todibo come in and ideally Alvarez would be fit Might be a long afternoon and dont see us getting it together until after the international break Soz

[Russ of the BML]

"Wouldn't surprise me if we lose. I think we may be in for a couple of months of frustration as the new manager gets his way of playing across and finds the right blend from the new squad. Players need to settle and find their feet. However, what is good, is that potentially, we have a squad that could go out and spank them easily. We will certainly need some luck and the bounce of the ball. Hopefully we can click and get going."

[El Scorchio]

"Not necessarily first choice but 'better suited' to how we may have to approach a particular game. That would be my reading, and I'd personally say that was smart management in that you have to look at the situation and what might suit you best. If that's having to sit deep and spring quickly from back to front with pace, then although Antonio isn't better, his attributes fit that situation more. Don't get me wrong I'd rather we went out to play on the front foot get forward and impose ourselves on them with plenty of possession, and ball in and around the box for Fullkrug to get on the end of and only bring Antonio on for the last 20 when the defence should be tired, but given how the game panned out against Villa that might be a bit suicidal against a side with Palace's strengths. I'll be really interested to see how we approach it. And yeah it's unbelievable that Antonio has outlasted those two isn't it. My reading of it is that Moyes never really wanted either because he was insisting we played deep as fuck with just pace and power and stamina up front which isn't their game. Whatever Antonio's limitations as a footballer, he can play that specific role better than Haller and Scamacca. If we had a manager who wanted to play possession attacking football, I think Antonio would be plying his trade somewhere else right now. He's pretty lucky Moyes was our manager for several years and the man's stubbornness to only play one way really benefitted him. Time for a change now though."

[Manuel]

"El - I think if Antonio starts again then it's Lop kind of saying that he is still first choice, which surely isn't the case? Antonio has already seen of Haller and Scamacca, lol. Obviously, Antonio being shit on Saturday will make it an easier decision for the manager, imo anyway."

[El Scorchio]

"Yup, and he should have last week as well. He's just objectively better. but we need to make sure we play in a way we can actually give him the service he will need in order to do his thing."

[Lee Trundle]

Tim's MATE needs to start ahead of Antonio.