marcgallifa

Professional response to a few injuries.
In regards to resting players - we are preparing ourselves for a season in Europe next year, hopefully champions league. Allan has played 2 games in a week before this so i fully back carlo for selecting this team and trying to win our club something.... finally.

I think we need to temper expectations not because he can't be golden boot winner but because I don't think he relies on goals - they don't indicate his value to the team.
For 3 years I went on about the need to have a striker who wasn't necessarily a great goalscorer but a player who could bring others into play.  I think I said an 18 goal striker who could hold up the ball and link up was more valuable than a striker who scores 25 and nothing much else. 
The reality is that Dom will probably get to 18 goals and he will do it by giving the team an outlet, assists, the ability to see out games by winning fouls, chasing down lost causes.  He will miss the odd sitter, may not burst the net from 30 yards, may score his goals by means of rebounds or tap ins.... But we will notice when he's not playing. 
He didn't have a technically great game today, he was up against tough strong centre half's, but he really did fight every step of the way .... He got his goal, probably should have had more but it was impressive watching him in the last 5 minutes - played like Alan Shearer in the sense that he won us fouls, got his body in between the ball and defender and took the hits. 
This is what a modern striker is all about IMO.  

As others have said that was a win we don’t get in previous seasons. Windy, rainy, on the road, Palace in good form. So often when you watch a “Top” club they find a way to grind out a result when they aren’t at their best. It’s the difference between 6th and 10th..or 4th and 6th. In some ways I think it was our most impressive win. Learning to be winners.