I'm struggling to see any positives atm and would be inclined to ridicule any suggestion that 'all is fine/nothing's wrong'. Last year was a fantastic time to be a Palace fan and this season seems back to the very familiar feeling of being an awful one - a false dawn. Last season was the first ever time I felt as though I supported a 'steady, established' PL side.

Usually, there are several groups by my reckoning who bear the brunt of ire when things are in such a 2&8 but I'll concentrate on the following:

- The players
- The manager/coaching staff
- The Board

IMHO, I would suggest the following:

The players - Seems to be a real lack of fight and passion in the squad as things stand. Team also looks to be based around a few individuals with a lot of makeweights/squad fillers merely completing numbers. Cannot identify any leadership amongst them or a recognised, undisputed starting XI. Lightweight, boyish and often not good enough.

The manager - Was given a lot of new 'talent' (according to some anyway) however inherited an at least somewhat dogged and well-drilled Hodgson side. I am inclined to believe the combination of the aforementioned, plus his own 'brand' of football, inspired surely by the likes of Guardiola, looked very promising to begin with. This season however, it would seem as though any real substance is beginning to fade away. A cacophony of factors from underinvestment in the starting XI, lack of ability to galvanise team, loyalty to underperforming/not good enough players, bizarre substitutions, insistence on playing a particular way with players not able to do so (FdB anyone?) and poor tactical decisions seem to be costing us.

The Board - Seems to be a lot of PR which comes across as a smokescreen and attempted distraction from reality. Stadium not yet done although doesn't bother me as things stand, a squad only half regenerated (after desperately needing it) with no further investment on the horizon and a history of reactionary and occasionally poorly judged spending keeping us in a very similar position perennially.

In essence, for me, it is:

Lack of shrewd investment in playing staff and funds in general > Manager who needs this investment at the very least although my still fall short > A team short in first XI but depth too. Uninspired and unmotivated with a cast of older players well past their best (which may have been short anyway) and younger players who need real substance to support their style but mostly living off 'perceived potential' as opposed to current ability.

I'd love to shout 'off with PV/OR's heads' however I think we need further playing staff and time before making that call unless we already know we don't/won't have that. I am strongly suspicious this absolutely farcical shyte will continue for a while before PV is gone, probably some others with him, and we revert to type with a Pulis/Allardyce/Hodgson type coming in because as depressing as it sounds, that may be, once again short-term, what is needed for any chance.

Be interested for any other thoughts...

Now Zaha's got a bit of green grass ahead of him here... and finds Ambrose... not a bad effort!!!!

I have seen it Waddy, sick of seeing it, don't give a flying to be quite honest.

Interestingly all of my CPFC posts disappeared quite quickly after full time and all had about 5 million similar comment son them. Even stranger considering I only follow two people - CPFC and my tattoo artist who's insistence I get Instagram to communicate with him (about my tattoos) is the only reason I have it!

Now Zaha's got a bit of green grass ahead of him here... and finds Ambrose... not a bad effort!!!!

Too slow and predictable with the ball. Lazy without it. Same formation every week, and no bite in midfield. When we do win the ball in the middle we roll it backwards. That's why we cannot play against teams that sit in and play on the break - Forest, Fulham, Spurs and Southampton. We are so slow with the ball the opposition always have 10 men behind the ball.

Manger has to take a lot of blame, midfield set up changes all the time,as does the forward line.

No Jedinak /old Luca/KG/Ray Houghton/Geof Thomas etc to berate anyone who lets their heads drop

Find us a proper midfield captain

We dont have a manager or assistant, just a couple of blokes standing at the side of the pitch, in a state of bewilderment,
The Sweet got it right, Lyrics below

“That’s a joke son, I say, that’s a joke.” “Nice boy, but he’s sharp as a throw pillow.” “He’s so dumb he thinks a Mexican border pays rent” “ “Son… I say, son, some people are so narrow minded they can look through a keyhole with both eyes.”__ Forhorn Leghorn

The accepted wisdom before the enforced World Cup break was,
1) Palace would be beneficiaries having only 2 players at the World Cup so we should have fresh players post World Cup
2) Since we had a split training camp pre season the World Cup break would enable us to work on our collective team approach and fine tune our tactics
3) The break could also enable us to have more time to work on transfer targets for the January window .

From what I have observed, although to be fair it’s early days, we have not come back post World Cup in better shape.
We appear lethargic, lacking intent and apparently have the worst running stats in the Premier League.
Without wishing to go ‘all Roy Keane’ the players seem to lack desire and competitive spirit.
It’s fine having eye catching skill like Olise and Eze but you won’t get anywhere without the desire of a McArthur or Kouyate and these are the type of players we are sadly missing.
Vieira himself was a warrior in his playing days and must be concerned by the shortcomings in our approach.
Some will say he is at fault for not instilling this into our team, but part of me wonder if the players just don’t have it in their make up.