It’s proper squeaky bum time and Saturday was an absolute disgrace of a performance by players and management. I also think us as fans weren’t great. I was there and although it’s hard to get behind your team when you concede early ( from yet another set play and to old big nose), Roy playing the same players with no real attacking threat I felt fans gave up like the team. Banners and walking out you have to question that especially down there. Anyway each to their own on that point but not for me! I also think Roy’s time is up but it doesn’t look like we have a replacement or the board still back him so quite simply we need to support the team we’ve got until the end of the season and hope for the best like we always do at palace!

To be honest we’ve got Burnley, Luton, West Ham and Newcastle at home if we can’t get 6-9 points out of them 4 games. Plus nick a point or two away at Everton, Forest and Fulham then we deserve to go down end of story.

Added to that possible points deductions, some harder run-ins for relegation rivals and the fact a few of them must start picking up some injuries to key players. Imagine Luton without Barkley or if Brentford lost Toney again that would have the same impact as Eze and Olise. (I’m just hoping we can get Eze and Gehi back in the next month and keep them fit and I think we’ll have a fighting chance). Then pray Franca. Ahmada, Wharton and Munoz can add some spark, even if Olise is out for a longer period.

The biggest problem now is us as fans and the disconnect with the team and among ourselves. Whether you’ve got the hump with the yanks, Parish, Schlupp, Croydon council for taking your flag poles, the fanatics for nicking your seat etc. We need to get behind the team and give the them the extra 5% chance they clearly need at home and grind out some points! We can sulk all summer if we go down and protest and moan at the board then! Then have a season in half empty grounds in the championship!

Keep the faith! COYP

Paddy Power has us 13/2 to be relegated. Sheff Utd (1/200!), Burnley (1/14) and Luton (4/6) are still odds on, with Everton at 10/3, then us.

We're a shambles and it's about as depressing as I can remember at the moment. So I decided to try and be positive and look for reasons that we'll be safe. Here's what I came up with.

1) 5 points clear. The obvious one but despite our wretched form, many of the teams below us are in a bad way too. Realistically another 10/12 points from our final 15 games will probably be enough and, as bad as we are, we're averaging more than that per game.

2) 6 teams competing for one spot. Sheff Utd are basically down, aren't they? And the same can be said for Burnley who are seven points from safety. Realistically it is probably between Fulham, us, Brentford, Forest, Luton and Everton for that last spot. We only need to finish above one of them.

3) Points deductions. The possibility of points deductions to Everton and or Forest could be enough to finish one of them off at a key point to the season.

4) Upcoming fixtures. Here are the next fixtures for the clubs in the mire.

Palace: Chelsea, Everton, Burnley, Spurs, Luton, Newcastle
Fulham: Bournemouth, Villa, United, Brighton, Wolves, Tottenham
Brentford: Wolves, Liverpool, Man City, West Ham, Chelsea, Arsenal
Forest: Newcastle, West Ham, Villa, Liverpool, Brighton, Luton
Luton: Sheff Utd, Man Utd, Liverpool, Villa, Palace, Forest
Everton: City, Palace, Brighton, West Ham, United, Liverpool

I reckon we definitely have the kindest run out of that lot and it's tough to see where the likes of Brentford, Forest and Everton are getting many points from.

5) Injuries to key players. These should dry up now as all of our key players are already injured.

I'm not sure I've convinced myself but given that most of our 'famous' wins tend to come when things are looking bleak, I'm hoping that we're somehow going to beat Everton and Burnley and then suddenly things would look a lot rosier.

Edited by Canterbury Palace (06 Feb 2024 9.16am)