Well, that wasn’t in the script!
Having endured the worst start to a new season in Premier League history, Crystal Palace produced a stunning display to stun the Champions.
Despite the pitiful form that the Eagles had endured this campaign, their performance starkly contrasted with the performances that the Palace faithful have become accustomed to this term.
Roy Hodgson’s team seemed disciplined and organised in defence while appearing creative and potent in attack. Much to our dismay, the Blues were utterly shambolic.
We seemed fatigued and lethargic throughout the entirety of the ninety minutes and looked unadventurous while going forward. N’Golo Kante and Alvaro Morata’s absence were tangible, while the defence seemed uncharacteristically disorganised and muddled.
Our defeat has seen us slip into fifth place in the Premier League table and we’ve already recorded our third league defeat of the season.
Here are our five talking points from today’s defeat.
- N’Golo Kante was sorely missed
The Frenchman is widely recognised as one of the most proficient midfielders in world football, and his absence had a detrimental impact on the team today. Despite the undeniable quality that Bakayoko and Fabregas possess, they failed to exert control over proceedings at the heart of the pitch. Crystal Palace dictated the midfield battle.
- Michy Batshuyai isn’t good enough to lead the line
The Belgian is irrefutably gifted, he’s especially lethal in front of goal, yet he doesn’t exhibit the required traits to lead the line. As previously mentioned, in the box the Belgian is exceedingly proficient, however, with back to goal he often struggles to link up play. His talent is best utilised as an impact substitute.
- Disorganised defence
Under Conte’s cultivated guidance we’ve become accustomed to watching a proficient and sturdy defensive unit. Nevertheless, we far from our best defensively. We struggled to negate the creativity that Wilfried Zaha displayed, and collectively the defence was far too incoherent.
- Lack of application
While we failed to register the equalising goal, we weren’t devoid of purposeful goal-scoring opportunities to level the game. Cesc Fabregas hit the bar and squandered a superb chance to equalise, Marcos Alonso came close with a header while Charly Musonda spurned his opportunity to justify his explosive social media rant.
- Devoid of depth
Today’s defeat illustrated the lack of depth and that Antonio Conte has at his disposal. We scarcely displayed sufficient depth, yet our issues have been amplified with the injuries that the team has incurred.
Roll on Roma!
