March 31 Gamethread

[candylandriots]

I’ll get the jkempa vs. 50% of the board fixture week going because I’m 8 hours ahead of most of you and excited to watch a live PL game (complete with actual beer) for the first time in a few weeks. Well I guess I watched the Chelsea game, but I really don’t remember that for, well, reasons.

I like the lineup that Palace is sending out today if Zaha is well and truly able to go. Other than RLC apparently still not able to start, I’m pretty happy with the XI Roy seems to be sending out (at least per The Guardian).

This looks to be the last fixture that Palace look to be heavy underdogs for, so at least a point here, while most of the walking dead are coming back for the final few matches, would seem to put them in pretty good position to stay up. Their competitors for avoiding relegation have a much tougher road to go.

 

[candylandriots]

And thank Chtulu, Wilf.

 

[candylandriots]

God Mane, Firmino, Salah scare the shit out of me.

But Thank you for that Mane.

 

[PedroSpecialK]

Mané arguably takes a goal away from van Dijk, penalty instantly given away at the other end

 

[candylandriots]

Luuuuuukkkkaaaa!

 

[candylandriots]

Not a great start for Mane.

 

[PedroSpecialK]

MacArthur's trailing leg grazes Mané but simulation's the right call

 

[candylandriots]

Refs getting it right so far.

 

[candylandriots]

Benteke isn’t so smart sometimes.

 

[PedroSpecialK]

Benteke have somewhere to be at halftime?

 

[PedroSpecialK]

Swarbrick becoming a third marker on Wijnaldum

Follows up by taking advantage away from Wijnaldum after MacArthur's foul

 

[fletcherpost]

Swarbrick becoming a third marker on Wijnaldum

Follows up by taking advantage away from Wijnaldum after MacArthur's foul

Yeah, i thought advantage was the right play...there was space to run into there.

It's gonna be a long second half for Palace fans...and possibly a frustrating one for Liverpool fans. Palace look pretty well organised at the back.

 

[candylandriots]

I’ll take that first half, though I’m worried how healthy Zaha is. He really hasn’t been a factor after the first 10 minutes or so.

 

[candylandriots]

Yeah, i thought advantage was the right play...there was space to run into there.

It's gonna be a long second half for Palace fans...and possibly a frustrating one for Liverpool fans. Palace look pretty well organised at the back.

Truth. I want this OVER now. And I say that as someone who has been missing watching games for a while.

I thought the contrast of Klopp and Hodgson at the end of the half was humorous.

 

[fletcherpost]

Truth. I want this OVER now. And I say that as someone who has been missing watching games for a while.

I thought the contrast of Klopp and Hodgson at the end of the half was humorous.

Aw mate, i was visiting my old boy, up in Fife, from last Tuesday to this Monday just passed...and we were fuckin raging over the lack of proper footie.

I think Palace are really lucky to have Roy in the dugout, and i think there's almost no chance they go down. I've watched a lot of their games this last couple of months and even in their losses, and with the injuries, they still offered something going forwards. Zaha staying fit and healthy is key of course.

 

[PedroSpecialK]

MANÉ!

 

[candylandriots]

Not that I should complain too much-as I’m on an extended vacation, but all I’ve seen for the last two months is a replay of Palace-MU (heartbreaker), Palace lose to Chelsea (which I barely remember from a medical problem a few hours after) and a Thailand-Gabon game without PEA (trip report to come).

I hope you’re right about Palace, and you know way more than I, but it is going to be a nail biter again.

And with that, fucking Mane scores.

 

[candylandriots]

Wilf looks way less than 100%

 

[fletcherpost]

Not that I should complain too much-as I’m on an extended vacation, but all I’ve seen for the last two months is a replay of Palace-MU (heartbreaker), Palace lose to Chelsea (which I barely remember from a medical problem a few hours after) and a Thailand-Gabon game without PEA (trip report to come).

I hope you’re right about Palace, and you know way more than I, but it is going to be a nail biter again.

And with that, fucking Mane scores.

Stoke, Huddersfield and West Ham are really struggling right now. Hughes should be able to lift an underperforming Southampton team, but if we assume West Brom are down, i'd take two from those three i mentioned.

Shite, i feel like i jinxed you there.

 

[candylandriots]

I went into this feeling thrilled if they got one, given their fixtures ahead versus the ones for the teams you mentioned.

But I thought that before the Man U game too.

 

[candylandriots]

Fucking Benteke.

 

[candylandriots]

Fucking Benteke x2.

(Though Townsend should have passed sooner)

 

[lars10]

Benteke... if those chances fell to Salah it's two goals

 

[fletcherpost]

Another million off Benteke's resale value...

Sorry, make that a million and a half.

 

[OCST]

jk I just tuned in to see Benteke miss those two and my heart hurt for you

 

[candylandriots]

Mane has to be sent off there right?

 

[PedroSpecialK]

How the fuck wasn't the free kick given for Mané before this?

edit to say - in the context of that not being given, Mané should no doubt be off, but Swarbrick seems to be making up for not calling the first infraction

 

[OCST]

Sane should be gone

 

[lars10]

Mane has to be sent off there right?

Yeah...that's ridiculous.

Edit: ridiculous that he wasn't sent off to be clear.. if you're going to give CP the free kick that has to be a second yellow either for the hand ball or simulation.

 

[candylandriots]

jk I just tuned in to see Benteke miss those two and my heart hurt for you

It’s been a long season of watching him. I’m getting used to it.

If you go by expected goals, he’s going to score like 15 by the end of the season.

 

[fletcherpost]

I think players should get fined 20% of their wages for doing what Mane just did, i fuckin hate seeing that. You're not the fuckin ref, you're on a yellow.

 

[OCST]

Sane should be gone

Mane duh no coffee yet

 

[candylandriots]

I think players should get fined 20% of their wages for doing what Mane just did, i fuckin hate seeing that. You're not the fuckin ref, you're on a yellow.

Can we put you in charge

 

[lars10]

I think players should get fined 20% of their wages for doing what Mane just did, i fuckin hate seeing that. You're not the fuckin ref, you're on a yellow.

And you shouldn't get rewarded because you're on a yellow. If he wasn't that would definitely been a card.

 

[candylandriots]

Mane duh no coffee yet

I did the same earlier (no beer yet), but quickly edited.

 

[PedroSpecialK]

Whatever boneitis Sturridge had has spread to Lallana

edit - if Lovren's coming in, 3 at the back with Milner / Robertson as wingbacks?

edit 2 - duh, TAA stays as wingback

 

[candylandriots]

I really want Ruben Loftus Cheek permanently.

 

[fletcherpost]

Whatever boneitis Sturridge had has spread to Lallana

edit - if Lovren's coming in, 3 at the back with Milner / Robertson as wingbacks?

Aye, and i don't think he should be going to the World Cup, and, i wonder if his long term future at Liverpool is in question.

 

[fletcherpost]

The full backs for Liverpool do make some decent crosses a fair amount of the time, it ought not to be a shock when a ball comes fizzing through the six yard box. I'd like to see more effort to get on the end of it.

 

[PedroSpecialK]

TAA had Salah open right in front of him

 

[PedroSpecialK]

SALAH!!!!!!!!

 

[candylandriots]

Shite, i feel like i jinxed you there.

 

[candylandriots]

Man U redux

 

[PedroSpecialK]

Plenty of time for this backline to concede...

 

[fletcherpost]

And i was just posting: 'I think this one ends up a draw'

 

[candylandriots]

And i was just posting: 'I think this one ends up a draw'

I think that would have been fair.

But it’s Palace.

 

[fletcherpost]

I think that would have been fair.

But it’s Palace.

I really think Roy has to drop Benteke. I don't know who they play in his place, or how it affects the system/set up, but at the moment...i doubt any of the other players, when they pass to him in an attacking postion expect him to do anything decent with the ball.

 

[swiftaw]

I really think Roy has to drop Benteke. I don't know who they play in his place, or how it affects the system/set up, but at the moment...i doubt any of the other players, when they pass to him in an attacking postion expect him to do anything decent with the ball.

Yeah, you could tell in the buildup to the second one he skied over the bar that Townsend really didn't want to pass to him and tried to go himself.

 

[candylandriots]

And i was just posting: 'I think this one ends up a draw'

I really think Roy has to drop Benteke. I don't know who they play in his place, or how it affects the system/set up, but at the moment...i doubt any of the other players, when they pass to him in an attacking postion expect him to do anything decent with the ball.

Yeah, you could tell in the buildup to the second one he skied over the bar that Townsend really didn't want to pass to him and tried to go himself.

I don’t disagree at all. They got their shit together initially without him. Sørloth is an alternative, but he’s been banged up, or they could put RLC there, but he’s not fully healthy.

When they got off the early losing streak, Wilf was basically playing in his place, but he’s not fully fit either.

I have been happy with what I’ve seen from Sørloth enough that I’d rather see him up front than Benteke for the next week or two. What that does to the confidence of an expensive asset like Benteke is probably secondary to survival.

I hope that Benteke isn’t getting too pumped for Russia.

 

[fletcherpost]

Jeezo, Southampton are all over the place against West Ham, already two down. The first Hammers goal was a disgrace and came from a Southampton corner. Imight have been wrong about Hughes and thon Saints.