I think for me the issue this season has been that I can't see what it is we trying to do in terms of our forward play. We're not playing a fast high-pressing game like Wolves, we're not playing an old-fashioned get it to the wings and throw crosses in like Everton, and we're not playing intricate fancy sh*t like the big guns. It almost feels like we're just waiting for someone to create something out of nothing. In Roy's previous reign it was about sitting deep and hitting teams on the break, but that isn't really in evidence this season. It seems basically that we get it to Ayew, he draws a foul, we throw the ball in the box. As useless as Eduoard has been in most games he's been feeding off of scraps.

This season the 15 points has masked how rubbish we've been in many games. If Roy isn't going to play the players we've signed then the club need to decide do they want to keep Roy or do they want his input on who they sign. I can't see how things change otherwise.

I agree, but then what exactly is the plan? I think too much burden is placed on Olise and Eze to just come up with something like Zaha used to do under Roy. We defend as a unit but we don't seem to attack like one. I've said it before, but Andros has previously said how Roy doesn't work on the attacking side of the game in training and I do think that shows.

"what is the point of what Palace are doing in the PL. No goals, no entertainment but just enough points to bob along in mid-table"
Give over. We're a smallish club - whos tried to push on in a financially responsible manner.

FdB was brought in to change the playing style (evolution not revolution, remember)
that ultimately failed, so we fell back on RH, who did great with what we had initially, but for whatever reason - probably that financially responsible mindset - kicked in and we didn't ever upgrade the squad got more and more out of date and we revert to safety first 'boring' football
Vieira was then brought in for another go at a young exiting manager.
That ultimately failed, so we fell back on RH, who did great with what we had initially. Then Injuries happen and we revert to safety first 'boring' football.

Are we boring? when necessity calls for it.

Edited by CrazyBadger (29 Nov 2023 1.15pm)

"It was a Team effort, I guess it took all players working together to lose this one"

I think perhaps the problem is that Vieira's first season gave us a glimpse of how well a small club like us can perform. More confident and braver in possession, playing with a more positive mindset, etc. In his second season he seemed to lose his courage of convictions and he and the team went into its shell. Thn Roy came in only needing a handful of points to secure safety, promptly got them against lesser opposition and we could relax and let our forward players have some fun.

Personally I don't think Roy changes his approach with the injuries, I just think when the creative players are out it shows his lack of tactics for the forward areas. Also, when you aren't scoring maybe you need to take a risk and play the £20m forward the club signed, or the athletic £10m signing from the Bundesliga. It might not work, but you can't argue there are no options, he's just not using them. Alternatively you change the shape, like going 3-5-2. I don't think we need to be boring, I just think we have a manager who doesn't care about performances, just results, which is fair enough if you just want to watch the Vidiprinter.

I Agree that RH could perhaps try other options when the tried and tested options are out - but he has given people like Franca, JRS and Ahamada time on the pitch, and they haven't impressed him.
My point really was that the gist of that statement was that we are simply treading water where in reality we've tried to push on, failed, then tried again and again failed. Long term, we're not actively out to stay mid table, but it's nice that that is our resting position.
What concerns me is that this cannot continue - RH cannot continue to be reemployed to steady the ship. We need to understand why those attempts failed.

"It was a Team effort, I guess it took all players working together to lose this one"

I have spoken to a supporter of a certain vintage who is unlikely to be mistaken for a sunbeam and could be filled under "Moaning Minnie".I am NOT in his league in terms of pessimism !

This chap bellowed that he would like the team to be relegated, citing that he has had enough of mid-table mediocrity and witnessing only a clutch of Home wins each season.He added that season-on-season he is devoid of any entertainment whatsoever and it would be nice if we actually emerged victorious in more games without of course being subjected to VAR.

Beetroot-gilled he continued that he is fed-up with the team "Treading water" in the PL season-on-season and it would be really nice to see us on the crest of a wave.

This gentleman is a fusty old eccentric.

Edited by Willo (29 Nov 2023 2.33pm)