Middlesbrough v Crystal Palace 25th August 2012

There is a renewed optimism around Crystal Palace today. Darcy Blake, Yannick Bolasie and Andre Mortiz have all joined. However these players haven’t trained with the squad let alone learnt the defensive tactics and that’s where the problem lies with Palace. The defensive tactics, of Serie A, that Dougie Freedman tries to play aren’t working. The defensive midfielders can’t keep the ball and the pressure builds up, resulting in goals conceded.

I expect the side to look something like this tomorrow;

4-5-1

Speroni

Ward
Ramage                                              
McCarthy                         
Parr

Bolasie               
Blake                    
Dikgacoi                           
Jedinak                              
Zaha

                                                             
Murray

With that line up not much has changed from the first 2 games of the season, the midfield 3 is still defensively minded and don’t offer much going forward, let alone ball retention. Zaha and Bolasie are similar players, they have pace and tricks but limited end product. Murray is far from a proven goal scorer at this level.

When you add into that the defensive frailties that have been shown in the final third of last season and the opening two games of this, things don’t look great for a trip to Middlesbrough. Palace haven’t won away in the league in 2012, haven’t won in previous 11 league games, 4 wins in the 27 Championship fixtures this calendar year  and to top it off they haven’t won on their last 6 trips to Middlesbrough.

Palace will improve as the season goes on, especially when Williams comes back and the tactics revert to 4-4-2 with Zaha up front. However I cannot see them playing like that tomorrow so the bet has to be…

Middlesbrough to win @ 1.80 – General