As we continue looking for a new manager I'm fascinated by the suggestions. The recent resignation of Tuchel at Dortmund has got some people frothing at the mouth but I genuinely struggle to understand why. Not because he isn't an outstanding coach, but because his philosophy is about a high-pressing style, where possession plays a huge part. This is not 'us'!

Then I got to thinking, what is 'us' what is it about the palace DNA? Since supporting palace from 1990 I've never really thought we had one particular style, but now I think we've stumbled across one and I want a coach who is true to that style. That is a reliance on counter attacking football, with tricky wingers providing 'attitude' in attack, solid footballers elsewhere to protect them, a number 10 who can unlock defences from various positions and target man up front who can score goals and bully defences.

The issue I find is that many people feel uncomfortable with this style and label it as 'boring'. When Pulis left I comforted myself in the notion that 'at least the football will be better'. I was kidding myself in an attempt to ease the painful blow felt from his departure. Losing 5-4 isn't as fun as winning a scrappy 1-0. Some might disagree but I like the taste of winning over gallant failure.

Pardew initially 'got it'. But his insistence on changing our style to a more expansive one cost him his job. Plus, I didn't like it. I didn't like losing 4-2 at home to Liverpool with people saying we were playing football that was 'easy on the eye'. Yeah, it looked good but after a game nothing brings you back to reality than looking at the league table. I want to win.

When Allardyce came he gave us our identity back. I for one want this identity to remain. That tika-taka football may look great, but when a team costing the earth uses it and falls foul to genuinely good counter-attacking play, full of pace, power, aggression, trickery and skill, I love it. That's Palace, that's an identity I can stomach. It is also very 'South London'. Forget the pretences, forget the good looking bollox, let's get in their faces and bash them up.

This is why our next manager in my opinion has to fit our DNA. I personally no longer feel ashamed that our football can be identified in such a way. Give me the last few months of this season any day of the week compared to the start.

So Tuchel may well be a great coach. But he doesn't fit. Dyche on the other hand, may well seem underwhelming but he sounds spot on for who we are.

Others thoughts on this will be interesting. Have we got a style? Should we stick by it? If so, are you happy with it?

laddo

"People say, live fast, die young. I say live fast, die old. That's me, the non-conformist".
David Brent.

Completely agree with the OP with regards to finding a manager who suits our style. In fairness though Tuchel has a reputation for progressing teams into what he wants `he was aware of the weak points the players had at that time. Tuchel started by creating easily understood strategies. He basically reflected the opposing formations – that means he fielded a 4-1-4-1 against a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-1-3-2 against a 4-1-4-1, using strict man-orientations. Later, the 4-1-3-2 gradually became his favorite system, partly going off the idea of mirrored formations. The midfield diamonds have well-known strengths and weaknesses.` He did not have to do this at Dortmund due to what he inherited.

Great post.

But should we be totally put off from trying to be expansive because of Pardew . I think if a solid structure put in place, then we can thrive off of, where its Mancini or dyche.

Another Damien Diagonal - Total Football

I think Big Sam captured our identity of football perfectly and it could only be improved with a better playmaker for those teams who sit back (ie not Punch) and a manager who can coach this. There's no shame in this, being defensively sound, direct and exciting on the counter with tricky wingers is as good as playing like 2012 Barca. Just look at Juventus, no one calls them boring.

to move away from this would be a shame

Although it takes time to change thexDNA of a team positjvely, it's amazing how quickly it can be transformed into s***e. Pardew taught us that. Let's not go there again.

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The Ferret
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I'm trying to find the article I read on Tuchel last week. It essentially said he was very Klopp like but, unlike his better know contemporary, had a plan B, C, D, E & F in his coaching repertoire.

I think we could do (much) worse but my worry would be him becoming an instant success and a 'big' club coming in with an offer he couldn't refuse.

Will this be five? It's gonna be five! It IS five!