Fulham 2-3 Crystal Palace (H) 05/09

[AnOldBrownie]

1st Half comments:

King still looks like our best offensive player overall
Garcia, I like this player, seems to be always looking to shoot
Leno was having a good game, until beaten on short side, although very good shot taken
Bobb had a few good moments, still needs to shoot more, King set him up close
Not overly impressed with Iwobi and Charles shows
Felt FFC was always looking good and aggressive when pressing, need to keep pressing
Backline defense still very dodgy, fortunate Palace goal chalked off

Palacios?   Goal aside...he still looks like he's thinking too much.   Hope he comes good.

[MisfitKid]

Josh got my email to stay on his feet... 

[WindyCity]

for those who are lucky enough to have a stream, do we look as open at the back as we did last week? Would a faster defender have got back to defend the goal that CP scored? In other words, will any of the new signings be what we need in defence in the new gung-ho AA style?

Yes, FFC still looks quite open at the back.  Very dodgy backline defense, imho.

[LittleErn]

Question - who covers for Castagne should he go down with a knock?

Probably Sess - who will then get slated for not playing well when he is out of position.

[Chi_FFC]

Good shot but Leno is getting beaten at his near post weekly at this point. Did it loads last season too.

Name me a goalkeeper that's never been beaten at his near post?

Are we seriously going to do this? Youre changing my claim from regularly to ever. Do better than that.

Leno is still a good GK but he used to be better. No-one can resist the ravages of time, only delay them. His positioning is still good and he is still good at one-on-ones and reaction saves, but he has lost a little agility. Last season we conceded a lot of goals to long shots placed in the top corners. At one time he would have got closer to those and the same seems to be happening with low shots in the corners. That's not to say that there are many other GKs who would have done better.

Sometimes you just have to appreciate that a shot in the top corner or bottom corner is unstoppable. If any of our players scores a goal like that is the keeper at fault or is it a well placed shot?

A little of both. Not a TERRIBLE error from Leno, but it's a shot that gets stopped sometimes. It's the same issue I've been going on about re Leno. It's not like he's making terrible errors, he's just not saving enough shots.

[MisfitKid]

At times they need to be more selfish in front of goal.

[AnOldBrownie]

for those who are lucky enough to have a stream, do we look as open at the back as we did last week? Would a faster defender have got back to defend the goal that CP scored? In other words, will any of the new signings be what we need in defence in the new gung-ho AA style?

Yes, FFC still looks quite open at the back.  Very dodgy backline defense, imho.

They are attacking down Bobb/Castagne/Anderson's side.   That side attacks...then they pass hoping one of their attackers from our left side makes a run.

[Citizen Smith]

13 shots in the first half - that's an improvement even if most of them were off target!

[FFC007]

Much better than the dross last week.

[cookieg]

Good shot but Leno is getting beaten at his near post weekly at this point. Did it loads last season too.

Name me a goalkeeper that's never been beaten at his near post?

Are we seriously going to do this? Youre changing my claim from regularly to ever. Do better than that.

Leno is still a good GK but he used to be better. No-one can resist the ravages of time, only delay them. His positioning is still good and he is still good at one-on-ones and reaction saves, but he has lost a little agility. Last season we conceded a lot of goals to long shots placed in the top corners. At one time he would have got closer to those and the same seems to be happening with low shots in the corners. That's not to say that there are many other GKs who would have done better.

Sometimes you just have to appreciate that a shot in the top corner or bottom corner is unstoppable. If any of our players scores a goal like that is the keeper at fault or is it a well placed shot?

As my last sentence acknowledges.

Absolutely. Any attacker has 3 options and the keeper is trying to guess which he is going to take. Leno gets it right he makes the save if he doesn't he gets criticised.

[Thailand Mick]

Isn't it funny I was so frustrated watching that, everything seems deliberate but no fluency. So much space down the left and very little down the right. Shame we haven't got more Josh kings. Delighted to be leading but not confident.

[Chi_FFC]

You swap Henderson for Leno in this match and we're probably up by at least 2.

[AnOldBrownie]

At least Bassey's shorts are staying up this week.

[Nittany_Joe]

Palace will have a tough time in the UEFA Europa League. They don't have enough depth. I think the same with Bournemouth.

[AnOldBrownie]

They are attacking Castagne/Anderson consistently.

[SerbianLad]

That was close!

[SerbianLad]

Great attack, but a good block from Palace

[akf]

Very close from Palacios.  better corner

[AnOldBrownie]

Our attack looks great.

[FFC In Oz]

Lovely football there by Kingy