Not even two games in and I am already fed up with the TV companies scheduling of our games.
An opening day 12:30pm Saturday kick off is followed up by a Monday 8pm game. They are easily to the worst time slots of the 7 available over a match day weekend. Although the 8pm Saturday kick off will not be too far from the pair in 3rd place.
Some will say “well at least it is a London club” and that at least we are not having to travel up to Newcastle or Liverpool on a Monday night. And whilst that is true, Crystal Palace is not exactly a quick, easy journey.
So I will work the day today, ducking out a little earlier than my usual 5pm finish. And then it is 3 trains across London to get to Thornton Heath or Norwood Junction (depending on whether we are drinking in Victoria or London Bridge).
Post game, it will be back to Norwood Junction, which is up there with The Hawthorns station for being the least suitable to take a football crowd. Luckily for us, if Palace do expand their stadium, they will not fill it so pressure on the infrastructure will not increase.
A lot has been made of our easy start to the season, but we have to be careful not to be lured into a false sense of security. We could be our own worst enemy if we see games like Palace as an easy 3-points.
Our record at Selhurst Park in recent years is not a great one – just 3 wins in the last 7 games. Although we have won two on the bounce against the side from Croydon.
Palace are traditionally a threat on the counter attack, and have often drawn big teams in to then hit them with their blistering forward line. But with Wilfried Zaha gone and Michael Olise out injured, their forward line certainly does not look as threatening as previous.
Tonight I hope Mikel Arteta does not try and overcomplicate things like he did against Nottingham Forest.
I would go with the very simple 4141 that served him well last season, with Thomas Partey in the 6 and Declan Rice in the 8.
Eberechi Eze is Palace’s main threat, so it would be worthwhile just sticking Partey on him from a defensive point of view. Man mark him out the game.
And then by playing Rice, it means if Eze drifts outwide and takes Partey with him, Declan will drop more centrally and cover that space.
I would stick with Eddie upfront, with Kai Havertz on the bench giving us a more attacking option in midfield were we to need it.
It is a forumla I hope expect to see a lot this season – Partey and Rice in away games, Rice and Havertz for hom matches.
Final thought goes to Chelsea.
They have started this season as bad as they finished last. I have said all summer that it does not really matter what they spend, it is about who they buy. And I still maintain that not a single one of their signings over the last 3 trnasfer windows would get in to our first XI.
Yes, Moises Caicedo is clearly a talent, but he is not yet at the level of Partey or Rice. Same with Enzo Fernandez.
I read yesterday that they have made something like 24 signings since Todd Boehly took over and won just 11 games…
West Ham ran out comfortable winners. I honestly do not think David Moyes gets the credit he deserves for what he has done with them.
Since joining them for a second time, Moyes has saved them from relegation, took them to 6th and 7th and won them their first trophy in over 40 years. Yet some West Ham fans are calling for his head.
Certain fans need to realise that they support small clubs and realise their place in this world. West Ham’s last 3 years have been their best since the last 90s when Harry Redknapp took them to 3 top 10 finishes in a row. Prior to Moyes rejoining, they had only finished top 10 4 times since Arry left in 2000…
The grass is often not greener…And I hope Arsenal fans realise that when they attempt to put pressure on Arteta’s position at the club.
Final, final thought. Despite only being 2 games into the season, only 4 teams have a 100% record this season in the league – Brighton, Man Cit, Arsenal and Palace. Tonight, someone elses 0 will go!
UTA.
Keenos
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon 