This is the proverbial shot in the dark but here is my predicted team for Crystal Palace tomorrow. It has three changes from Spurs and is a slightly altered version of the 4-3-3 we’ve seen in the past few matches.
This formation is similar to the one used when Graeme Jones first joined last January against Everton. He could try to implement it once again as he has the players available to make it work – at least upfront.
Jones revealed during his press conference that he’s been drilling players tactically over the past three days. Here is what he said when asked about what changes he was considering:
“Obviously I’m not going to disclose shape or personnel. Over the last three days, all players have had the same experience tactically both on & off the ball. Whatever team I pick, they’ll all know their jobs.”
Miguel Almiron comes straight back into the team after missing last week due to fatigue from his exploits with Paraguay. He gets a rare go as an attacking midfielder/false nine with Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin as the two forwards.
Sean Longstaff, Joe Willock, and Isaac Hayden all keep their place in the midfield with Isaac in the deeper role. The back four has two changes with Jamal Lewis in for Matt Ritchie and Federico Fernandez in for Ciaran Clark.
Lewis has just 2 appearances this season with only a late cameo at Manchester United in the league. He may be a better fit than Ritchie at left-back and it’ll be interesting to see if Jones makes this switch.
Darlow retains his place in goal for the time being. Jones revealed that Martin Dubravka is getting close but tomorrow would be too early for him. He also stated there were no fresh injury concerns.
208 comments so far
WLtoon
Oct 22, 2021 at 10:59 PM
Comment #81Does anyone think that the new manager will be someone who isn`t even on the list shown on here?
The Prince's Mate
Oct 22, 2021 at 11:02 PM
Comment #82Carltoon, I’m not an itk….Lamps text me personally and said hiya Prince’s what been happening these last 14 yrs?(oh dear).
He refused the post due to, the Toon can’t supply me enough jellied eels..oh….and tell Carltoon the autograph is in the post…..corrrr blimey…any old iron.. Mary Poppins.. spoon full of sugar, feed the birds tuppence a bag….correct blimey …mate
Munster Mag
Oct 22, 2021 at 11:03 PM
Comment #83Favre for me if possible. Fonseca will get all our support, but some of the vids online are semi promotional. The concern remains about possible hiding and flimsy defence.
The Prince's Mate
Oct 22, 2021 at 11:03 PM
Comment #84WLtoon, yes…but not,sure who at the mo
NY Mag
Oct 22, 2021 at 11:05 PM
Comment #85Mund,
It was actually perfect timing, I was literally catching up on several hundred posts and yours was the very last one I read š
Munster Mag
Oct 22, 2021 at 11:05 PM
Comment #86Princes:)
Paul141726
Oct 22, 2021 at 11:05 PM
Comment #87WL – his name is not on the list, but I have seen the name of Diego Simeone in a few articles. Not sure I would have him but will put faith in those who will be making the decision.
Scythe
Oct 22, 2021 at 11:06 PM
Comment #88Iām not worried about Favre or Fonseca not having any Premier League experience. Tuchel and Klopp didnāt either and theyāve done alreet, havenāt they?
And if I had to choose only between Gerrard and Lampard, Iād definitely choose Gerrard. Donāt want more Cockneys at the club! š
Mister Tuff
Oct 22, 2021 at 11:07 PM
Comment #89Just been watching that True Geordie video – link posted earlier.
Absolutely tremendous.
cleveleysbob
Oct 22, 2021 at 11:08 PM
Comment #90WL, of course it could be, but the owners wonāt want the bad press of āpoachingā someone currently in a job (in my opinion), which is why Fonseca tops the candidate list. Howe and Lampard are both available but would be underwhelming. Most of the rest are in jobs arenāt they? Iām not sure about Favre, is he working at moment?
The Prince's Mate
Oct 22, 2021 at 11:09 PM
Comment #91Mund@63
I like Darren Lewis from watching him on Sunday supplement.
He seems quite fair and unbiased
cleveleysbob
Oct 22, 2021 at 11:10 PM
Comment #92Iām sure I read somewhere that Fonseca had learned from his early mistakes regarding āleaky defenceā and now has a top class defensive coach as part of his entourage.
Scythe
Oct 22, 2021 at 11:13 PM
Comment #93A currently employed manager is possible if he decides to walk away from his current contract and our owners could match any money heās missing out on as a āsigning onā fee.
I just worry about us being seen as a poisoned chalice because whoever takes over is going to get grilled by the press before and after every game for a good while because of our Saudi connection. Some managers might not think thatās a good trade off.
The Prince's Mate
Oct 22, 2021 at 11:13 PM
Comment #94Spell predict is….a dick….corr blimey not correct blimey…always spoils it
carltoon
Oct 22, 2021 at 11:13 PM
Comment #95I watched That link Dubai Micky put up with the interview of Sir Les, what a lovely man he is.
WLtoon
Oct 22, 2021 at 11:13 PM
Comment #96cleveleysbob
The club don`t want to poach anyone, you are right, hence the list of candidates out of work, including Favre.
The only reason i have put Favre on the back burner now is because id read he doesn`t see himself in football for much longer, he is 63, so maybe he is out of the equation
Steve Carney's Super Smirk
Oct 22, 2021 at 11:14 PM
Comment #97Lampard and Gerrard aside, Iām still viewing it as all names mentioned are an improvement on what weāve had for 99% of the last 14 years (oh, not including the whacky Rooney rumour either!)
I can understand Lampard being concerned about our position. His next management job is going to be a big decision for him. Screw it up or pick a duff situation and his career could falter before it really gets going. Gerrard has little to lose but the ire of Rangers fans and could like 2,3 or 4 years before heading to Liverpool whilst getting Premiership management experience. Though neither one inspires faith in dodging relegation.
With a tactically competent manager and a team willing to get on board I think weāve got enough about us to stay up, sprinkle in two or three good quality players in January and there should be three worse teams than us.
Favre or Fonseca, I really donāt mindā¦so long as they get the backing from players, board and fans.
ā¦itās taken me days to get on the forum, kept getting these pop ups and couldnāt shift them, is it sorted now? Seems okay.
cleveleysbob
Oct 22, 2021 at 11:15 PM
Comment #98Mr T, I agree, he seems to encapsulate what most of us feel and puts it across just right. I think he reads this, some of his stuff comes right off the pages here. š
The Prince's Mate
Oct 22, 2021 at 11:15 PM
Comment #99Mo Salah may be,the best in the world at the mo…but his hair is shoit… get it cut lad…and a,shave
Nicky the ball tosser
Oct 22, 2021 at 11:15 PM
Comment #100I think this is decent.
………………….Dubravka.
Manquillo….Schar….Fede….Lewis.
…………..Willock…..Longstaff.
…….ASM………Miggy………Joel.
………………..Wilson.
It’ll be interesting to see if it is all that different to Bruce, because we clearly do have problems at the back with personnel. Midfield is very important, has to run around, protect the back 4, or we will struggle, and that includes St Max.
cleveleysbob
Oct 22, 2021 at 11:20 PM
Comment #101WL, that was my feeling too with Favre, he could be good for this season and next, but then heās 65 and will probably want out. I think (not ITK) that the consortium are looking for someone for 4 – 5 years as a project from here to Champions (or at least a trophy + Europe)
With this in mind, they want someone younger in the hot seat. I struggle to see past Fonseca, even if it costs Shola his tenner š
WLtoon
Oct 22, 2021 at 11:21 PM
Comment #102Nicky,
Decent looking team but where is our ball winner in midfield, not Longstaff surely. he cant tackle to save his life
The Prince's Mate
Oct 22, 2021 at 11:23 PM
Comment #103Steve Carney’s Super Smirk
Oct 22, 2021@97
Good points….see the class between,lamps and the likes of Rafa and SBR….they would have been prepared and quite able to build a team from scratch….Lamps?…just wants to come in whilst the going is good……FOR THE 100th FRICKEN TIME we don’t want any brit young manager just cos they have gorgeous wives and the cockney press love them…. we ain’t cockneys…thank,God….leave us alone…we’ll manage on our own..as normal
cleveleysbob
Oct 22, 2021 at 11:24 PM
Comment #104Nicky, Dubravka is out apparently. So Darlow + what you said gives you 2 differences from Neilās choice if Iām remembering correctly, heās got Lascelles in and Fraser, where you have Fernandez and Joelinton. If thatās right I need a lie down! š
WLtoon
Oct 22, 2021 at 11:25 PM
Comment #105cleveleysbob
Yeah it looks more like Fonseca, and at only 48 has plenty of time ahead of him.
Maybe we came too late for Favre, a great pity, things are looking so bright for the club and the area in general.
I might get to see the club win something for the first time in my life, would be nice.
NY Mag
Oct 22, 2021 at 11:26 PM
Comment #106Bob,
No doubt he does read this blogā¦..I think heās a shoe in for bladey š
cleveleysbob
Oct 22, 2021 at 11:26 PM
Comment #107No, Iām wrong, Neil had a different set up that included Hayden, so Iām wrong somewhere else. Better go back and check. š
Munster Mag
Oct 22, 2021 at 11:26 PM
Comment #108WL Toon, he can’t do much, except shoot. But he was built up here with his useless younger brother. If they were French nobody would have noticed them.
The Prince's Mate
Oct 22, 2021 at 11:27 PM
Comment #109Lamps as “coach” Shteeevie G as dof and Mclaren as technical director… dream team?!
Munster Mag
Oct 22, 2021 at 11:28 PM
Comment #110WL Toon, give me 2 years of hard core Dortmund building with Favre, and then hand it on.
cleveleysbob
Oct 22, 2021 at 11:28 PM
Comment #111NY, thatās funny, Iām glad I wasnāt drinking š
Romford mag
Oct 22, 2021 at 11:30 PM
Comment #112Someone say lurker !! š
Scythe
Don’t know if you saw it the other day ?
But good luck in our H2H match mate š
cleveleysbob
Oct 22, 2021 at 11:32 PM
Comment #113Reet, Iām off busy morning the morra.
Night all, enjoy the chat, and the match. HWTL š
Romford mag
Oct 22, 2021 at 11:32 PM
Comment #114Night Bob š
Nicky the ball tosser
Oct 22, 2021 at 11:32 PM
Comment #115When Longstaff is on song he’s a terrific ball winner and passer of the ball. Willock wins the ball. Joel is decent both ways, and playing well at the moment. Miggy you’d expect gets back in. I’m not a big fan of Lascelles, I’ll be honest, not great with the ball at his feet. Manquillo, Lascelles, Clark and Ritchie just isn’t an EPL back 4, although I do like Manquillo.
cleveleysbob
Oct 22, 2021 at 11:33 PM
Comment #116Rom, donāt want you getting a complex, Iām not going just cause you arrived š
Romford mag
Oct 22, 2021 at 11:34 PM
Comment #117Bob
The thought never crossed my mind mate š
NY Mag
Oct 22, 2021 at 11:35 PM
Comment #118Goodnight bob
WLtoon
Oct 22, 2021 at 11:41 PM
Comment #119Munster,
Maybe under a coach like Fonseca we might see Longstaff`s true potential but i`m not so sure.
Favre is my choice but i doubt he would take the job tbh. he has done his bit and i think even a 2 year stint here would be a big ask, my guess is as good as yours., we might get a surprise next week,
WLtoon
Oct 22, 2021 at 11:42 PM
Comment #120Night Bob.