#FM17 : Crystal Palace : Baptism of Fire

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Last time we easily win two pre-season friendlies but this episode we have got some proper Premier League ties to sink our teeth into. We have a pretty gentle start to life in the Premier League with Stoke, West Brom and West Ham all very winnable games. 

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Bristol City have made an offer for Appiah and while it’s pretty low I just want to get the guy off our books so I shall accept. 

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I’m going to stick with the same captain/vice-captain combo of Dann and Delaney as I don’t want to rock the boat. Also we’ve got League One Northampton at home in the EFL Cup. After the obligatory pre-match press conference let’s get into the match. 

13th August – Stoke City (H)

Tactics: 

crystal-palace_-overview-4

Line Ups:

Crystal Palace v Stoke_ Preview Line Ups.png

Summary:

  • After reminding the players this one is for the fans we are underway.
  • Grant saves a shot from Remy at 9 minutes. 0-0
  • Shaquiri hits the side netting. 16 minutes. 0-0
  • Joe Allen shoots over at 37 minutes. 0-0
  • Goal for Stoke as Imbula rifles home outside the box. 0-1
  • Half Time: 0-1. Close game but Palace need to do better 
  • After I give an aggressive team talk we are underway. 
  • Townsend shoots wide at 50 minutes. 0-1
  • Another goal for Imbula. Well this is going well. At 60 minutes 0-2
  • Subs at 62 Minutes: Wickham and Mutch for Benteke and Ledley
  • Wickham shoots wide. 65 minutes 0-2
  • Sub at 78 minutes: Sako for Cabaye 
  • Diouf should score at 82 minutes but he puts it wide. 0-
  • Imbula hat trick. FFS. At 85 minutes 0-3
  • Full Time. I give an aggressive team talk as I am genuinely angry 

Final Score: 0-3

Man of the Match: Imbula 

Well that was dreadful. We’ve got West Brom away next and things need to change pretty quickly. Oh and now Souare is out for 4 weeks.

20th August – West Brom (A) 

Tactics:

west-brom-v-crystal-palace_-crystal-palace-team-selection-overview

Line Ups:

West Brom v Crystal Palace_ Preview Line Ups.png

Summary:

  • After another aggressive team talk we are underway. 
  • Pretty even start. 10 minutes 0-0
  • Lascelles booked at 14 minutes. 0-0
  • Goal! Defensive error from the Baggies means Remy scores. 16 minutes 0-1
  • Cabaye has a free kick that barely misses. 28 minutes 0-1
  • Goal for Rondon from a Morrison cross. 32 minutes 1-1
  • Booking for Dann at 45 minutes
  • Half Time: 1-1. Better from the lads but room for improvement.
  • After a passionate team talk we are underway.
  • Foster saves a Remy shot from close range at 55 minutes. 1-1
  • Rondon rips through our ‘defence’ and it’s 2-1 at 60 minutes.
  • Sub at 62 minutes: Wickham for Ledley
  • A Zaha effort is easily saved at 75 minutes. 2-1
  • Subs at 76 minutes: Mutch and Tomkins for Fryers and Dann
  • Benteke heads just wide at 85 minutes. 2-1
  • Full Time and yet another aggressive team talk.

Final Score: 2-1

Man of the Match: Rondon 

Before we dissect that I’m going to accept this transfer offer for Puncheon from Valencia.
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Right it’s clear that 4-2-4 just isn’t working at all and that my defence desperately needs more protection so I’m switching to a 4-3-3 for my next premier league game. Also the squad ain’t happy!

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The lads want more depth in midfield and to be fair I may consider bringing in an extra DM and offing Fraizer Campbell now we’re switching to 4-3-3. Anyway before we get to all that excitement we’ve got Northampton town in the league cup.

23rd August – Northampton (A)

Tactics: 

crystal-palace-v-northampton_-crystal-palace-team-selection-overview

Line Ups:

crystal-palace-v-northampton_-preview-line-ups

Summary:

  • After a calm team talk we are underway.
  • Mutch hits the bar off a free kick. 1 minute 0-0
  • Smith tips a Sako cross over the bar. 22 minutes 0-0
  • Penalty to Palace at 23 minutes!
  • Goal! Sako converts the pen at 24 minutes. 1-0
  • Fryers booked at 30 minutes.
  • Tomkins shoots wide from a long way out. 40 minutes. 1-0
  • Half Time: 1-0. Not bad from the lads but could be better.
  • After another calm team talk we are underway. 
  • Delaney has header off a free kick but hits the bar. 55 minutes 1-0. 
  • Subs at 64 Minutes: Remy and Cabaye for Wickham and MacArthur
  • Flamini booked at 65 minutes. 
  • Taylor shoots wide. 79 minutes 1-0.
  • Goal! Fryers heads in a corner at 83 minutes. 2-0
  • Penalty! Another one for Palace at 87 minutes.
  • Goal! Remy scores the pen in the 88th minute. 3-0
  • Sub at 89 minutes: Dann for Tomkins 
  • Goal! When it rains it pours! Remy scores in the 91st minute. 4-0
  • Full Time as I congratulate the team

Final Score: 4-0 

Man of the Match: Joel Ward 

Well that was certainly better. Admittedly it’s only Northampton but that’s the first time we’ve kept a clean sheet all season including pre season.

And on that bombshell it’s the end of episode three! A follow on twitter @cameroneyles would be great and here’s what’s coming up next time:

  • Will we sell Fraizer Campbell?
  • Can we bring in a midfielder before deadline day?
  • Will 4-3-3 actually get us a win in the Premier League?

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