Team for Palace

[SerbianLad]

@Moussa Dembele the 3rd Pretty much what I said. I think that when Muniz plays it can work sometimes. He's more mobile than Raul and is often dragging an additional man to cover him thus creating more space for Wilson and Iwobi. The Brentford game this season is a good example. Muniz created so much space for Wilson and Iwobi while also providing different opinions by making some great runs in behind their defence and we created chances with relative ease as a result of that.

Raul isn't that kind of player. Iwobi-Raul-Wilson with Berge-Lukic as a double pivot is a particularly poor combination. No pace at all, players that are playing all like to occupy similar spaces and our attacks become pretty stale.

[Fulham 1879]

        Leno

Tete Andersen Bassey Sess

    Lukic Iwobi

  Chuk ESR Kevin

      Raul

[Dammy]

Bit of a curveball but I'd be tempted to start Cuenca and Diop - the competition for the no.10 spot appears to have really sharpened ESR's game and the same could be said of Chuk/Wilson and the wide players - including last season where we scored countless goals from the bench. Steel sharpens steel as they say.

I feel like Cuenca has been largely excellent when called upon and said previously he should be eased in so that he's not treated as solely an understudy to Bassey - personally I think we have 2 very good PL level LCBs so they should be keeping each other sharp, not feeling like their place is guaranteed no matter what.

Same for Joachim - although might be harder to drop him now he has the skippers armband. He does go through dodgy patches though and I think Diop plays well enough to start when Andersen's off form - shipping 5 goals might merit a chance for Diop IMO.

Bassey will be going to AFCON and Cuenca will get his chance, then we will know who is the better player!
Bassey gets a lot more disrespect from some posters!

[iansthailand]

Me or Leno

Castagne Andersen Bassey Sess

Berge Iwobi

Wilson ESR Kevin

Chukwueze or Raul

One day striker next day keeper is there no end to this man's talent?

[Count Flapula]

Bit of a curveball but I'd be tempted to start Cuenca and Diop - the competition for the no.10 spot appears to have really sharpened ESR's game and the same could be said of Chuk/Wilson and the wide players - including last season where we scored countless goals from the bench. Steel sharpens steel as they say.

I feel like Cuenca has been largely excellent when called upon and said previously he should be eased in so that he's not treated as solely an understudy to Bassey - personally I think we have 2 very good PL level LCBs so they should be keeping each other sharp, not feeling like their place is guaranteed no matter what.

Same for Joachim - although might be harder to drop him now he has the skippers armband. He does go through dodgy patches though and I think Diop plays well enough to start when Andersen's off form - shipping 5 goals might merit a chance for Diop IMO.

Bassey will be going to AFCON and Cuenca will get his chance, then we will know who is the better player!
Bassey gets a lot more disrespect from some posters!

Interesting that you've quoted me and mentioned Bassey getting disrespect from some posters. I didn't disrespect him once did I? I think Bassey is a great guy and a very good PL level CB and said as much so don't get it twisted!

My point was we have great competition in every position so no one should be made to feel their spot is a given as that can breed complacency: competition should keep everyone on their toes and bring the best out of every player.

A place in the starting lineup should be decided by form and a meritocratic basis - nothing about that viewpoint is a dig at Bassey or any of our players. The form of ESR shows that his competition with Josh King has sharpened his game and I want that same energy throughout the team.

[howitis]

Leno

Tete Andersen Bassey Sess

    Lukic Iwobi

  Chuk ESR Kevin

      Raul

Please explain how Lukic gets ahead of Berge ...

[JimmyConway]

Think it might be a bit more of what tactics Marco goes with as opposed to the team selection for this one. If we can keep Wharton quiet and not let him roam around with time and space dictating the game then there's no reason we can't get a positive result.

[Jim©]

Think it might be a bit more of what tactics Marco goes with as opposed to the team selection for this one. If we can keep Wharton quiet and not let him roam around with time and space dictating the game then there's no reason we can't get a positive result.

And actually that's exactly the type of role that Lukic is great at (disrupting a director like Wharton)- despite him having an off day on Tuesday. I'd prefer that we go after palace ourselves, try and carry some of that 2nd half forward momentum from City game.

[WindyCity]

Need to do a better job marking Mateta than we did Haaland (goal, assist, 2 off woodwork).

[SerbianLad]

Need to do a better job marking Mateta than we did Haaland (goal, assist, 2 off woodwork).

Maybe Diop should start. He really frustrated Woltemade against Newcastle for example.

[H4usuallysitting]

Me or Leno

Castagne Andersen Bassey Sess

Berge Iwobi

Wilson ESR Kevin

Chukwueze or Raul

One day striker next day keeper is there no end to this man's talent?

Rush goalie

[sunburywhite]

Dont care who is in the team so long as we beat them for a change

They seem to have our number

[demeant0r]

If we don't start Chukwueze, especially when he'll be gone in a week and a half, then Marco has learned nothing.

[Moltobueno]

Can't see Marco dropping Chuk after scoring two. So it will probably be:

          Leno

Tete   Andersen  Bassey  Sess

       Iwobi   Berge

Wilson    ESR      Chuk

          Raul

[Grassy Noel]

Can't see Marco dropping Chuk after scoring two. So it will probably be:

          Leno

Tete   Andersen  Bassey  Sess

       Iwobi   Berge

Wilson    ESR      Chuk

          Raul

Cuenca for Sess unless Sess has  since learned how to block a ball which is unlikely.

[SP]

Sounds as though we need the A Team:

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/dec/06/crystal-palace-fans-are-literally-fighting-each-other-how-has-it-come-to-this

[Fulham 1879]

Leno

Tete Andersen Bassey Sess

    Lukic Iwobi

  Chuk ESR Kevin

      Raul

Please explain how Lukic gets ahead of Berge ...

Berge is a lamppost, a crab who passes sideways, slow, hardly tackles, takes lots of breathers by putting himself in a position where he can't receive the ball, has helped get two teams relegated and in his Fulham career has no goals, no assists and one own goal.  That was an easy question to answer!

[bahay18]

Berge is immense . Works quietly in the background . Iwobi in the middle . Kevin and chuk out wide . Can go back to picking Wilson once Chuk goes to the afcon

[Fulham 1879]

Berge is immense . Works quietly in the background . Iwobi in the middle . Kevin and chuk out wide . Can go back to picking Wilson once Chuk goes to the afcon

LOL. There have always been people who think they're being sophisticated by praising the humble water carrier, the emperor who wears no clothes. One thing is for sure, Scotty Parker would build a team of just Sander Berges!

[Volz]

Even though I thought we started those games well, we got two really poor results in the end against Crystal Palace and it might be time to try something different. I know this will probably be an unpopular selection because people will say it's too defensive, but something like this:

         Leno
    Tete Diop Cuenca
Castagne Berge Iwobi Sess
    Chukwueze ESR
          Raul

Surprise them and match their back 5(3) and play in the same formation. I'd honestly drop Bassey and Andersen after the last game(Andersen was particularly poor and deserves to be dropped). Lukic had a poor game in terms of passing and first touch, so I'd go with Berge, Iwobi to partner him so that we don't go too defensively (because we'd already play 5atb). Chukwueze and ESR to support Raul, as they are both in good form. Raul to start as he's an only realistic option to start really.

I'd love to see this but i would even put Wilson in the mix, either for Chukwueze or Raul.
We will 99% sure see the same formation and same 11 that started last time though, perhaps one offensive change. Marco doesn't tweak the plan, he steamrolls. Sometimes it works so who am i to question it