Something, somewhere is very wrong. I watched yesterday's game with Chelsea and it was painful to sit through. Indeed, at one point I switched to the rugby for some respite. I returned to see more of the same. Now, I'm merely a Palace fan and have no expert knowledge, but I know a good game of football when I see one. I certainly didn't see one yesterday.

There are those of you who are quick to blame the manager for sending out the team to play in wrong positions in a system and formation you consider unsuitable. I happen to think Roy has done a brilliant job for our cash strapped club and I am not looking to see him forced out now, but I do think, for the sake of the club, a change is needed before we start another season in the Premier League.

What of the players though? Are they to blame? There appears to be no enthusiasm or passion for the game. Eze looks lost sometimes and I had such high hopes. Benteke lacks movement and, to my untrained eye, he doesn't appear to read the game well at all. OK, he scored our only goal but..... Zaha is nowhere near the player he was. I'd have liked to see Schlupp start and Mateta come off the bench at least. To me though, without even attempting to suggest a solution, the team as a whole looks jaded. So, a change is needed here too.

Point is, where does the responsibility lie for our poor form? It would be easy to say with both the manager and the players. But is it that simple? If we take on a new manager and had a clear out of some players, would we see a revitalised Palace? I'm not convinced although, as I said at the start of this I'm no expert.

In my old fashioned way I think the players have to show more fire in their bellies, use their footballing skills and do what the manager expects to at least look like they want to win a game of football.

Just jotting down a few thoughts really, but I expect it'll start a few Hares running. Over to you lot.

Dad and I watched games standing on the muddy slope of the Holmesdale Road end. He cheered and I rattled.

I agree , as I said in my post and I’m sure fans will agree, I almost feel guilty with being disappointed with our season because on paper , we have again survived , comfortably! Not spent much money at all compared to the rest of the league and yet after every game almost I feel flat and deflated. Maybe it’s neither the team or management , maybe it’s this ridiculous time we live in, no fans, packed schedules , Covid tests , family worries , maybe it really is just the times .
Either way, one thing is for certain, Roy needs to make changes when things go wrong as I said in my thread , if he doesn’t do that he opens his self up to criticism and rightly so , because 99 times out of 100, when we go a goal down, we have no idea how to get back in the game

Good post

“This is a crisis, a large crisis.... in fact if you have a moment, it’s a 12 storey crisis, magnificent entrance hall, carpeting throughout, 24 hour portage , and an enormous sign on the roof saying “This , is a large crisis” - Edmund Blackadder

Player: "Brilliant. I don't fancy playing too much but I hear from my mate Connor they have a comfy treatment room with all the mod cons to hang out in. He's been on the skive there for years ... Easy money ! "

I sat and watched the whole game yesterday, (as painful a watch at it was) and the clear difference was Chelsea pressed all over the pitch from back to front and vice versa – we did not, we just sat and off the ball and let them have it.

There were numerous times yesterday where we had the ball at the back but there was no out ball, IMO that was a combination of Palace players not showing/able to make space to show themselves as a viable passing option and Chelsea’s pressing.

As prime example being Eze and the first goal, OK there is some vindication in that he was culpable and he has got to learn that sometimes in those positions he has got to put the proverbial foot through it and clear our lines, but he literally had no passing options.

So why is this happening – again IMO it’s because we have no pace and no mobility through the spine of the team. Which also means unlike Chelsea we can’t press as the lack of pace and mobility means that if players get caught out of position they can’t recover and we’re left exposed.

So we/Roy opt’s for a rigid formation and men behind the ball and “hope” they can’t/don’t pass and manoeuvre around that rigid formation – now against lesser teams you’ll get away with it, as has been proved, hence our points total.

But against better, more mobile teams able to move the ball quickly you will not.

Let’s be honest yesterday we were up against a side that are about to go into the Champions League semi final, a side full of youthful and exceptional talent and have the luxury of 32 players out on loan and if I dare say so a fair few of which would walk into the Palace first XI.

Beyond that they have Champions League Finalist as a Manager who is young and innovative in terms of tactics, approach and style of play. They also had the added incentive of being embarrassed last time out in the league by the team second from bottom scoring 5 against them at Home – so it was always going to be a tough ask.

But is that an the total story and an excuse for such an inept performance, I would say no it also highlights that Roy is very rigid and not a little stubborn in terms of his tactics and approach – he just trots out the same team and formation irrespective of who we are playing and the circumstances.

If ever there was an argument to play 3 in central midfield yesterday was it. Beyond that he continues to play square pegs in round holes to suit that formation – e.g. Ayew is not a right winger/midfielder – why not play Townsend who would have given an ageing Ward more protection.

Zaha is not a forward play him on the left and then Eze in behind Benteke, or as I said play 3 central midfielders and give Eze a rest for a game/ bring on later – his time will come he is a class act.
The lack of mobility and pace through our spine has been there for all to see for a while, which brings into question the recruitment of Mateta, was that what was really/urgently required? My answer is no we need/needed at least one if not two mobile central midfielders.

I know some will point to Mateta’s goal against Brighton – but that aside how often has he featured – 2 or 3 times as a Sub – so not required when we already had Bats warming the bench, who as proved against Everton given the opportunity will score goals.

Point of all this is that as proved this season at the moment our/Roy’s rigid formations and tactics will get us by against the lesser teams in the Premiership, but come up against the better sides they and our lack of mobility will be ruthlessly exposed by the better teams on “their day” as proved yesterday and against Liverpool.

Added issue that we have is that the “status quo” of our current modus operandi has limited/and quickly diminishing shelf life given the age of our squad and Manager..!!

So in summary change is required both on and off the pitch this summer – in terms of injection of youth, mobility and innovation if we are to push on – or even if to just maintain our Premiership status.

COYP

Nail on head Plaistow Eagle. Hodgson has a rigid set up and won’t change it and will play the same way against any team we play. I’m told On talksport today, Palace players were described as training cones. Basically, a team rigid with no option for change :-(

Agree with pretty much everything here. (I edited some out just for space. Please read PE's original.)

I've said it before; I believe Roy is just doing exactly what the Board has mandated him to do as best he can, keep us out of relegation with minimal expenditures. Make do with what you have plus a bit we give you and he's done that very well. It's ugly, but it works. Also I think the players are still trying, it just doesn't appear like it because we lack so much pace and quality.

With the financial situation after Covid I can see Palace just doing a repeat of this year. Give Roy a contract for the year, dump some deadwood, buy one or two cheap plus some loans and try to stay up for another year. I'm not sure I can watch another year like this though. it's just not enjoyable.

Or we could take the more risky route of new manager (would need it if a rebuild is in the works) try to pick up players cheaply from clubs looking to shed players to trim the salaries load and come out of this stronger with actual goals other than just avoiding relegation. I'm not sure the Board is up for this.

Success will lie to you but failure always tells you the truth.