However every attacking option was used in some way last night and we were unable to break them down. Looks to me that we are running out of options unless somebody up front steps up to the plate pretty soon.

“ [T]here are known knowns; there are things we know that we know.There are known unknowns; that is to say there are things that, we now know we don't know.But there are also unknown unknowns – there are things we do not know we don't know. ”
—United States Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld

Defeats against Man City, Man Utd ( during the Ole bounce period ) and Brighton. Of the 3 defeats only Brighton was a disaster.

Is that supposed to be sarky about Kelly's performance against Colchester? While the failure to score was a disappointment, I thought the defence (including Kelly) seemed OK. Certainly their goalie had more to do than Hennesey.

I agree it would be good to have Ward back but I would keep Kelly and Cahill as the centre backs.

I know you shouldn't pay attention to the league until at least 5 games, but isn't is strange that only 1 team has 100% record and 1 team has 0% whilst 10 have 4 points.

The team doesn't look fully fit. This side to side malarkey looks rusty.

I have the same thoughts as you about how Villa will set up and us just playing slowly across the back from one player to another until then passing short to a midfield player who is now heavily marked. That midfield player will then have to pass it back to a defender who will pass it to another defender. Some time during this long period we will hoof it upfield and Villa’s defence will win it and then try and break us down. This will finally happen when we either make a mistake at the back or on rare attack by us we will lose the ball and they will get a winner on a breakaway. Just a normal boring home Palace match which we’ve become accustomed to at Selhurst :-(