Ward gets a raw deal from some on here. He's no left back, and the defence looks so unbalanced when he has to play there. And although Zaha's defensive work has improved, Ward hasn't had the best of assistance in that area over the last couple of years, when playing on the right.

The squad is littered with poor signings....Fryers, Mutch, Campbell being the prime examples. Kelly in my opinion has been a good squad member, but he's not worth a regular starting place if we had Ward available at right back.

Pardew moved on some strong personalities when he sold Jedi ( in particular ) and Murray. And then failed to adequately replace them.

I applauded the signings of Townsend and Benteke but I've been disappointed with both of them. Townsend I would sell asap - he doesn't want to play on the left and he certainly doesn't merit selection ahead of Zaha on the right. Why did we sign him in those circumstances ?

Benteke looks a threat in the air ( and should have scored yesterday ), but his hold up play is poor and his work rate questionable. He doesn't strike me as someone you would want ' in the trenches ' alongside you.

On a positive note, Sam Allardyce will not see things through the same rose tinted view that Pardew had. He will get to the root of problems and sort them out.

Ward gets a raw deal from some on here. He's no left back, and the defence looks so unbalanced when he has to play there. And although Zaha's defensive work has improved, Ward hasn't had the best of assistance in that area over the last couple of years, when playing on the right.

The squad is littered with poor signings....Fryers, Mutch, Campbell being the prime examples. Kelly in my opinion has been a good squad member, but he's not worth a regular starting place if we had Ward available at right back.

Pardew moved on some strong personalities when he sold Jedi ( in particular ) and Murray. And then failed to adequately replace them.

I applauded the signings of Townsend and Benteke but I've been disappointed with both of them. Townsend I would sell asap - he doesn't want to play on the left and he certainly doesn't merit selection ahead of Zaha on the right. Why did we sign him in those circumstances ?

Benteke looks a threat in the air ( and should have scored yesterday ), but his hold up play is poor and his work rate questionable. He doesn't strike me as someone you would want ' in the trenches ' alongside you.

On a positive note, Sam Allardyce will not see things through the same rose tinted view that Pardew had. He will get to the root of problems and sort them out.

I agree with your comments about Ward, He has "seen off" all the other Right backs we have brought in and remained our first choice. Wilf for all his strengths did not do his defensive duties ( I accept he has got a lot better). Under Pullis he played on left and made a good job. However I don't think he likes playing there.

It is on the left we have a problem losing both Bolasie and Souare. Bolasie didn't track back too much but was always a muscular threat.

The poor signings Fryers Mutch, Campbell . The last was cheap and a Pullis signing and he is our 4th choice striker. In all honesty he we would not get better for money. Fryers has not developed in the way that was expected since he left Man U. He is a lot better this season but I suspect he will be moved on. Mutch BFS seems to like as he has been on bench in both his games. If we get a reasonable offer I suspect he will go, in particular if it is part of a deal for a backup striker, or Left sided player we want.

The sale of Jedi and Murray, this was inevitable. Murray did not want to be on bench and Bournemouth paid good money and he didn't become a first team regular so was loaned on. He is a Championship player. Jedi was a good servant to club, he was no longer first choice in his position, We had other defensive midfield players and may not even have been on bench. So was he worth keeping for his leadership qualities? He was part of the squad that had such a bad run after Xmas last year. Also reading between lines he and manager did not seem to see eye to eye.

Townsend - Why was he bought?, I think the idea was Wilf would move to left when Bolasie was sold but it didn't work. So Townsend was played out of position. While Wilf is away lets see how he does in his preferred position and then judge.

Joel Ward is being played out of position to be fair to him....

Ward Kelly Townsend ledley Cabaye puncheon Mutch fryers sako and Campbell. All need to leave the club and be upgraded. That will take a year not a month. I'm worried that BFS will not be able to grind out the points we need with this lot. They are on a downward spiral and are not going to get back to the standard required for this league.