I'm optimistic.with all due respect to Pardew playing a more possession based game is a part of De Boers DNA.what i've seen in the friendlies so far is us playing some good football but at the same time being solid at the back.two of those games against premier league opposition we will get better also with new signings coming in.

good point - last season Conte changed the system to suit the Chelsea players, we seem to be doing the reverse: suiting the players to a system - which concerns me. But the formation might just be a template for possession or a starting point, and if it's clear we revert to more familiar formations when we need to then we can be a lot less concerned. It does make sense that there is consistency throughout the club, and with all this high-pressing and most teams having two defensive midfielders, where only one used to do, defences get much better protection than before and if you can free up another defender it's definitely the way to go these days - teams who can't play three at the back, even if it's not their regular formation, may find things getting harder - I think Spurs are the only team in the top six who don't ever play with a back three, it's harder to organise but makes sense in terms of numbers and space on the pitch. I argued this two or three years back and was met for the first time with the rudeness of Bexleydave - to be fair he seems to have improved.

I think he's doing a great job.

Don't really understand why people aren't impressed.

The youth he's giving game time don't look lost, which means it's the right call. So their stock is rising. #check

No one ever thought they'd be this ready. #check

Playing more of a passing game. #check

EVERYONE was at pains that we only had one system. #check

FdB spends pre session learning a new system. #check

We look more comfortable on the ball then we ever have. #check

Talk from the dressing room is that everyone is embracing his ideas. #check

First loan signing looks quality #check

First actual signing (for only £8m) looks quality first team starter #check

Sounds like we're very much looking to sign other ball playing players #check

Hold our own in our pre season games. #check

Don't look lost in the new system the coach has coached #check

HOLs lining up with blame should manager fail. #check

Edited by Goldfiinger (31 Jul 2017 9.18am)

Are you feeling optimistic or worried?

This will reveal little about the future of Palace and more about the individual posters' outlook on life. I'm feeling optimistic, more than that actually, quite positive, about our future!

Frickin Saweeeeet! Has hit the nail on head.

Will take time but how you can be anything but optimistic bewilders me.

I have not seen anything to suggest that the wheels are going to come off. He has looked to keep an element of consistency while get his model across to the team.