After two minutes McArthur was limping. Kouyate is slow anyway, and Luka's running is like a fifty year old with a hangover, and we were totally overran in midfield, unsurprisingly. Villa didn't have to even run that fast to totally catch us out. It was usually at a canter.
Riedewald came on and ball watched. Eze and Zaha did not track back. PVA and Ward were appalling. Whenever Ward got the ball his control is so slow that a defender could always close him down. Benteke gave up on about twenty minutes. Our central defence may have been two posts in the ground for all of their manoeuvrability. Guaita is under seige and the only player I don't blame for how crap we are.
Ultimately, however, the buck stops at Roy. What are we now? One point from 5 games, having scored what? One goal is it? Everyone needs to wake up here. Roy, does need to go. The only thing that will save us is three of the worst teams ever. Which does look possible.

Brought on Lanzini against us at half time and turned the game, being involved in their goal and creating chances. Unfortunately our squad doesn't seem to have game changers in the eyes of Roy, even with a number of inept 1st half performances seen.

Look I've read and commented on this thread.

Just to be clear I think Roy is an honourable man and in his mind he is doing all he can, using all his undoubted knowledge and experience to get the right results and performances on the pitch - but it simply ain't happening..!!

When Roy was appointed I for one was delighted a quality Manager with a proven track record and pedigree, having Managed; Switzerland, England, Liverpool, Inter Milan the list goes on..

Beyond that one of our own - Croydon Roy come home for his Swan Song to bring all that experience to his "Home Town" club and take us to the next level.

And for the the first couple of seasons that was working, but over the last 12 months performances and results have been in decline, stats don't lie; P33, W9, D7, L17, GD -24.

Culminating in the last few weeks, where performances have been the worst in Roy's tenure and some of the worst and lack lustre I have witnessed.

I've seen others post on here that the squad is not strong enough, not enough quality, too old etc..

I don't subscribe, agree with that, IMO it's Roy's tactics that have become too tired and he no longer seems to be able to get the best out of the players. To use a cliché - he seems to have lost the dressing room, for whatever reason.

I would love to have seen Roy leave of his own accord with all the adulation and respect his career deserves - but recent results sadly IMO mean that is now not possible, if we are going to arrest the current slide in form, performances and results.

If Roy stubbornly hangs on I fear his time at Palace will be remembered for all the wrong reasons, similar to that of his England tenure - all people seem to remember is Iceland..!!

As others have said it is just not Roy, Parish in my IMO is equally culpable. He's been conspicuous by his absence in anything in the press and has been since the summer.

I agree that there is something in the relationship between Parish, Blitzer and Harris and further investment. Now whether that is due to Parish's insistence on having a/the major say in the day to day running of the club we don't know - but I suspect there maybe/is something in that.

Parish similar to Roy deserves our thanks and adulation for saving us from the brink of extinction to now what is our 8th season in the Premiership.

But similar to Roy he seems to have "run out of steam" and his time is done. But we ain't going to solve that in the short term and certainly not in these Covid times when attracting new investment is going to be very difficult.

Others have mentioned the infrastructure of the club, the ground etc.., not fit for a Premiership team and that is quite correct. But again goes into the box of not being able to be sorted in the short term.

On the here and now IMO we have a squad that is more than capable of competing at this level and finishing mid table comfortably.

I accept that it is an aging squad and will require overhauling in the medium term, and to some/limited extent that work has started with the signings of Eze, emergence of Mitchell etc..

That needs to continue whilst maintaining our Premiership status.

Meantime it's not as if all our squad are all mid 30's, most are late 20's, early 30's so should still be in their prime and certainly able to compete at this level.

In terms of the next Manager I accept Tuchel was tongue in cheek, but think Dyche, Howe or as I mentioned Frank would get far more out of this squad than Roy.

Beyond that there are no doubt many young hungry, talented and ambitious Managers out there that would jump at the chance of Managing an established London premiership with a quality and "mature" squad.

As i have said just look at Southampton and Hasenhüttl, no one had heard of him 2 years ago. If Southampton can do that, why can't Palace..!!

In summary IMO Roy's race is run/time done and that's what we can sort in the here and now/short term.

Appointing a younger Manger now with new and fresh ideas is the right thing to do to get the most of the current squad and to oversee the upcoming transfer window.

If we don't do that I fear we are in for a long and painful rest of the season, with the potential of relegation and that would be disastrous..!! And as others have said could see us going the same way as the likes of Stoke, Sunderland, Ipswich etc..

Meantime remember on here we are all Palace and all want the same thing - the best Palace can be..!!

COYP

To be fair the games against the Baggies, Spuds and Spammers were fairly good and it did look we were turning a corner and competing well. The last 2 have been very poor, yesterday probably the worse. The club have struggled to put together a run of 6 good games at most since returning to the PL as far as I can think. Best run might well be under Pards ? and that didn't end well. However I do agree some transition, at the very latest the last game of this season, needs to either be in place already or be implemented sharpish.