Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew had a lot to say in this week’s press conferences, speaking on the form of attacking midfielders Jason Puncheon, Yannick Bolasie and Wilfried Zaha. Elsewhere, Cesc Fabregas plays down his recent lack of output, while Ronald Koeman discusses the tactics that underpinned the Saints’ stalemate with Chelsea. Tony Pulis muses on the importance of home wins, Gabriel Agbonlahor raves about his new central role, and Tim Sherwood likens Leandro Bacuna to legendary Brazilian right-back Cafu.
Fabregas unconcerned over lack of assists…
In the first half of the 2014/15 Premier League season, Cesc Fabregas was an assist machine, notching up 13 through to Gameweek 19. Since the turn of year, however, the deep-lying playmaker has been less productive from a Fantasy perspective, registering two assists in seven outings. Speaking to the London Evening Standard, Fabregas addressed this matter and insisted that operating as an effective midfield pivot is contingent upon distributing to team-mates rather than providing assists:
“It doesn’t matter (when the last one was). I don’t even know if it’s been eight games, five or 10 – there are so many more aspects. I don’t expect to get an assist per game. If I was playing regularly as a No.10, I’d say judge me on my assists. But in a midfield pivot like we play at Chelsea, where I’m 20 metres behind the striker, of course I’m not going to get in the same position as many times as when you’re No.10, So it’s more difficult to get assists. If I was playing next to Diego Costa, Didier Drogba and Eden Hazard every game, then I’d say maybe [assists would be more realistic], but for me, now, it’s about making the team play, making the team click. I need to pass the ball to Hazard, to Oscar, Willian and Juan Cuadrado, all these players. I try to make the team move forward and make runs when I can.”
Koeman explains tactics against Chelsea…
Southampton boss Ronald Koeman demoted Graziano Pelle – who’d not scored in 11 starts – to the bench for their 1-1 draw against Chelsea last Sunday, drafting in Shane Long to spearhead Saints attack. The Dutch manager revealed it was a tactical decision intended to afford Sadio Mane more space behind the Blues rearguard – a ploy that clearly worked given that the elusive Mane was hauled down for the penalty that evened things up at Stamford Bridge.
“Shane deserves to start because he is working hard, doing well and then you need some opportunities of the coach. The way Chelsea played it was the best option to put Shane in front. I think it was a big problem for them in the first half and that was the reason to change the system to put Shane in front. We knew maybe we get some space behind the defence of Chelsea and how Sadio played behind the lines behind Shane makes it very difficult for them in the first half.”
Pardew looking for more from Bolasie and Zaha…
Eagles wing duo Yannick Bolasie and Wilfried Zaha terrorised Queens Park Rangers’ floundering full-backs last Saturday; Bolasie notched two assists and Zaha tallied a goal and an assist as Palace stormed to a 3-0 lead in the first half. Only three midfielders attempted more take-ons than Zaha – who only lasted 57 minutes due to a stiffened hip – last Gameweek. Bolasie, meanwhile, produced six key passes for his team-mates; more than any player in the previous round of fixtures. Although impressed by the pair’s individual talent, manager Alan Pardew played down the hype surrounding Bolasie and Zaha, insisting they need to register more goals and improve their tactical diligence to compete with the league’s best wide men:
“I wouldn’t say they were the best wingers in the country, but they’re exciting. There’s two flaws in their game, really. One – they don’t score enough goals, and two – being disciplined in their defensive duties. They are two areas we’ve worked hard on but their individual talent, the way they go past players and lift it over their heads, that’s purely from within and what they’ve learned in how they’ve been brought up. They were fantastic, so exciting in the first half – a kind of throw back.”
McArthur on Pardew’s ploys to exploit widemen via midfield raiders…
Only Manchester City (27) attempted more crosses than Crystal Palace’s 26 in Gameweek 29. As mentioned above, Bolasie and Zaha were the chief proponents of Alan Pardew’s width-focused philosophy, stretching the R’s rearguard by engineering one-on-one situations on the flanks. Midfielder James McArthur spoke to the club’s official website about Palace’s new style of play, having latched onto a Bolasie cross to score his second goal of the campaign. He revealed that Pardew has placed an emphasis on getting midfield runners into the box to capitalise on the wealth of crosses:
“The manager has been getting on at us to get bodies into the box because of the quality of our wingers. The balls they’ve put in have set the goals up and Wilf has managed to score as well so they’ve been excellent. Yannick was terrific too and I’m sure he’ll be happy with the assist as well. He [Pardew] has got us playing a style of play that we enjoy and everyone is really expressing themselves which is great for the fans to watch as well.”
Pardew on Puncheon’s displays…
Judging from the underlying statistics, Jason Puncheon has been far more influential for Palace since Pardew’s appointment at Selhurst Park. Between Gameweeks 1 and 20 – when Neil Warnock was at the helm – Puncheon only mustered 44 touches, 21 passes and 1.4 chances created per appearance. From Gameweek 21 onwards, however, the former Saints winger has averaged 71 touches, 39 passes and 2.9 chances created. Pardew was quick to praise Puncheon for his innate ability to seek out a pass and deliver quality service from set-plays:
“Puncheon, who I think has been most influential player since I’ve arrived, gives us a culture on the ball that we didn’t have… His quality for us is exceptional. He’s the only sort of player in the group, which worries me that I need to address in the summer; that has the culture to find a pass. His set-play delivery today, sometimes it goes under-valued, putting the ball on the money. He’s improved massively since I had him at Southampton. It’s all credit to him, his family around him and the way he conducts himself. He’s been the best player at this football club since I’ve been here, for sure.”
Pulis on Hawthorns form…
West Brom have recorded four clean sheets in their previous five clashes at The Hawthorns, conceding only three goals. Conversely, prior to Tony Pulis’ appointment as head coach, the Baggies had earned just two shut-outs in 10 home matches. Speaking in a programme article for the Stoke City encounter, Pulis reiterated how imperative home form is to cultivating confidence in the crowd and giving them something to cheer about:
“What we have to do is put our stamp on this ground. We had to make it a fortress and win games. We are doing that at the moment. That breeds confidence through the team but also through the crowd, and that is the important thing, and it is bringing the supporters back into feeling that they have an enormous part to play. It started quietly but it is now reaching a pitch that is brilliant. The supporters have come back on board and it is wonderful.”
Agbonlahor loving central role…
In Aston Villa’s three successive victories in all competitions, Gabriel Agbonlahor has operated as a central striker in a variety of formations (4-4-2, 4-3-3 and 4-1-2-1-2), having previously been tasked with providing width on either flank. The lifelong Villains marksman has profited from this change in role, netting three goals in as many starts. Agbonlahor is relishing the opportunity to play up top but concedes that manager Tim Sherwood reserves the right shift to him out wide depending on the match-up:
“It’s always good to score especially when you’re playing down the middle. I’m enjoying playing there. In different games, the gaffer will change it as he sees fit and I’m happy to be playing as striker at the moment. We’re creating more chances and we’re starting to put them away which is good for Christian and I in terms of confidence (sic). We’ll keep working hard this week and try and do the same against Swansea.”
Sherwood talks up Bacuna…
After Alan Hutton picked up his tenth yellow of the season in Villa’s 2-1 league win over West Brom – ruling him out of their next two fixtures – right winger Leandro Bacuna has been fielded in the right-back berth by Tim Sherwood. The Villa boss has been impressed by the Dutchman’s performances and even compared him to Brazilian luminary Cafu. Sherwood also revealed that his intense fitness regime in training has led to injuries among Villa’s defensive figures.
“I don’t believe we should train any differently to how we play. Every day we train flat out. I want them to train with that intensity. We’ve lost a few to injury along the way by doing that though. We’ve only got three fit defenders. Leandro Bacuna, who’s a right sided attacking player was playing at right-back and he looked like Cafu against Sunderland. I’m delighted with him. We’ve almost had to teach him to play right-back. Him being a stodgy, stay-where-you-are right-back isn’t his game so we’ve shown him some videos of how he plays and how we want him to play. He’s enjoying it and he could be a very good right-back for the future of this club.”
