Andersen and Guehi aren't as good as some initially thought. Slow and poor in the air. Add to this a keeper whose efforts to date are frankly risible, a left sided full back who keeps getting caught out with the ball to the back post, and we are where we are. At least there seems to be a positive in the right back position.
It just goes to show the importance of Doucoure.

It started when PV changed our CB's from defenders to footballers .Possession football is all very well if you have got the ball ,its not a lot of cop when you haven't and your defenders can't defend . We not only concede easily at set pieces we never even win a header in open play .
They are not the guys we need if we are parking the bus . Its pretty telling that after 10 years in the premier league not one of them gets anywhere near anyone's Palace best team .

On the first goal Andersen should have been goal side of Dunk but instead stood in front of him. Schoolboy defending

Been saying that for a long time, even before this poor run. They’re both excellent footballers,but as far as good old fashioned defending is concerned they can be pretty poor at times. Just shows how much protection Doucoure gave them. Also PV’s first season with Gallagher covering the miles in midfield and us always looking to be on the front foot their frailties didn’t show

Ward has many detractors on here and there's no doubt that he's not an attacking threat nor, at his age, a long term solution.
However, I would comtend we've missed his grit and defensive nous in recent games.
He's usually a good penalty box defender who competes in the air and puts his body on the line to defend the goal.
It's also evident that we've looked more ill at ease defensing set pieces in his absence.

On his past performance he shouldn't be allowed anywhere near the RB position!
I still don't understand why he was put their in place of Clyne who had been playing well and who is very experienced.
If JW is fit he should be playing.

Following Palace since 25 Feb 1978