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Post by Avinalaff on Nov 9, 2013 17:31:09 GMT
Crystal Palace 0 Everton 0: Eagles hold Toffees in Selhurst stalemate to earn first point since August
Crystal Palace may not yet have a manager, but they still have hope. Their first clean sheet of the season was recompense for a resolute performance that frustrated humdrum Everton and suggested the south London side may not be doomed to relegation after all. At least not by a record margin.
Midfield battle: Everton's Steven Pienaar (right) evades a challenge from compatriot Kagisho Dikgacoi
Palace admit they were ill-prepared for their promotion to the Premier League and a losing streak of seven games before the visit of Everton stood as cruel confirmation of that. The club are attempting to rebuild on the fly and the first stone was put in place before kick-off, when a new sporting director was appointed. Iain Moody, who was controversially ousted from Cardiff City last month on a whim of that club's owner, Vincent Tan, will handle player recruitment as Palace attempt to embed a playing philosophy that will deliver long-term continuity.
Challenge: Crystal Palace winger Yannick Bolasie and Everton midfielder Gareth Barry tussle for the ball
A more immediate matter, however, is the hiring of a new manager and the club expects to do that later this week, with José Mourinho's former assistant at Real Madrid, Aitor Karanka, among the candidates scheduled to hold further talks with Palace's co-chairman, Steve Parish. The visit of Everton, then, probably represented Keith Millen's last match at the helm.
Millen's previous two matches since succeeding Ian Holloway ended in defeat, but the performances were encouraging enough for him to make just one change from the lineup that lost at West Bromwich Albion, Yannick Bolasie replacing the injured Adlene Guédioura. Everton did not make any alterations to the side that started last week's home draw with Tottenham Hotspur, Romelu Lukaku having recovered from the knee pain he suffered during his clash with Hugo Lloris.
Flying: Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard jumps highest to punch a Crystal Palace corner clear from danger
Theatrics: Marouane Chamakh falls to the ground having been challenged by Everton's James McCarthy
After a sedate opening to the game, Everton posed the first threat, Leon Osman skewing a shot wide from 18 yards out after deft interplay between Lukaku and Gareth Barry. Osman went closer six minutes later, when he stabbed the ball beyond the reach of keeper Julian Speroni from eight yards out – Lukaku tried to help it into the net, but failed to connect and the ball drifted wide. Kevin Mirallas finally forced Speroni into action in the 20th minute, the goalkeeper pushing his shot from 20 yards out behind for a corner.
Everton were dominating possession, but Palace ceded few openings and gradually began to create threats at the other end. They should have taken the lead in the 35th minute when Kagisho Dikgacoi surged on to Jerome Thomas's cross, but the midfielder got himself in a muddle at the back post and failed to even fire a shot. Moments later, Thomas went for goal with a curler from 20 yards out that sent Tim Howard leaping to his left to tip the ball wide. Marouane Chamakh then headed Barry Bannan's cross wide from six yards out.
Stretching: Damien Delaney tackles Everton frontman Romelu Lukaku
Everton needed to improve, Palace needed to ensure another decent display did not go unrewarded. The second half began like the first, with Roberto Martínez's team establishing sterile control. In the 54th minute, Bolasie gave an example of the dynamism that was disrupting Everton when he dispossessed Leighton Baines on halfway and sent Thomas racing free on goal. As the crowd rose to their feet in anticipation, Thomas chipped the ball over Howard, but wide.
Martínez decided it was time for change and introduced Ross Barkley and Gerard Deulofeu. Palace continued to defend diligently, however, and deserved their point, even if they had a late let-off when Phil Jagielka headed against their crossbar from a corner.
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Post by Jeffers Jugs on Nov 9, 2013 18:22:33 GMT
I've never seen us so wasteful in a long time and I hate being first to reply in a thread when there is little happiness to spread around, but that was bloody bad and I feel like writing in and complaining such was the passing today. Lukaku sat central for much of the match and I think he is showing why he isn't at Chelsea as the number one. Baines needs to pull himself together as he was terrible by his own standards. Distin was my man of the match as I think he is such a strong asset to our squad. Another good performance from Howard but fairly disappointing from everybody else and I found myself shaking my head a lot at the quality of our final third. Fair play to Palace who gave an honest performance and a big thumb up to their fans who deserve better. Maybe the break has come at a good time as we seem to be going backwards instead of forwards at present.
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Post by Avinalaff on Nov 9, 2013 21:10:21 GMT
I'm finding myself getting frustrated with our performances, but at least on here I can offer my own opinion regardless without being abused and banned by the happy clappers club (thanks Toffeetalk ) if I don't kiss Roberto's ass every week. I don't mind waiting for things to develop and gel, but I'm not going to call poor football anything but poor and we are a long way from the disciplined side we were under Moyes. When we play well I'll applaud, but I've seen our under 11's pass the ball better than we did today. We could have conceded more than once today and the best we could do in reply was hit the bar from a header by Jagielka, a defender. Mirallas and Osman subbed off again. That's 8 times in 11 matches he's been replaced, yet he still starts every game. A similar thing with Leon. Am I missing something here, only why not start with Deulofeu instead of Mirallas? Is Mirallas injured and can't play 90 minutes, like he was last season for a while? Coleman is in awful form (is it the young lad passing away he signed the shirt for?)so where is plan B, and the same can be said for Baines. Awful stuff from our fullbacks today. I like Martinez a lot, but I want to see his back up plan. Lukaku was quiet again today and was constantly central, holding the ball up, but not really attacking the goal. I've been happier I must say.
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Post by halewoodblue on Nov 9, 2013 21:11:57 GMT
What a woeful pathetic performance from Everton. Palace had 2 or 3 clear cut chances to win and how it finished 0-0 is a miracle. Am sure Martinez will point to our 70% possession but it doesnt matter when you have nothing in the final third. If we had put that performance in under Moyes, blues would go ***** mental, somehow i doubt the same will be heard over the next day or so. These type of performances have been coming all season, simply not good enough
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Post by halewoodblue on Nov 9, 2013 21:12:17 GMT
Want me to come back on TT mate and stir things up?
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