Palace v Reading (photos)

[Sandy of Cornwall]

As I haven't said it for a day, and in case you've all forgotten:-

WE NEED A NEW KEEPER!!

[Son of Selhurst]

Originally posted by Eagle on 07-26-2000 12:36 PM
Please, let's not start having a go at the Arsenal players, there are another 9 players on the field with them.

But please give the Arsenal lads a chance, it's a new set-up for them.

And let's stop calling them Arsenal players - they're PALACE now!

SoS

[Eagle]

Of course, your right SoS, i must get back to realising we haven't got them on-loan and we have actually signed them!

[Kevin T]

Originally posted by tomario on 07-26-2000 01:54 AM
Fourthly, Kev T, did you get any lovin in?

She spend all night texting some other bloke she'd met a couple of weeks back, so it was a bit of a non-starter.

I shall be out terrorising Croydon's female population again on Friday though!!

[Chester 76]

Due to Sunderland losing to a non league side of an equivalent level to Crawley, I`ve just looked at one of their sites. They have also lost three consecutive games, two against non league sides (one at a lower level than Crawley) and the other against a "minor league french side". Yet that site dosen`t appear at all concerned stating improving fitness & trying things out as more important than form which counts for nothing now.

[Neil MacQueen]

Friendly's are friendly's, Managers try differant tactics and formations because they mean nothing!

------------------
A nice pint (of Fosters)in the Moon and Spoon

[Neil MacQueen]

And when they play in front of an urging capacity crowd on the 1st day of the season, i think they will try their upmost to win don't you think! Don't worry thats all im saying!

------------------
A nice pint (of Fosters)in the Moon and Spoon

[Jack Regan]

I never like to see Palace lose, but to get it into perspective, these are after all pre-season friendlies designed to get players used to competitive matches once again and to experiment with new formations.

I would mind betting that we're learning more from these games than we did when we used to tour Scandinavia and beat everyone 8-0, 6-0, and 7-0.

[Eagle]

Originally posted by kevinm on 07-26-2000 08:27 AM
Simon Jordan appears to have learnt a very hard lesson following his signings from Arsenal. David Dein must have been rubbing his hands with glee. Flog half decent Tommy Black and use it as an opportunity to off-load Grey who appears out of place in a pair of boots.
Who would be niave enough to swallow that?
Mo more players with promise please. How about investing in someone who is proven to do the business.

Please, let's not start having a go at the Arsenal players, there are another 9 players on the field with them.
Also at the current time we may be playing them out of position untill Steve can get the other players back fit or can buy some. I still think these two players will end up being good buys for us, Palace have always done that, bought for thr future and i'm sure that trend will continue for a while yet.
But please give the Arsenal lads a chance, it's a new set-up for them.

[SmithEagle]

You have all forgot that Charlton lost against Plymouth, which for a Premier League team, is piss poor, (a bit like Charlton in general really)

------------------
Support Crystal Palace Internet Football Club
http://www.cpifc.co.uk
Support the Mellor Out campaign
http://www.mellorout.co.uk

[richit]

Results are largely irrelevant in pre-season games - it's how the team are coming along that counts.

[Chocky]

Having picked the ball out the back of the net 28 times pre-season is really going to make them confident for Blackburn.

[Gooders]

Originally posted by richit on 07-27-2000 12:43 AM
Results are largely irrelevant in pre-season games - it's how the team are coming along that counts.

That's a fair point Richit.

Unfortunately, they don't appear to be "coming along" at all.

And if anybody has seen any evidence of "new things being tried" please let me know, because I obviously missed them.

[arussell]

I'm not worried about losing - what does concern me is the lack of effort or commitment shown by the players so far - they seem to be treating it all as a stroll in the park.

Neil is absolutely correct in the kit - it was the one used in China. With regard to Gray - all I can say is he looks very out of sorts right now. I would imagine mate that he played 4-4-2 at the Arse since that is their formation and the tactic they have used when I've seen their junior/reserve sides play.

Oh - and in case it wasn't mentioned - after conversation with Vic the kit - Lee Kendall has not left but has been at Barry Town - he is returning to Palace this week.

[This message has been edited by arussell (edited 27 July 2000).]

[Isleworth Eagle]

I agree arussell, it is the seemingly lack of committment...strange since they fought generally like tigers last season.....where is the talking on the pitch it was so quiet out there....Reading were all talking and shouting (nicely) to each other. Our lads were just too quiet...needs someone to tal k to the young players and get them organised.
I know all keepers can go through a bad patch but this does not look like a phase he is going through...looks terminal to me ...I hope I'm wrong.

[arussell]

Tuesday 25th July 2000

Crystal Palace 0 Reading 4
(Half Time 0-0)

At the training ground, Copers Cope Road, Beckenham

Palace Side (4-4-1-1 / 4-4-2):
Digby, Smith, Fullarton, Austin, Fan, Mullins, Carlisle, Thomson, Black,
Hunt, Gray
Subs Used (Both 2nd half): Woozley (For Fan), Harris (For Hunt).


A nice warm afternoon and the first chance for us to take in the site of Palace's new
training ground in Beckenham. The attendance was around 60 or 70. Simon Jordan was with Steve Coppell - and Peter Morley made an appearance half way through the game, not that there was actually much worth cheering !

Lining-up against Palace, were one time transfer targets from a few years ago Adrian Williams and Nicky Forster, the latter of the two had a reasonably good game and still looked like he could be worth scouting even now. Reading's side also contained Darren Caskey (another worth a look) and ex-Palace boy Ricky Newman who is about to join from Millwall.

For the Eagles - Jamie Fullarton began in an unaccustomed left back role, and was probably the most vocal of the Palace players. Tommy Black played right midfield and oddly - Wayne Carlisle played up front - sometimes dropping behind Stephen Hunt in a 1-1 formation.

Reading had a free kick as early as the fifth minute - Fan gave it away on the edge of the box, but Caskey's flighted ball was held by Digby. Six minutes later Wayne Carlisle was nearly clean through but had his shirt pulled - Palace unfortunately didn't make the most of the free kick that followed and couldn't even muster a shot on goal from it.

Digby then flapped at a cross on 13 minutes which resulted in nothing, before Steve
Thomson had Palace's best effort of the first period. From a corner, the Scotsman shot from the left of the box forcing the keeper to put a hand out and push the ball into the side netting. It wasn't until 37 minutes that anything more of note happened, Nicky Forster neatly eluded Dean Austin on the right hand side of the box, turning him before firing a shot over the bar. The same player went close three minutes later and latched onto a through ball, neatly evading the advancing Digby but putting the ball slowly past the post.

First incident of note in the second half fell to Reading - Fullarton was beaten on
the left and the low cross fell nicely to a Reading player about six yards out.
Fortunately Digby made an excellent close range reaction save and put a hand out to stop the ball going in. He couldn't do much about the visitors first goal though - on 53
minutes a lovely shot from the edge of the area that sailed into the top left corner giving them a 1-0 lead.

Only one minute later (!) and it was two. Caskey put a cross in from the right, Digby was in no-man's land and it was a far post header to put Reading further ahead.

Palace managed a chance a minute after - a run and cross from Gray on the left saw
Steve Hunt's tame shot leave the goalie untroubled. Soon before the third Reading goal (on 63 minutes) Richard Harris replaced Steve Hunt, Darren Caskey then curled a lovely free kick into the top corner of the net.

Unfortunately in the 76th minute there was another calamity from Fraser who seemed to
take an age watch the ball come down from the air - although the view was a little obstructed it was it seemed a strange mistake and the Reading player simply headed the
ball past the wrong footed Palace keeper.

Last notable incident was Wayne Carlise's free kick which the Reading keeper palmed
wide - a goalmouth scramble ensued from the corner, but the ball stayed out of the net.

I counted two shots on goal from Palace the whole match (one a free kick) - Reading had
seven or eight.

Notable points - as with Crawley - there seemed a complete lack of effort from the Palace side - treating the game mainly as a stroll or a walk in the park. Although
there were over 20 players present, the Palace management again seemed very reluctant to change the team around much. Whilst no-one played well - Fraser Digby in particular had a right howler.

From conversations with some of the injured Palace players briefly (McKenzie in particular)none of them seemed that impressed with their team-mates either !

I did suggest to Sir Steve that Darren Caskey might be worth signing after the game, but
somehow I don't think he was in much a mood to hear the suggestion !

At least for this coming Saturday - we should have Morrison, McKenzie and Rodger available - at least in part to make an appearance.

[arussell]

Match details on this will follow tonight BTW .....

[wedgetail]

...a far post header to put Reading further ahead....

soft far post headers have been our defence's speciality for the past 5 or so years.