He was. Gomes is the type of keeper who will lose you 3 points but win you 12 over a season. That double save vs Everton for example, his performances vs Bouremouth, West Ham etc etc etc . Karnezis seems to be the type of keeper who will neither win or lose you points over a season. He's not bad, but he's not outstanding. That's the problem. Gomes is an outstanding shot stopper a shade below De Gea but his kicking is appalling hence his reliance on throws. Karnezis holds the ball more but it's riskier and he's very cautious which isn't what you want.
Looked online and noticed that MOTD has described Watford/Palace as 'potentially vital relegation battle'. Can't see us winning or picking up another point all season.
Mariappa is marking Zaha? LOL. Mariappa's performance as a right back against Bristol City in the cup was one of the worst individual performances I have ever seen. Hope he proves me wrong today. 4-4-2. Karnezis (GK); Mariappa, Cathcart, Kabasele, Holebas; Hughes, Capoue, Doucouré, Pereyra; Deeney (C), Okaka.
Thought I'd save a few of you some to write your post match comments if we lose. Deeney's fat... Capoue passes sideaways... Lack of effort... Holebas is terrible... Gracia is grinning goblin... Lack of effort... Deeney's fat.
4-4-2 with two massive lumps upfront. Guess we will be playing the hoof game. As for Mapps against Zaha, we can all but hope Zaha pulls a hamstring in the first minute from his first dive.
So 4-4-2 it is. But with Okaka rather than Gray. Yet Okaka sat on his arse last week and Gray came on. Bizarre thinking really. And Femenia dropped in favour of Mariappa at RB?!? Obscure line-up. Gray for Okaka. Hughes in the middle in place of Capoue and any 2/3 of Rich, Pereyra or Femina on the wings. All I’m doing this week is moan but it just seems so clear to me! Anyway. Will be watching from a bar in Barcelona Las Ramblas - HB1, you in town? We can moan in unison.
Mapps at right back is a bit weird, probably more defensively solid than Femenia but not fast enough for Zaha. It means that we'll only really have Hughes down the right hand side going forward, with no-one to really link up with as Mapps isn't exactly the best going forward..
Would imagine Femenia was one of the players that was ill. Don't really mind that side to be honest, at least Deeney has some support
Public displays of affection are one thing Burnsy but you & HB1 going at it hammer and tongs in a bar really is unpalatable. It does look like the virus/illness running through the squad has played a part in naming the first XI. Jaanmaat, Kiko, Grey look like 3 of the 4 not named publicly in the press conference the other day.
Just seen the line up... not impressed on paper. We have no natural width and two lumps up front. Word of the day is hoof. Pigeon holing Peraya and/or Hughes into the wing just to play a second ineffective striker is why I would have stuck with 4-2-3-1
An afternoon of hoof it to Deeney and Okaka it is then, whilst Zaha runs rings around Mariappa and Capoue and Doucoure get overloaded and gradually disappear for the game
Not when the manager refused to say who was ill. I stand by the old adage that if you are fit enough to be on the bench, you are fit enough to play.
Mariappa is our best defender at one on ones so can understand why he's on Zaha. Please don't quote this later...
They seem to be operating behind the symbol which was formerly known as Prince. Maybe that's blocked the muti.
