The Cherries looked like the team in the bottom three, not Crystal Palace at Dean Court. While it was not a massive defeat in terms of goals, it was a huge pendulum knock in confidence for the Cherries who may have had a lot of sideways possession, but had no idea of how to unlock a Palace side who knew that they had to defend well to give themselves a chance of picking up some points.
In truth, Eddie Howe must have a hard look at one or two of these players now and decide who is not putting in a shift and get the side to press in their two's and three's more effectively. While Arter who usually sets things off was on the bench for most of the game, it was not insignificant that the side started to hustle and annoy Palace much more in the last 20 minutes of the game when Arter was providing more offensive punch. The extra man in midfield made AFCB suddenly look like a side that could go forward with more ambition to get goals, but where was that for the first 70 minutes?
I felt a bit sorry for Benik Afobe who got his start but had very little to work with. Even with Josh King playing very close up front behind him, there was no persistent control of the ball in the last 20 yards of the pitch, during the first half. At times it was hard enough just for the ball to work its way up to half way, while the number of free kicks that were awarded was just plain naive, once it was clear Jonathan Moss was going to blow for just about everything.
It was a bad enough first half showing that Howe could have easily have made changes at half time. It might have concentrated the minds more as the first goal coming in the 47th minute sent out one clear message - game over. Allardyce knows how to defend and once Palace had the lead that was all his side were intent on doing. The danger had not passed once the corner had been punched away and it was disappointing to see Scott Dann and another Palace player totally free at the far post.
AFCB now have to find the hunger that this Palace side showed and they need to find it quickly.
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| Arter's drive would have helped AFCB if he had been playing from the start against Crystal Palace. |
I felt a bit sorry for Benik Afobe who got his start but had very little to work with. Even with Josh King playing very close up front behind him, there was no persistent control of the ball in the last 20 yards of the pitch, during the first half. At times it was hard enough just for the ball to work its way up to half way, while the number of free kicks that were awarded was just plain naive, once it was clear Jonathan Moss was going to blow for just about everything.
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AFCB now have to find the hunger that this Palace side showed and they need to find it quickly.
I am afraid the chickens are coming home to roost...we are the only team who has not strenghtened in the transfer market....and it looks like we had no plan B if the first choices were not available....
ReplyDeleteThis is the result of a terrible transfer policy over the last two seasons..where the players bought did not get a chnace or were not good enough...does it matter...who wants to come an d play for us when you don't play...what I fail to understand why did we let Marc Wilson go when we are crying out for changes in the defence.....what must Mings think....he is a left back...why did he not play Migs who must have been more match fit than Smith
Relegation in my opinion is an absolute certainty..we cannot pick up points from the teams around us and will certainly not get any points from the top six who must be rubbing their hands with glee
Andrew Surman and Simon Francis both were truly awful last night. Worst overall Team performance and crowd atmosphere in the last 3-4 years.
ReplyDeleteDressing room seems to be an uncomfortable place right now, not a happy place. Recent signings leaving on loan, so the recruitment policy appears to wrong. I feel really uneasy about this run of form, a real test for young Edward!!