Last night was one to forget, we got the much needed win and you can see that we were more comfortable in the 2nd half once we changed shape slightly.

My overriding observation is Puncheon simply doesn't understand (or is capable) of playing the role required of him. Play often slowed when he got on the ball, his passing is woeful in that he doesn't hit the pass with any weight allowing the receiver to be surrounded or for the ball to be intercepted.

He doesn't move to offer an angle when the ball is with someone else, instead he simply hides or runs alongside the player. It was very noticeable that others were digging him out for his passing in the first 30 mins, esp PVA, Kelly, Cabaye

It's as if for the majority of the night the players were waiting for the system to deliver rather than working within the system to allow it to.

By this I mean to play the system you have to move the ball quickly, with the midfield constantly on the move producing short angles to allow the ball to played through the lines.

When we had the ball and it was being carried from deep players simply ran alongside the ball carrier which in the end only offered a sideways ball and then slowed play down.

Clearly McArthur and Cabaye are far better suited to the system and what it requires. We only showed ANY urgency when Townsend came on and injected that pace; but we only sustained it for a 10min period when we score both and then took the foot off the gas nearly getting caught out at the end.

Up front Lokilo and Kai Kai still look too leightweight (which is to be expected I guess)though it was good to see them getting most if not all of the game.

Speroni could've done better with the goal as it looked as though it went under him; but it was noticeable how much better we looked with his distribution and ability on the ball than we've seen from Hennessey.I even saw a Palace keeper catch a cross!

At no time (other than the goal) were under any threat...even with the above malaise we controlled the game, but it was against an Ipswich reserve side.

We must inject more urgency into our passing; with that will come more confidence and goals.

The Voice of Reason In An Otherwise Mediocre World

Agree with most of this. What was encouraging wwas that for that 10 min spell we looked very good, with players actually passing and moving, which didn't happen for most of the game. So it shows we are capable if doing it. AAlthough even during that 10 min spell it broke down whenever puncheon got the ball. Think we would be mad to sell townsend, he made such a difference when he came on.