**Pre-match Prediction thread, Cardiff City v Crystal Palace**

Christmas Eve and Boxing Day are normal working days in France, so I thought I'd put this up today, as you lot will no doubt be pre-occupied with last minute shopping and, then, far too much to eat and drink........ :hohoho:

I'll start with my team and prediction.......

Marshall

McNaughton
Hudson
Turner
Taylor

Conway
Mutch
Whitts
Noone

Helguson
Bellamy

I expect to see Conway keep his place, as he was excellent against Leicester and will afford McNaughton the best protection against Zaha.

Result.......I take City to kick on from Leicester and make a real statement to the rest of the division.....3 - 0

Same line up as against Leicester although possibly Rudy in for Hieder.

I'm feeling confident about this game, expect it to be tight but ultimately a city won. 2-0.

Nervous low quality match with City scraping a one goal difference win...

I saw Hieder in ASDA in Leckwith yesterday... He was looking to pay and there were four open tills and he missed them all.... He needs a rest.... I'd give Mason and Bellers the shout

We need to remove Bolasie and Zaha from the game if we are going to stand a chance. Zaha is the man under the spotlight but on Saturday all he did was finish off the chance, some awesome play from Bolasie set him up. They are both very very dangerous, and they also have the leagues top scorer who can't be ignored either.

Despite their position in the league this year however i feel if we negate those three they will roll over for us pretty simply. It's no easy task, but it's what needs to be done.

Conway should keep his place and Noone should get his back. Mutch and Whitts to finish off the midfield, with the attack being Bellers and Mason. I would however look at the possibility of playing Bellamy wide right if Zaha gets a bit hot, as he should be able to rough him up a little bit.

Red614 wrote:We need to remove Bolasie and Zaha from the game if we are going to stand a chance. Zaha is the man under the spotlight but on Saturday all he did was finish off the chance, some awesome play from Bolasie set him up. They are both very very dangerous, and they also have the leagues top scorer who can't be ignored either.

Despite their position in the league this year however i feel if we negate those three they will roll over for us pretty simply. It's no easy task, but it's what needs to be done.

Conway should keep his place and Noone should get his back. Mutch and Whitts to finish off the midfield, with the attack being Bellers and Mason. I would however look at the possibility of playing Bellamy wide right if Zaha gets a bit hot, as he should be able to rough him up a little bit.

...........steady on now Red.....we almost agree on selection.......

Good point about Bellamy tracking Zaha. I think everyone will have to pitch in to negate the threat of their front three.

However, attack is the best form of defence and if Conway, Noone, Mutch & Bellamy go at them from the start, then I can't see them living with us. Much as I would love to see the Mason / Bellamy pairing, I can see Malky going with Helguson (or just maybe Gestede), as he does like to include a physical presence, particularly with the two wingers.

A tiresome draw or City to scrape a win. Holloway to have a meltdown about some grevious referee decision and finally get incarcerated.

Holloway showed no respect for Bellamy's pace last time he brought a team to CCS and I'd expect him to leave similar space at the back on Boxing Day. Helguson isn't the player to join Bellmay in exploiting that space, so I'd give Rudy a chance to prove his value. Rudy can motor and I like the idea of him and Bellamy up against an exposed back four.

I wouldn't play Noone and Conway. I think our midfield plays too wide when they are together. Kimbo or even Cowie to play on one side, choice of Conway or Noone on the other. Tough decision over Mutch or Gunnarson to partner Whitts. Right now I prefer Gunns but Malky might be thinking of saving the Icelander to cover McNaughton

3-1 City :SantaSleigh:

Saha murdered MacNaughton in the 3-2 defeat at Crystal Palace and after MacNaughton's performance against Peterborough I would expect Gunnarson to get the nod at right-back.
My team would be:

Marshall

Gunnarson
Hudson
Turner
Taylor

Noone
Mutch
Whittingham
Kimbo

Bellamy
Helguson/Gestede

2-0 City.

I think whoever plays at right back is going to have to helped out by right midfield, which is why I expect Conway to get the nod, with either Noone or Kimbo on the left.