HarryfromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup tie at Selhurst Park by delving into their forums.

“What a waste of a complete pre-season”, “We are not ready again for the start of the season”, “We always have to waste the first four games of the season. We always seem poorly resourced with a thin squad and unfit players”, “We never, ever learn. Why do we have to struggle every season?”

“My God, we are so much better than last week.” Palace head into Tuesday’s game with no points or goals from their first two Premier League games, but Eagles drew encouragement from Saturday’s 1-0 loss at Anfield after receiving a chastening 3-0 beating at home to newly-promoted Huddersfield in their opening game.

South Londoners are eyeing their prospects nervously this season and are unsure how much work is required. “I don’t want to sound unhinged, Saturday’s game against Swansea feels like a bit of a six-pointer”, “Things aren’t so bad that major surgery is needed but we are not good enough either.”

“Someone explain the calm confidence after the Liverpool loss. We had 28 per cent possession and basically parked the bus and got beaten. We were unable to string two passes together and played a centre-back as a striker. It’s not doom and gloom but where are the points going to come from?”

Frank De Boer

“I hope Frank de Boer is a fast learner”, “Please Frank, change the formation. The Premier League is too fast and aggressive for slow build-up play from the back and allowing opponents time on the ball”, “If you don’t have the players to play your preferred system, then change the bloody system.”

Frank De Boer

The 47-year-old replaced Sam Allardyce in June having been dismissed by Inter Milan last November after an unsuccessful three-month spell in charge at the San Siro. The former Dutch international centre-half had previously led Ajax to four Eredivisie titles in a fruitful spell between 2010 and 2016.

“The Huddersfield loss was the worst managerial performance I can remember. Frank got everything wrong. My only hope is that the realisation that this league is ruthless and very physical may have hit home for him. His possession-based approach needs to be modified with urgency and physicality.”

“Dutch revolution my arse.” De Boer’s use of a 3-4-3 shape against the Terriers alarmed supporters. Many believe that they do not have the players to make this passing system work. The decision to also use men both out of position and in roles they had not played before only added to their woes.

“Pragmatic changes bode well. There was no unnecessary passing from the back.” Although they lost at Anfield, Eagles welcomed a change of shape which gave the side more solidity. “I have to praise De Boer’s pragmatism for switching to a three-man midfield at Liverpool after last week’s display.”

The Wrong Formation Against Huddersfield

“Playing 3-4-3 with this squad is suicidal. The pre-season showed it, yet here we are trying to play like Manchester City”, “The whole thing came tumbling down in 45 minutes of football”, “Watching this car crash develop in front of our eyes was simply excruciating. We were helpless to do anything.”

“That’s certainly a bold line-up and formation. It could pay off or backfire”, “I’m not sure I like that line-up. The midfield looks weak and I can see us struggling for possession”, “I don’t see how that system can play in that style and stay up”, “We are more of a get-it-wide, cross-it-over kind of side.”

“Every player looked lost and underprepared.” Eagles were deeply apprehensive when the line-up was announced. Former Town loanee Andros Townsend had played at wing-back in pre-season but was dropped for Joel Ward, while Luka Milivojevic and Ruben Loftus-Cheek started out of position and in unfamiliar roles.

“We started the game with a new formation and put two debutant youngsters in that back three”, “It was a seriously untested back three that looked very uncomfortable. They were exposed by wide balls, they looked disorganised at set pieces and they seemed unable to pass out from the back.”

“Our midfield two are being overrun.” Palace’s midfield pair were unable to handle Huddersfield’s pressing game but paradoxically they had lacked width, especially with no natural wing-backs in the squad. “The wide players sprinted 50 metres to catch up with play only to sprint 50 metres back.”

“Look at the space Huddersfield had on the wings”, “Not much width in this side, teams will ruin us crossing from the wings every week with this system”, “We have two of the best actual wingers in the league in Andros Townsend and Wilfried Zaha and they should play as wingers. It’s not difficult.”

“The need for a back up to Benteke is stark.” With former Town frontman Connor Wickham injured, the only tried-and tested striker available is Christian Benteke, a player suited to direct aerial football and not the short passing game which comes with this new system. “Play to Benteke’s strengths.”

Crystal Palace 0 — 3 Huddersfield

“A disastrous start to the season”, “A big wake-up call, nice and early”, “It looked like a pre-season friendly against a team two weeks readier than us”, “Players out of position, slow building up from the back and then the inevitable hoof to the opposition when a serious decision had to be made.”

“Weak, disorganised, unprofessional, embarrassing.” Palace fell behind when Joel Ward deflected
Mathias Jorgensen's header into his own goal on 23 minutes. Steve Mounie doubled the Terriers’ lead three minutes later with a powerful header and fired home a third 12 minutes from full-time.

“Huddersfield found it easy to play against us. They got down our flanks with embarrassing ease and we had nothing in midfield as they bullied us in a fair way”, “I don’t think I have seen a performance where the entire team looked like they were played out of position”, “It was totally embarrassing.”

A Better Shape Against Liverpool

“Just heading back more encouraged. We rode our luck at times but were more solid and compact”, “We looked very solid defensively but lacked an attacking threat going forward”, “We are keeping our defensive shape and aren’t getting overrun in midfield compared to the Huddersfield game.”

“This 3-5-2 formation is looking better.” De Boer kept his preferred three-man defence, introducing the more experienced James Tomkins for Jairo Riedewald. Switching Ruben Loftus-Cheek into his preferred central role strengthened the midfield, protected the backline and gave a better balance.

With Zaha out injured for four weeks, the side lost its “main attacking threat” and was toothless. There were, however, positive signs that they were starting to develop a good passing rhythm. “It was the fastest interchanging of passes I have ever seen from us. We looked to move the ball quicker.”

Liverpool 1 — 0 Crystal Palace

“This is a much more heartening performance from the team”, “Something to build on despite the defeat”, “We kept possession well at times and were solid defensively for 70 minutes”, “We had a much better shape”, “A decent close game overall. It’s never nice to lose but I’m fairly content.”

Sadio Mane prodded home the winner for the hosts on 73 minutes after Palace had frustrated them for much of the game. Eagles were annoyed with Christian Benteke who missed a great chance with the scores level. Centre-half Scott Dann was also sent up front late on as Palace chased an equalised.

“We didn’t buy a striker and had to put our centre-back up front, cool”, “If only we had some striker options”, “We have only scored in one of our last seven league games”, “After last week’s debacle, I would have settled for this. We were always going to need at least a goal to get something here.”

Possible Starting XI Options for Tuesday Night

Eagles are happy to see an experimental line-up against us on Tuesday night, with the side bottom of the early league table and an already-important game looming on Saturday against Swansea. There is wide expectation that De Boer will stick with a three-man defence but little is certain beyond this.

One proposed starting XI (above) which was well-received has an experienced backline including Martin Kelly and former Blues defender Damien Delaney. Yohan Cabaye and James McArthur are experienced midfielders while Sullay Kaikai is a peppery winger once linked with a loan move to us.

Goalkeepers and Central Defenders

“Wayne Hennessy is one of the four horsemen of our apocalypse.” The 30-year-old ex-Wolves man “is not a ball-playing keeper and doesn’t suit our system. He doesn’t command his backline, can’t distribute quickly or accurately and always spills the ball”, “He is flapping around as per usual.”

Wayne Hennessy

“If teams see Hennessy in goal, they are instructed to shoot on sight”, “He played well at Anfield, making some fine saves and keeping us from a hammering”, “His passing was poor and he still can’t deal with crosses”, “I like him. He gives me the faint hope that I could still play for Palace one day.”

“Julian Speroni has been a great keeper for us and deserves our respect.” The 38-year-old “club legend” joined Palace in 2004. “He’s a great number three keeper now”, “A good shot-stopper but always parrying into the danger area. He’s unable to command his box in any meaningful way.”

“I like the look of Timothy Fosu-Mensah.” The 19-year-old loan signing from Manchester United “is calm and very good physically and with the ball, but lacks presence in the air”, “He’s not very strong in the air but on the ground, he has a good tackle, reads the game well and he has pace to burn.”

“Jairo Riedewald had a terrible debut against Huddersfield.” The 20-year-old July addition from Ajax “had a really poor game aerially, positionally, defensively and on the ball”, “He took ages to receive passes, standing still, and he was closed down instantly”, “He was like a car stuck in second gear.”

“I do feel safer having James Tomkins in the team over Riedewald.” The 28-year-old former Hammer “can be slow to close down at times but is an assured defender”, “Classy and solid despite playing as a right-footed defender on the left of a back three”, “He was solid when exposed in one-on-ones.”

“Martin Kelly is good with a dominant centre-back partner telling him what to do.” The 27-year-old ex-Liverpool man “needs to become more physical and aggressive. He’s too nice and needs to add a nasty streak”, “He’s an unsung hero but looks so messy on the ball and gets out-muscled too easily.”

Damien Delaney

“I absolutely love Damien Delaney, the whole thing of him losing interest in football and what he then achieved is a fairytale.” The 36-year-old former Town defender “is a warrior and a leader with a big heart”, “He came for free, and he got us promoted and secure for five seasons in the top-flight.”

Carlos Edwards v Damian Delaney

“Nobody thought Delaney would step up in the Premier League but he has ended up featuring as a regular in our most established top-flight team”, “No longer a starter but has a wealth of experience and is a fantastic squad player”, “A great experienced back-up. I love the guy, he is a Palace hero.”

Scott Dann

“Scott was not great against Huddersfield but it was tough on him having such inexperience on both sides of him.” The 30-year-old ex-Blackburn man “works hard organising the defence and guiding the younger players”, “He doesn’t always look comfortable on the ball but is the best of the defenders.”

Liverpool's Roberto Firmino v Scott Dann

“Dann up front, we don’t need a striker”, “He has often been used up front since we signed him due to his heading and decent shooting”, “He’s our second-best player in the air after Benteke”, “He is still a very good football player who can operate very effectively as a centre-back in a back three.”

Wing-Backs and Wingers

“Joel Ward is at right wing-back. My, oh my.” The 27-year-old ex-Pompey defender “was asked to go there to protect Fosu-Mensah”, “Ward is fine when defending as a full-back but as a wing-back he is vulnerable to pace”, “Play constantly broke down out wide every time he was ended up on the ball.”

Joel Ward

“Patrick Van Aanholt can’t do the job at wing-back.” The 26-year-old former Sunderland man “is too far back when attacking and too far forward when we defend”, “He didn’t help Riedewald when the lad was sinking”, “For a left footer, he always cut inside on his right and his set-pieces are poor.”

“Jeffrey Schlupp is much better than Van Aanholt and I’m not sure why De Boer can’t see it.” The 24-year-old former Leicester man “has so much power and pace and can put a tackle in too”, “He never stops his lung-bursting runs and has a solid left foot. He’s more of an attacking option and should be starting.”

“Sullay Kaikai strikes fear into the heart of all defences.” The 21-year-old youth product, who spent time on loan at Brentford last season, “is a little jewel. He has good ball control as he beats players and has a great shot”, “He should start the next game. Why is someone that vibrant on the bench?”

Sullay Kaikai

“I’m even more convinced we should be playing Kaikai if Zaha is out. We need that flair”, “He moves past players with ease and is much more lively and trickier than Puncheon. He has a good cross on him and may actually be our best dead-ball specialist”, “He should definitely start against Ipswich.”

Andros Townsend

“I can’t see why we wouldn’t start Andros at right wing-back when he covered there all pre-season. He has the pace to get back and cover and is skilful going forward.” The 26-year-old ex-Spurs and Newcastle winger “is the one player that consistently creates chances and gets crosses in the box.”

Andros Townsend playing for Town

“Andros was arguably our least effective player at Liverpool. He worked hard but the ball never stuck to him up front and he struggled to beat a man”, “He is not a striker and never anticipated Benteke’s flick-ons”, “His engine is phenomenal and he will cover in the side a lot as the season takes its toll.”

Central Midfielders

“James McArthur doesn’t get dispossessed. He makes interceptions, tackles, covers ground and gets through great work in both penalty areas.” The 29-year-old ex-Wigan man “is tenacious. He doesn’t have a great goal threat but screens, covers, tackles and gets back well. He’s a model professional.”

“Luka Milivojevic does have some bad lapses. He’s a good player but concentration lets him down.” The 26-year-old Serb arrived in January from Olympiakos. “He can be slow to react both with and without the ball and gives it away a lot”, “His messing around with the ball led to Liverpool’s goal.”

“Jason Puncheon needs to be smarter.” The 31-year-old ex-Saint “holds the ball for too long before releasing it. He’s a big hole in the middle of the pitch who offers nothing in attack”, “He’s frustrating with his slow, ponderous left-footed play on the ball, always with a short back or sideways pass.”

“Ruben Loftus-Cheek looks a total player, strong in the tackle and reads the game well.” The 21-year-old Chelsea loan signing “has reasonable pace and good control. He can beat a man and pick out a pass”, “He’s a hell of a player and was easily our best player for the second week running.”

“Loftus-Cheek is confident on the ball, defending and attacking well”, “Tackling, dribbling, passing and reading the game, we should build our midfield around him”, “His drives through the centre of the pitch give us something we have lacked since we came up. He’s strong positive and cultured.”

Jonny Williams

“Jonny did not look great in the pre-season friendly against Schalke.” The 23-year-old former Town loan signing “is a player with great technical skill and balance. He’s neat, tidy, comfortable on the ball and hustles and bustles”, “There’s a fantastic player in there. Let’s hope he gets to show it.”

Jonny Williams

“We have nobody like Jonny who drives at defences and pulls the opposition all over the shop”, “I have no doubts that there’s a quality Premier League player in there but his injury luck does have to change”, “I just can’t see him being fit for long enough to make an impact anymore, a damn shame.”

Yohan Cabaye

“Why no Cabaye? Maybe he’s not fit enough but he’s part of our strongest midfield and way ahead of Puncheon.” The 31-year-old former Newcastle and Paris St Germain midfielder was on the bench at Anfield after playing a behind-closed-doors U23s game against Burnley as he recovers from injury.

“Cabaye controls the centre of the pitch for us. He’s the one player in the team that does the most pressing”, “If he leaves, then we will be a far weaker side than the one which finished last season”, “Of all our midfielders, I can see Cabaye flourishing the most in De Boer’s fluid passing system.”

Strikers

“Freddie Ladapo is reasonably quick and strong but struggles to hold the ball up.” The 24-year-old ex-Margate striker “is tall, strong and pacy and some of his play in and around the box is inventive”, “He’s a tall, bustling striker with pace. He puts in a shift for the team and has taken his goals well.”

Christian Benteke

“Nobody doubts Benteke’s ability in the air, but when the ball is on the ground he’s an average top-flight striker. His touch is poor, his movement is average and he misses simple chances”, “He has a dodgy first touch and he struggles to finish when the ball isn’t played to him in the air”, “Atrocious.”

Benteke v Liverpool

“Almost totally anonymous”, The 26-year-old former Villa striker “did his walking football impression again and had a poor game at Liverpool. He didn’t look up for it at all”, “He’s horrendous defending set pieces, and is not a mobile striker who will go chasing down defenders. He doesn’t do enough.”

“The Liverpool game was the second where he missed a great chance”, “I can’t recall him creating a chance for himself”, “To play this formation you need a mobile striker to score with his feet and take a shot from distance. I’m afraid that if it isn’t on Benteke’s bonce he doesn’t really offer very much.”

Eagles’ Views on ITFC and the Game

“What's going on?”, “We're at home to Ipswich, right?” “Carabao Cup, it’s Ipswich away, playing at Selhurst Park”, “Can you just hear the Ipswich fans singing, ‘We’re supposed to be at home’”, “Am I the only one who thought that was hilarious?”, “That went well then.”

“We could have got a kinder draw but still should be beating them.” Once the confusion over which venue the tie would be played at had been sorted out, Palace fans were quite pleased when we were paired together. “I hope we are at home. The last time I saw Palace play Ipswich we won 5-0.”

“Ipswich won’t be easy, they have four league wins out of four.” They are not taking the outcome for granted. A prediction poll on one Eagles forum has a pessimistic 58 per cent of home fans predicting that they will progress. “We need to show them respect as this is going to be far from a pushover.”

“Ipswich have won their first four league matches and have a much smaller squad. We have lost our first two and haven't scored yet. “If Ipswich play anything like their first XI against our reserves they will be in the next round”, “I’m hoping they play a reserve side as they are joint-top of their league.”

“McCarthy has form for playing weakened sides in the cup and Ipswich have won four out of four in the league. No way will he risk anything with a home game against Fulham the following Saturday. I predict he'll field a bunch of kids and fringe players which gives us a really good chance to get a win.”

Much talk has been around the risks and benefits of putting out a strong side. “We badly need a win under our belt so as to build confidence and Ipswich are bang in form”, “We need to treat this as a pre-season friendly. Play a strong team and get 90 minutes practice playing this goddamn system.”

“Swansea is a huge game for Frank”, “With the Swansea game now looking fairly important, I would not play any of the first XI”, “Me too, the likes of James McArthur and Yohan Cabaye may benefit from some first team action for fitness reasons but other than that it is the reserves all the way.”

“If we lose to an Ipswich team who have a 100 per cent record this season on Tuesday night it will get ugly against Swansea.” Given the stakes of Saturday’s game against the Swans and the relative lack of importance of this competition, many Eagles would be quite happy if they lost Tuesday’s game.

“I don't care too much about Ipswich - we'll put out the reserves”, “I couldn't care less. Give the youngsters a go”, “I couldn’t really care. It will be good for the young players I suppose. There are too many other issues regarding the first team and staying in the Premier League to be interested.”

Websites

There are two very active Palace message boards, the CPFC BBS and Holmesdale.Net both have very knowledgeable and well-informed contributors.

@HarryFromBath

Photo: Action Images

IpswichT62OldBoy added 12:53 - Aug 21 Interesting to hear them working out the same dilemma we had. Focus on the league or pointless cup. I hope that unlike previous seasons we focus no the pointless cup tomorrow, it will build confidence and momentum and the Palace fans seem to think we won't bother. Imagine being in the third round.
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NITFC added 13:21 - Aug 21 "I predict he'll field a bunch of kids and fringe players which gives us a really good chance to get a win.” Actually I predict he'll play just about the only 18 players that he has available !!
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Sam added 16:56 - Aug 21 We are fielding a reserve side, so are they. It could have been worse. Come on youngsters.!!!!!!!!!!
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Radlett_blue added 10:50 - Aug 22 Palace sound like they're a bit of a shambles right now, with a new manager trying to bend players to his preferred system. Will be interesting to see what sort of side Palace put out - I doubt they'll play a reserve XI, especially as some fringe squad players played for their U23s last night. They should still be far too strong for effectively our U23 team.
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ThatMuhrenCross added 14:14 - Aug 22 Sounds like it could be Ipswich reserves vs Palace reserves. On that basis, we'll have half a chance, so come on lads, play out of your skin and stake a claim for a place in the first team!!
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 14:48 - Aug 22 I haven't given up on this one before it starts. COYB!
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FromIpswichToPhoenix added 15:51 - Aug 22 I think we have a chance. We're actively using youth in the first team this season. There's something for them to fight for. First team action is no longer the proverbial carrot being dangled in front of them. I think we'll see a hunger from a team with something to prove and something to gain from it.
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PortmanTerrorist added 16:10 - Aug 22 Slight correction to some comments. Palace will play their reserves, whereas WE will play our U23 reserves. If our kids get something form tonight it will literally be extraordinary, and just hope it doesn't knock the confidence of any of them if it turns into a rout. Either way, can't blame Mick for this one....he has no choice.
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Bluebell added 16:30 - Aug 22 Thanks Harry. A game that could go either way. I agree that Mick shouldn't risk our few players who aren't injured as it is far more important to stay fit for the league games. As Mick says, we are not going to win the cup so why chance injuries and sending offs when we have perfectly capable academy players. Palace aren't doing well at the moment and it will give our youngsters a chance to prove themselves tonight. Mick may even see some of them who could be ready to come through and shine with the 'first' team. Good luck to them and come on you Blues!

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