From the UK to the USA and beyond - An Englishman's Journey

[Crayth]

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Despite our horrible start to the campaign, I am delighted with the players we've brought in. I believe they'll be pivotal in us achieving our goals this year and in years to come. We have managed to lower the age of the squad consierably and still maitained quality throughout. A number of the free signings were arranged by Orta for the U23's and U18's sides. I think we've added depth. Late deals for Comert (CB), Kondogbia (CM) and Raman (AMR, ST) have been concluded to ensure we have depth throughout the squad and lots of competitions for places in every position. We need to improve on our position last year but this year it may take us a little while to gel.

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It was difficult to shift a lot of the deadwood who were on very high wages and offered very little quality which is always a nightmare mix. The players sold were coming towards the end of the twilight or end of their careers bar one or two obvious exceptions and Ifelt we needed to get rid of a lot of players who were no longer up to scratch.

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My board finally allowed me to upgrade my coaching staff and now we have a great team in place including Paul Scholes coaching our Attacking - Technical training.
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I now have one of the strongest back room staff teams in the country. I hope this will help drive us on and help us achieve our goals. September coming up with a big game against Norwich at home. We NEED to get into winning wayswith a win here, we've been working hard and I think we should be ready.​

 

[Crayth]

We fly out of the blocks today. Superb finish from Wilf Zaha sees us take the lead, a great start. Martinez is out through injury so Zaha is playing on the left with Townsend on the right. Cucho Hernandez then doubled our advantage courtesy of a Zaha assist. We've been dominant in the first 35 minutes. HT 2-0. Vagnoman went close after the break, hitting the woodwork after a good delivery from Tonalli. We then had the ball in the net again from a free kick from Tonalli with Zaha but he was ruled offside. Norwich then won a free kick in the other end and Buendia scored an absolute screamer to give us the wobbles going into the last 30 minutes at Selhurst Park. IN THE 86TH MINUTE, ALL OUR GOOD WORK WENT DOWN THE DRAIN... Idrissi equalising with a header at the back post. Tonalli was then denied by Krul twice and that was it. ANOTHER 2 POINTS DROPPED. FUMING ISN'T THE WORD. We need to stop making SUICIDAL mistakes. Liverpool at Anfield next-up. Yippee..

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We start well but then give away a gift of a goal to Liverpool. Dael Fry plays a passbook to short and Haaland latches on to give Liverpool a 1-0 lead. He then doubles in a few minutes later from a corner. Another devastating start to a game. 20 minutes in, 2-0 down. Cucho unfortunately then misses a huge chance to pay it 2-1. Shortly after its 3-0... game over..... really shocking performance defensively. Despite a much better 2nd half performance, thePremier League champions added a 4th with Haaland completing his hat trick.

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Monchu is out for 5/6 with a broken leg. This season just gets better!

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A thankful break from the league sees us travel to Mansfield Town. Bradaric wins us a penalty early on and Cucho Hernandez tucks the penalty away expertly. Okerenke continues to have issues scoring. Missing a 1-on-1 but manages to break his duck via a scramble at a cornerback. 2-0 and dominating as expected. Again, we were very wasteful in the final third and the final score should have been a lot more comfortable than it looked but a wins a win.

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The final game of the month saw the Blue side of Merseyside visit Selhurst Park and if anyone in the league needed a win, it was me. Colmert was brought in alongside Sakho in defence and Joel Ward recalled due to the absence of Vagnoman.

Martinez went close with a free-kick early on which stung the paws of Pickford. Okereke then made another STUPID mistake missing an interception and that gave Everton a 1-0 lead through Mina. Luckily Zaha was on hand just a few minutes later to level proceedings with a thunderous strike. Tonali then proved his quality as he dispossessed an Everton man and run the entire length of the pitch before smashing past Pickford. I then hooked Okerenke for the first time in my career in the 25th minute. The boy was having a mare and it wasn't working. A minute after the sub, we scored through Cucho Hernandez to give us a 3-1 lead on the half hour mark. On loan Benito Raman reacted first to a Zaha shot that was saved by Pickford and made it 4-1 before HT. After the break, Digne made a rash challenge and gifted us a penalty in just the 48th minute. Expert penalty taker Milvojevic made no mistakes. 5-1. Bradaric could of easily had our 6th but Pickford pulled out a wonderful save from 6 yards out. Richardson got one back in the 70th minute to make it 5-2. We were thankfully able to hang on until the final whistle to secure our first three points of the season. We need to up our game now and use it as a platform. We have some much easier games coming up and we need to make the most of them. This was what I expected!

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It hurts me to share this league table with you but we have been absolutely dreadful, and have only really started turning things around this week. Octobers fixtures are a little more friendly and I am aiming at taking maximum points from next month as we look to climb the table (much like we did last season) but only this time we have much more firepower and quality in our side and much more games to do it in!

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Brighton, Spurs, Wolves and Burnley should be considered all winnable but I will accept a slip-up or draw or two. I don't want any defeats this month including the cup.

 

[Crayth]

Both sides were able to create a few clear cut chances a piece in the first half but neither were able to convert. Which meant it was 0-0 at HT. In the second half, Joel Ward whips one across and Cucho latches onto the end to make it 1-0. Subs Okereke and Raman linked up to put the ball in the back of the net but Okereke strayed offside. A stupid crossfield pass from Zaha lamds at the feet of Connolly one on one with our keeper who makes no mistakes...... 1-1 ABSOLUTE ROBBERY IN THE 93RD MINUTE AGAIN!!! We are making the rights steps now having been unbeaten in a few games but we need to turn these winning positions into 3 points if we are to climb the league table.

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Another difficult game sees the visit of Tottenham Hotspur to Selhurst Park and we hoped to extend our unbeaten run to four games. We dominated the opening twenty minutes with over 64% possession. Against the run of play Harry Kane managed to head home for the visitors and they had their lead. Another difficult one to take 1-0. Sakho's equaliser was then ruled out for offside. A second equaliser was AGAIN ruled out when Cucho Hernandez was adjudged offside and Tonali's was chalked off.

HALF TIME STATS

A route one counter attack had Ayew click Hernandez through but hemissed a sitter. He then missed another one a few minutes later from the exact same situation. Jordan Ayew then spurned another 1-on-1. 3 clear cut chances MISSED. NOT GOOD ENOUGH. Bradaric was then shown a second yellow yard..... 20 minutes left and 10 men. High flying Spirs held on for a thoroughly undeserved 1-0 win. Actually feel sick with this result....

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Away at Molineaux next, we need a good result today. I want a victory. Despite a quiet first half, Wolves managed to take the lead through a cross. Okereke scored an equaliser with 10 minutes remaining, GUESS WHAT?! ITS OFF F*&^%^& SIDE! It stays 1-0... Digusted and I can feel the pressure setting in now...

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Another welcome break saw us take a trip to Brentford in the Carabao Cup 4th Round. David Okereke finally managed to claim his second of the season within ten minutes finishing smartly. Wilfried Zaha managed to double our tally withn 5 minutes. Forss was able to then equalise from a freekick. He then equalised four minutes later. David Orkereke lashd hope his second of the afternoon to give us another lead. The 3-2 lead was enough to get us past Brentford away from home.

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Disaster AGAIN at Burnley. Gary Cahill turning a ball into his own net for 1-0 Burnley. 2-0 Burnley, what a nightmare.... We had the ball in the net. Painful to take. Really painful. 2-1 loss. We need to turn things around or I'll be getting the boot... and will be moving on before I'm ready to!​

 

[Crayth]

Poor month. We are playing abysmally this year. I have no idea what has happened. Our confidence is shot.Luckily the board seem to be giving me the backing to try and move us forward and I'm happy to try and do that.

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High flying Manchester United found themselves 2-0 up within 20 minutes. Zaha then went close to getting one back for us but that didn't come until Eray Comert scored his first for Palace. Ayew then went close to equaliser straight from kick off. Hernandez ran through a number of players but wasn't able to net from a tight angle. Despite testing Manchester United's keeper multiple times throughout the second half, they grabbed the key first goal through Martial. Immobile was then able to complet their rout My own confidence was taking an absolute hammering and I was finding it difficult to put my finger on what the problem is. Individual mistakes can't be made up for and neither can clear-cut chances being spurned on a regular basis. We need to put together some results or I'll be out of a job. I have no doubt about that.

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It never gets easier in the Premier League and the next game saw the visit of Chelsea. Dael Fry almost giving us the lead through a header in the 5th minute. Tonali almost scored from a freekick but Kepa did brilliantly to get in the way. Kepa again denied Okereke in the 15th minute from close range. Cucho was also denied after a great flowing move on the half hour mark but we still couldn't get the break through. Finally it came after 34 minutes when Cucho hammered home a belter from 25 yards. Ruben Dias did manage to equalise for Chelsea in the 40th minute from some poor defending at a freekick. Kepa again continued his superman-esque appearance by stopping us from close distance again. Vagnoman then gifted Chelsea a penalty in the 60th minute but Tsygankov dragged it miles wide. Still 1-1. Ayew came on as sub and missed a huge opportunity to put us ahead. Kepa had a magnificent game in goal for Chelsea.

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We have a huge chance to get a win in this game. Away at 20th placed Swansea City. This is the ONE. WE NEED TO KICKSTART OUR SEASON HERE!

A big chance within 12 minutes and BY GOD, we've taken it! Ruben Sobrino tucks home from a Martinez pass. 1-0. Cucho then joined the act and latched onto a ball from Vagnoman. Cucho as then able to tie up the points in the 85th minute bagging his second and then completing his hat-trick a minute later. 4-0 win. Much needed. Well deserved. A fantastic performance at the Liberty Stadium.

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What could have been a horrific month ended up hopefully being the one to get us back into action. Next month marks a year in charge and I hope that we can mount a resurgence the likes of which we did last year. It was a very difficult month and our next months fixtures look a tiny bit friendlier. We need to string some good performances togehter to ensure we don't end up having a nothing season.

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[Crayth]

Well done to Chuco Hernandez for claiming 'Young Player of the Month' award for November.
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Juan "Chuco" Hernandez has been fantastc in the last few and gets 2nd in POTM.
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[Crayth]

Last month has helped a little but there are plenty of concerns. C+ will be OK for now, hoping to improve that for next month.
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[Crayth]

Tonali is becoming a fantastic player. We will continue to develop and become an integral part of my team.

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Gonzalo Martinez did well down the left and cut inside and found Zaha at the back post to make it 1-0. Great start. Gonzalo Martinez then took it upon himself to tuck home the second cutting in from the left. A solid performance in the first half sees us go in at 2-0 up. After the break, we didn't take our foot off the gas. Bradaric firing home his first of the season. 3-0. Fry completed a thoroughly satisfying victory with a thunderous header from a corner. A thoroughly convinicing win and one we needed again.

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The next game was one we'd targeted as one we desperately wanted to win to keep us on our good run. We travelled away to struggling Reading at the Madjeski Stadium, looking to pile their misery on and relieve ours. We named another unchanged XI. After a dominating performance in the first half but not scoring, I thought we'd unfortunately fallen back into our old ways. Luckily, Ruben Sobrino stepped up to put us 1-0 in the lead in extra time of the first half. Gonzalo Martinez then waited until late in the second period to run the length of the pitch and smash it past Rafael in the Reading net. Three wins on the bounce and this is much more like it from the lads! Can't fault them for the last three games!

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Next game will see us back at home taking on Fulham. Ruben Sobrino tucked his third of the campaign away early to give us another lead. Joel Ward then smashed home a second just minutes later and it seems as though we're finally starting to play how we should. Tonali stinging the hands of the Fulham keeper before 20 minutes had passed. Fulham are down to 10 in the second half and that may be enough to secure the points. Fulham were able to give us a scare late on but Okereke was then happy to join the party and make it 3-1 to secure 9 points in 9, five unbeaten and four wins in a row!

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CARABAO CUP QUARTER FINAL / 2ND HALF OF DECEMBER NEXT​

 

[Crayth]

STARTING XI FOR SPURS AND CRYSTAL PALACE

Cucho went close early on in the first half but Lloris was equal to it. Tottenham took half an hour to show their quality, Nelson Semedo breaking through for Ancelotti's side. Harry Kane then managed to nab a second. It wasalways going to be difficult going away to the Tottehnam Hotspur Stadium. Cucho Hernandez did brilliantly to go straight up the other end and fired home for us, 2-1. But our joy was shortlived this time, Januzaj able to restore the two goal lead before the half time break. Spurs were able to hold onto their 3-1 win. Gutted to go out but was always going to be difficult.

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Our next trip wasn't very far either as we travelled to the London Stadium to face West Ham. Gonzalo Martinez broke the deadlock on 36 minutes. Diop managed to equalise for West Ham in the second half from a corner. Despite a fight back, West Ham were able to add a second and complete their comeback with a fantastic goal through Felipe Anderson. Despite a deseperate attack, we weren't able to turn it around. A really frustrating day....

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We travel away to Villa Park next. Aston Villa currently sit 18th and have just parted with manager Danny Cowley. Aston Villa are a club close to my heart, being the club I support. Milvojevic was re-introduced to the starting 11 and smashed one home from the edge of the box for 1-0. Adrien Silva scored an amazing freekick from 30-yards to equalise and peg us back. Wilf Zaha then went close to giving us our lead back but wasdenied by the keeper. Villa were then able to turn it around with a rebound which fell directly to Welsey. We then left ourselves wide open to a counter attack... 3-1..... and Bradaric has gone down injured. Dael Fry was slammed home a strike from 25 yards to give us hope going into the second half. 3-2. Stupid mistake from David Okereke on the attack gave Villa a gift of a break... 4-2. Poor.

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At the break it was 0-0. The final chance to give ourselves a nice taste leaving the month after a few frustrating results in the last few games. A quiet first half left us nervous but Zaha did brilliantly to set up Cucho who tucked it away for a 1-0 lead. MOUTINHO SCORES FROM ANOTHER FREEKICK. WTF... Every single time..

Cucho then added his second after being played in by Okereke and made sure our lead was restored. We managed to hold on and grind out the 2-1 win that we did deserve but we don't half make things difficult for ourselves.​

 

[Crayth]

13th is OK. Not where I'd wanted to be at the start of the season but I'm eager to turn this around and get us back into a good position near the end of the year.
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[Crayth]

We drew Brighton in the FA Cup 3rd Round and despite conceding an early goal. Erik Lamela finally managed to get his first in Crystal Palace colours and give us the equaliser. Andone was able to re-establish their lead despite our dominance in the first haf and we weren't able to cup back. We're out of the FA Cup and I am not happy about it. This has been a very shaky year in my career and I really hope I hope the tools to turn it around.

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We met them again, 7 days later back at Selhurst Park. A good goal from Brighton found them 1-0 up and before we knew it - it was two! Every player just randomly seems to decide when to show up and it is so frustrating watching them. Kondogbia scored a fantastic goal to get one back. Brighton tied it up late in the second half. 3-1. We just aren't putting the ball in the back of the net.

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Seko Fofana hadn't featured much and therefore left for greener pastures, we double our money for him as he left for £15 million to Valencia. We reinvested in PSG's listed Leandro Paredes in the hope he'd provide the creative spark we've been lacking from centre midfield all year. We've also been working on a loan for a centre forward as our centre forwards have not done the business this year.

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Everton's debutant Macias got one on his debut but Paredes played through Townsend for his firsrt assist. We are playing amazing football but keep finding ourselves just hit with two goals in quick succession when they don't deserve it... its becoming unbeliveably frustrating now. Individual mistakes are costing us EVERY SINGLE GAME. 4-1. This was becoming the worst month in my managerial career. Absolutely embarrassing. What has happened defensively this year, I have no idea, we seem completely lost and our strikers can't hit a barn door. January has stuffed us even more with Zaha and Okereke both away at the AFCON. It feels like 50% of my goals are disallowed for being offside or their keeper seems to have the greatest game ever and they score as soon as we miss. Its so annoying and its becoming heart-wrenching. 5-1 it ends, Everton run rampant at Goodison Park.

 

[andy_14clark]

Great read, love the layout of the story. Looks like things have been tougher this year. I think a change in formation maybe needed? Very rare to see a 4-4-2 / 4-2-4 in the premier league nowadays.

 

[Crayth]

Tottenham Hotspur took the lead through Lautaro Martinez who then waited until after the break to double his lead and Spurs' advantage. It was always going to be hard against a side flying high in the Prem and without over 5 first teamers. Martinez was able to secure his hat trick just after the hour mark. Alderwiereld added a fourth.

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Our final chance to take any points brings us up against Aston Villa at home who are still struggling themselves. We need a big win.

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Mason Greenwood arrives from Manchester United until the end of the season. We need some fire power, badly.

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Within two minutes Leandro Paredes showed us how good he is with a stunning assist, a 40 yard pass on the toe of Cucho who tucked away. 1-0, 3 minutes in. Max Meyer was then able to equalise for the visitors. Mason Greenwood then went close to his first Palace goal, striking the Villa woodwork. Tonali then stung the hands of Heaton. Jordan Ibe was then able to net his first ever Palace goal from a header. Paredes then played a fantastic through-ball for Cucho who tucked away marvellously. 3-1. Happy to get three points but its been such a poor month..

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Not good enough..

 

[Crayth]

Great read, love the layout of the story. Looks like things have been tougher this year. I think a change in formation maybe needed? Very rare to see a 4-4-2 / 4-2-4 in the premier league nowadays.

Certainly made some adjustments and made changes to the actual formation but never like changing a whole system mid-way through a season. Next year will probably be the year I switch it up.

 

[andy_14clark]

Do

Certainly made some adjustments and made changes to the actual formation but never like changing a whole system mid-way through a season. Next year will probably be the year I switch it up.

Do you not have a 2nd formation being worked on at the same time or just 1 tactic?

 

[Crayth]

Do


Do you not have a 2nd formation being worked on at the same time or just 1 tactic?

I have three and I've been using all three of them.

 

[Crayth]

The first trip of the month saw us travel to Southampton. Wilfred Zaha did fantatically well to get free and put a beautoful ball through and Mason Greenwood applied the finishing touches to make it 1-0. Leandro Paredes was able to double the tally just before the half way point. Cucho ran through 1-on-1 and managed to make it 3-0, a good first half from the lads. We were able to create quite a bit in the second half but wasn't able to grab the fourth. A great performance. Mason Greenwood and Leandro Paredes were fantastic.

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A SHOCKING DEVELOPMENT! IVORY COAST HAVE ASKED ME TO TAKE OVER AS MANAGER OF THE NATIONAL SIDE AND I'VE ACCEPTED!

We have a fantastic group of players. Zaha, Pepe, Bailly, Aurier, Kessie, Gbamin. This is a very good side and I think given time we could achive great things. I am aiming to win the next AFCON with Ivory Coast.

 

[Crayth]

A fantastic strike fromZaha gives us an early lead against Arsenal at Selhurst Park. Mason Greenwood was then able to double our lead shortly afterwards after Zaha set him up. Barkley was able to grab one back from a freekick routine. Jordan Ibe stole in at the back post to restore our 2 goal lead before the half time whistle. Zaha added his second of the game with a fantastic finish just before the hour mark to make it 4-1. Lucas Torreira got one back for the visitors with a good strike. We were strong enough to hold on though until the final whistle and took a fantastic 4-2 victory away.

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The next game see's us face West Ham at Selhurst Park. West Ham have been in a similar position to us all year and we hope to take advantage of the game today. Looking for three wins on the bounce now and we have a big opportunity. West Ham come into this from a home loss against Aston Villa. A silly mistake gifts US the lead for a chance. A poor mistake from Diop makes it 1-0. We double our advantage through a fantastic Cucho header. A beautiful delivery from Joel Ward from RB. Paredes and Tonali are running the midfield and dictating the game. Mason Greenwood continued to prove his worth with a finish at the front post from Zaha's cross. Sub Gonzalo Martinez then joined in on the act, tucking home a rebound to make it 4-0 and secure the 3 points for us. A good performance today at Selhurst Park. Diop was able to get one back from a corner which did put a bit of pressure on us in the last 15 minutes or so. We were able to hold them off until the final whistle to grab another well needed 3 points.

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My first game as Ivory Coast manager will come away against Burkino Faso in the World Cup 2022 Qualifiers. We are confident in getting full points from both games.

*I will do a more in-depth review and summary of the Ivory Coast position in my next post!

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We face Fulham in our final fixture of Feburary, which has been a fantastic month for us. I hope we can continue and make the most of our good form and put Fulham to the sword. Greenwood and Zaha go close early on but aren't able to get the breakthrough. Eventually, Greenwood latched onto a beautiful through ball from Paredes and tucked home. 1-0. Fulham managed to get one back in the 89th minute completely against the run of play! Thats what happens when you DONT FINISH YOUR CHANCES!!!

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Still in the same position but a much better month see's us fly away from the pack below us and focus us squarely on those above. Big three months ahead for us.
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[Crayth]

Delighted for Greenwood and Hernandez who manage to jump straight into the Young Player of the Month award, unfortunate not to win behind Sancho.

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[Crayth]

A shocking result as we lose 1-0 against Reading at home. Absolutely awful. Not saying anything more. Really annoyed.

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A good finish from Leandro Paredes puts us 1-0 up at the King Power Stadium. Greenwood doubled our lead in the second half with a brilliant header to get his 5th in a Palace shirt. A solid performance where we haven't looked like giving anything away really. A very good team performance to bounce back from the awful result at half against Reading. Clean sheet and three points. Job done.
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Despite fighting back from 2-0 down to 2-2. Chelsea grabbed a last minute equaliser than was only ruled out by a Jordan Ibe header in the very last minute! A fantastic point away at Stamford Bridge and very happy considering how we got the points!

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Up into 11th place, breathing down the neck of 10th placed Brighton and that'll be where we are aiming for the last 7 games.

 

[Crayth]

Despite being 3-0 up, we manage to draw 3-3! Frustrating but hoping to make it 4 out of 6 against Zimbabwe! Frustrating afternoon after such a brilliant display first 80 minutes...

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A fantastic first half saw us go into the break 5-0 up. Zimbabwe were able to get one of their own back before the full time whistle but it was a comfortsble result in the end.

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I think when we play our next group games, we will take control and ensure our progression. I can't see anything but us progressing.