I find myself slightly amazed to find Palace with the points total that we have and the middle of March yet to arrive.

I have witnessed some groggy performance by Palace this season and haven't always enjoyed watching us play. I can't even say that we have been outstanding in many of the games we have won.

However, on the train up to the match yesterday, I found myself stoutly defending Roy (and to an extent Parish) in the face of criticism from a mate. Whilst there was an element of devil's advocate in my argument ( I have at previous times expressed the same concerns as my mate), I pointed out that with 2 months of the season to go our place in the top flight is all but assured ( and this was before yesterday's victory) - some achievement! This has never happened in the 7 seasons we have been in the Prem.

My mate was trotting out the much aired views that Hodgson is unadventurous, doesn't give younger players a chance, is poor in the transfer market, and has too many favourites whose names are automatically penned into the starting line-up.

Countering this I asked him whether he would prefer that Palace were playing expansive football like that of Brighton (and hovering over the relegation zone), what youngsters did he have in mind ( given the dire record of our Under 23s), what about our summer signings Cahill and McCarthy who are proving increasingly valuable team members, and surely a settled team is no bad thing.

Whatever Roy's shortcomings, in my books, his achievement is remarkable.

Danny Murphy on motd last night said he told his squad at Fulham he wanted them to aim for zero goal difference or better.

The downsides to this are that it’s a tough watch, games can be decided, predicted early on or written off and it could prove difficult to sign attacking or flair players. Look at Benteke and zaha. Both depreciated in value. Many will say that’s a benefit to staying in the Prem and I see the viewpoint and understand that there are costs and conflicting issues like in many businesses, but how long can that football strategy that can depreciate the club’s highest value players give the club the financial edge our size of club needs? AWB is a one off, unless our transfer profit is going to come from progressing defensively minded players.

The irony isn’t lost on me of Parish saying before hiring FDB ‘’we must move away from counting on the lucky bounce of the ball as we’ve done in our history and create those definite chances ourselves because that is more....’’ sustainable long term or something.

Now I fully understand why Roy has been hired on a business decision but it isn’t issue free but really the point is that even roy said yesterday after the Watford win that we could easily be 9 points worse off. It could actually be even more if you took away Guaita’s excellent form and us not winning the last 3 games that could’ve been 4 or 5 points. But that’s where I’ll make my main criticism. We’ve forced these 9 points more by being less passive than we’ve been for 6 months. I expect someone to say ive contradicted myself regarding the last 3 wins but I’m saying that our chances of that happening have a higher probability than watching whoever knock it about like brazil while we watch and rely on blocks or Guaita.

Finally there isn’t much synergy within the higher levels of the club. I have stressed issues I think have come about because of whichever of the 3 (Roy, Freedman, Parish). Meyer the German Messi I think Parish signed and had him pose for photos on the rooftop in the hope he’d be that flair player we coined it in with.

Roy is fine regarding our percentage chances of surviving each season but the issues I’ve raised are things I hope those at the top are discussing between themselves. We need some good transfer windows.

Danny Murphy on motd last night said he told his squad at Fulham he wanted them to aim for zero goal difference or better.

The downsides to this are that it’s a tough watch, games can be decided, predicted early on or written off and it could prove difficult to sign attacking or flair players. Look at Benteke and zaha. Both depreciated in value. Many will say that’s a cost to staying in the Prem and I see the viewpoint and understand that there are costs and conflicting issues like in many businesses, but how long can that football strategy that can depreciate the club’s highest value players give the club the financial edge our size of club needs? AWB is a one off, unless our transfer profit is going to come from progressing defensively minded players.

The irony isn’t lost on me of Parish saying before hiring FDB ‘’we must move away from counting on the lucky bounce of the ball as we’ve done in our history and create those definite chances ourselves because that is more....’’ sustainable long term or something.

Now I fully understand why Roy has been hired on a business decision but it isn’t issue free but really the point is that even roy said yesterday after the Watford win that we could easily be 9 points worse off. It could actually be even more if you took away Guaita’s excellent form and us not winning the last 3 games that could’ve been 4 or 5 points. But that’s where I’ll make my main criticism. We’ve forced these 9 points more by being less passive than we’ve been for 6 months. I expect someone to say ive contradicted myself regarding the last 3 wins but I’m saying that our chances of that happening have a higher probability than watching whoever knock it about like brazil while we watch and rely on blocks or Guaita.

Finally there isn’t much synergy within the higher levels of the club. I have stressed issues I think have come about because of whichever of the 3 (Roy, Freedman, Parish). Meyer the German Messi I think Parish signed and had him pose for photos on the rooftop in the hope he’d be that flair player we coined it in with.

Roy is fine regarding our percentage chances of surviving each season but the issues I’ve raised are things I hope those at the top are discussing between themselves. We need some good transfer windows.

Edited by Rudi Hedman (08 Mar 2020 11.57pm)

The point about goal difference is interesting. Yes it does indicate a somewhat negative mindset but, if you look at the current table, the idea that 0 goal difference = safety is borne out. Just about everyone is more or less in the position they should be, only Brighton ought to be significantly higher as their -8 GD would place them between us and Everton. Last season 0 GD would have got you to about 10th place.

I don't particularly care about pushing up the table. I want to give some youngsters some game time in preparation for next season.