It's weird to think that two years later and we're in this position again.
And this is all we ask for.
You know, I don't even know anymore.
We've had quite a few experiences of aftermaths like the Everton game yet it still feels like it's something new.
I don't know how they manage to go to new lows but somehow, this team finds a way.
That trust was gone a long time ago but due to the five-game unbeaten run, it felt like perhaps we were turning a corner. We hadn't gone on such a run since 22/23 and it wasn't wrong of us to believe that maybe this time, it was for real.
This is what I had to say before the Monday night game:
Absolute fool. I know 😔.
Pardon me for actually believing.
What they've shown us is that Monday night's version is who we truly are, that no matter how well we play for a run of games, or the results we get in certain matches, eventually, we'll put in a performance where we don't even show up.
Palace on Sunday afternoon screams loss written all over it.
Knowing United, we'll win this game 😐.
Predicted Lineup
This was the side I thought Amorim will go with against Everton but instead, he opted for something more defensive, and worse.
I believe he'll revert to this more orthodox XI, and by orthodox I mean what that seems to make more sense with what he has available and one that includes his favourites, but after Monday night, much like that performance, anything is possible.
I doubt that Martinez will be able to start and would you want him to at Selhurst Park? A difficult game to come into but with the way Shaw is playing, why the fuck not?
If Maguire is back, he will most likely return to the XI for Yoro. Amorim has been doing this all season and as we're away from home against a good side, he can afford to play this more pragmatic game (not like we know how to do anything else) and have the England defender at the back.
The midfield was played through far too easily on Monday which isn't a surprise yet we know the manager will stick to Casemiro and Bruno. They will come up against another United target in Adam Wharton and I will bet that he will absolutely boss them and this game.
Amad HAS to move back to RWB. He's been at his best in that position and with Mbeumo ahead of him, that seems to be the one area of the team that's actually worked well. Why Amorim has then decided to change it in the last two matches, only he knows.
Pick your poison between Dalot and Dorgu down the left. Both are shit. I'd rather play with 10 men than either one of them.
Cunha should be back and we need him in this team because we know what a maverick of a player like him can do. Not that he's had the best of seasons but we have a better chance with him than without. I'd also like to see Mount start up front because this front three was performing relatively well earlier in the season.
I believe that Zirkzee blew his chance against Everton and while he wasn't completely shit and there were bad performances across the team, he didn't really do anything to show why he should be starting as striker.
I guess you could say the same with Mainoo but as Amorim has his favourites, even if these two played superbly, I doubt that they would've started on Sunday.
A part of me almost feels like throwing Amorim's team and game plan out the window because it's stupid. I'm not even talking about the system because I feel it can work but he needs to play the right players in the right positions.
I would rather try Shaw as LWB over Dalot or Dorgu and hope he doesn't break down; put Martinez in his place because we need him in the team; use Mainoo next to Casemiro; push Bruno into no 10 next to Mbeumo and start Cunha up top.
That side has a lot of the favourties and has players in their best positions whilst maintaining that 3-4-3 formation.
What the fuck is so hard about picking that team?
Approach
We will be coming up against a proper 3-4-3. We will see exactly how it should be working when you have the right players in the right positions.
People sometimes say that when it's done right, this formation can be very difficult to break down.
United have a problem with breaking down any system as we are just shit. Palace are also one of those tough teams to play through which means that we won't know what to do.
Amorim's persistence with Casemiro and Bruno in midfield will be one of his main downfalls as that pair simply do not work consistently well. In the odd game or two, not bad but when we need them to do it all the time, bad.
There was an instance in the loss to Everton where Idrissa Gueye (yes it was this early in the game) came to take the ball off of the goalkeeper on the edge of their box. He simply dropped his shoulder, sold Bruno a dummy and then proceeded to run the length of the field all the way through to our final third, play a pass out wide before an enticing cross was put into the box that almost resulted in a chance.
All of this came about because of a simple drop of the shoulder.
In attack, we see that if Amad and Mbeumo aren't doing anything, no one is. They were rendered moot against the Toffees and United failed to make too many clear-cut chances. We have become too reliant on them and will have MASSIVE issues when they leave for the AFCON.
The thing about Palace is, they aren't a side that is like Brighton, Liverpool and Arsenal. They don't necessarily dominate possession (they average 42.8% which is joint second-lowest) which means that they are one of those sides we hate to play against.
Considering the team the manager will pick, I don't actually know what to expect. He will most likely select the same or similar XI to Everton and we will probably get the same performance and then you know what will happen.
If he goes with the team I would like to see, I feel like it's more square pegs in square holes. You have the better players in their best positions: Bruno as no 10 is the key because of how he plays and the creativity he brings which is what we need in the final third. The midfield appears better with Mainoo (an actual no 8) next to Casemiro is more balanced. Shaw is better as a full-back than Dorgu and Dalot and has a good cross on him. Cunha or Mount are better strikers than Zirkzee and Amad on the right is at his best.
We could have more of a chance.
But what the fuck do I know 🤷♂️?
Form
We went from being unbeaten in five to winless in three. More than those last three games, the performances were atrocious. People were content with the draw at Spurs but the warning signs were there with that second half display in particular.
The goal difference is now at 0 thanks to this recent loss. This was also the first time we hadn't scored since the derby in September. Scoring wasn't much of a problem for us as we were one of the highest scorers but to not be able to score against 10 men is something I can't describe. And it was at home.
United moved down to 10th after Monday night with a record of five wins, three draws and four losses. The good thins is that we are still just 3 points behind top 4 and just 2 behind Palace with our 18 points.
In the away table, surprisingly, we are also 10th. Really thought we'd be lower 😳. On the road we've only won one game (Anfield which seems like a distant memory), but have also had three draws and two losses with 8 scored and 12 conceded giving us just 6 points.
In the last seven league meetings against Palace, we've won just once which was in 22/23. The Eagles have won four and there's been two draws. More than this, we haven't scored against them in the last four matches and the last time we won at Selhurst Park was back in July 2020. Peak COVID!
Yeah, we're so losing this.
Crystal Palace
The Eagles once again are flying high as Oliver Glasner and co are sitting pretty in 5th with five wins, five draws and just two losses all season! Only Arsenal have suffered defeat on fewer occasions.
Palace may not be prolific scorers as they have 16 (although that is just 3 fewer than us) but they don't concede too many either. 9 is all they've let in and again, Arsenal are the only side who've let in fewer (6). They also have 20 points which is just 3 behind Chelsea in 2nd.
Shockingly, Palace are 14th in the home table 😳. It's thanks to their away form that they have had a good season. Yet, they still haven't lost at Selhurst Park as they have two wins and four draws.
Records like these should give me hope that we might have a chance but it doesn't. If ever there was a team that Palace would want to face to try and improve that home record it would be United, other than Liverpool probably.
It's crazy to think how Glasner has them playing even after selling Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise. In a way, it's like how Brighton are: regardless of how many and who they sell, they will continue in the same manner and play good football and in time, produce more top talent that the big clubs would want to buy.
They may not have high profile players in terms of names but what they are is a team. They play as one.
Palace also show up every match and give their best which is more than enough to beat us.
One thing that could also work for us is that they have a Europa League game tonight in France. That may just make for a more even game but Palace should be heavy favourites nonetheless.
Prediction
I say we give them the 3 points now. I can't see how this United side get anything from Selhurst Park looking at our state and how well-drilled the Eagles are.
This is also a ground where we don't perform and Palace are just a top team besides. While them playing away in France on Thursday night could give us a bit of an advantage, it won't matter too much.
It's very difficult to predict this United side because we don't know whether they will show up or not. I wouldn't be surprised if we saw another 4-0 thumping like a couple seasons ago.
To not now whether we will show up or not is criminal. It's not even about playing well anymore, that's how bad things are.
I think this will be a comfortable 3-1 win for Palace.
Marc Guehi | Image via Crystal Palace official X (@CPFC)
Selhurst Park | Creator: Sebastian Frej/MB Media | Credit: Getty Images Copyright: 2023 Sebastian Frej/MB Media via We are Palace
Matheus Cunha | Image via Manchester United official X (@ManUtd)