After the spanking by Liverpool Hodgson only had one thing in mind: 11 behind the ball and hope for the best. There's been a bit too much of that this season and it must rub off negatively on the players.

Also with respect, I know all this Willo, but even since we first came up this time (perhaps too soon) how has our beloved club really progressed and had a proper development strategy? We have just limped along surviving from one season to the next. I know we don't have the financial backing that some clubs do, but our recruitment is in the main simply appalling. I'm still grateful for what we have had though in spite of it all.

"Better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt."
Mark Twain.

I realise last nights result was down to playing one of the world’s best club side, having an ageing team and having played 3 days earlier but I thought seeing Zaha out, that we would get a chance to see Eze in that No 10 role alongside Benteke. I was wrong he was played in the same normal position but this time in a 5 man midfield with Ayew playing the lone striker having to try and win long balls in the air or chase down a pass in the ground that never came :-(

ABJECT performance yesterday.
No purpose, no ambition. They lost the game before they started it!
When I saw Brighton play City earlier in week, they played with fire in their bellies and could have won the match.
The team need motivating, and i don't mean giving them more money!
Quite honestly, many of those coming up for new contracts can leave the club.
We need to start again at grass roots level.
If that means dropping a division, then so be it.
This football is shocking, so what a good job we haven't got to waste our time going to Selhurst to watch it!!!

After a good performance against Arse, was always likely to be too much v a side bang in form, and us keeping the same ageing team, minus the outlets of Zaha & Benteke...
Shows up that Roy has his set favourites (McArthur, Luka), which must demotivate the likes of Jairo. Unfortunately when you have the age and experience of Roy you become set in your mind and way to play.His selection told Pep exactly the way Palace would approach the game... Damage limitation!
Add to that the reluctance to put in any decent aggressive tackles, City just passed without fear, if we had come off with 5 bookings at least we could say we shook them up.....
Maybe the alternative of playing Benteke & Bats up front, Eze off them and just whacking it long would have given them something different to think about!

The irony here being that where we have invested is in the academy. However, whilst that’s absolutely the right thing to do and laudable - if we’re not going to take a couple of youngsters to Man City, when we have a gap on the bench - what message of intent does that send to our up and comings within our shiny new Academy? (Even if it’s just to shove them in the shop window). Feels like a strategically poor decision to me.

Edited by Helmet46 (18 Jan 2021 11.50am)