In advance sorry if I ramble.
In less than a year we have had four different managers, seven since the prem years. All were backed by the board and now we have a squad full of disenchanted not interested players that have been assembled over the years by these different managers. That's seven different philosophies, seven different training regimes. Different players being frozen out at various times and all this leading to a general confusion about the place a lethargy and a total loss of identity around the club.
Each season a squad needs to be refreshed, but that really needs to be on a one in one out basis in reality, but for clubs like us that's difficult because of the money we have to offer in wages to get them to come. When the player doesn't work out we're stuck with him, even if clubs want him because they can't afford his wages. This then fills a squad place and we are strangled financially by all those wages on our bill.
Too many managers all buying their own players killed Villa and Sunderland and now it seems we are this seasons basket case.
Remember this is not Roy's squad, he bought none of these players in. We have a good 14 or so, but after that nothing. The squad is filled up by players we don't want and ones who are only here to now pick up their money. We can slag them all we want, but we'd all do the same if it was us.
Last night was always likely to happen. We are all bought up being told players need games to be match fit, match sharp. They need games to get an understanding with each other, form partnerships. Last night we threw 11 players together who had none of this and lets face facts, many knew they were only playing in this because they are not in the managers first team plans. Subconsciously that must affect them? How can we be surprised what happened, happened? The ones on the fringes of the first team have no chance to shine if 6 or more players are just not at the races. It all fell into place in last nights debacle and once the wonder goal went in the confidence was gone and it just got worse. Mentally many are shot.
Goals like their third change matches, yet we appear to have no one that can strike a ball cleanly at the club, mentally we are choking on a weekly basis. We start most games playing nice football, even last night, but unable to take advantage because we choke in front of goal on a regular basis. Then the first strike by the opposition goes in and heads drop and it happens all over again.
The club has totally lost its identity and if we don't pick up a couple of wins soon the rift between players and fans will be irreparable, the Souare incident was a very bad sign and then it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. Who wants to do well for a bunch of fans who constantly abuse you? Who wants to support players that seem to not care?
Personally, I believe the players do care, but when confidence is gone players become reactive, not proactive, they just play safe, sideways and backwards and it just starts to look like they aren't trying, always on the back foot. The crowd reacts and it all goes s*** shaped again.
I don't run a club, so don't understand how things work, but if we want to have any chance of bringing in the right players to stay up we will have to pay off contracts to free up places. Yes it's expensive, but cheap compared to going down, surely?
Till January we have to win our home games to have any chance. So that means we need atmospheres like against Chelsea. So it really has a lot to do with us now.
Again, sorry for this unplanned,unstructured ramble.

That's Life
And as funny as it may seem
Some people get their kicks stompin' on a Dream.
KEEP THE FAITH!!!!!

This post nails it for me. Badly managed from top to bottom.

The only thing I would add is we've been unlucky with the two best managers we had.

Pulis shafted us and I will never forgive him for that. Big Sam left for personal reasons and after the job he did, it was hard to argue. I'm afraid as soon as Big Sam left, I got a terrible sinking feeling and it's still there many months later.

People have suggested that the likes of Pulis and Big Sam left us because of Parish and the general set up at the club but I don't buy that. Pulis is proven to be a nasty piece of work and Big Sam??? Well, one day we'll find out why he left.

Your right it's not Roy's squad. But he accepted the job!
However last night was an excellent chance for those chosen 11 to exhibit/showcase exactly what they are capable of. Of course they care but did it really show in 90 minutes in terms of application, determination and effort?
For 30 minutes they played well but then it started to turn BC upped the physicality, Palace didn't match them and the confidence started to evaporate.
Supporters were magnificent and deserved far more from the players last night.

None of those players enhanced their pedigrees after last night in fact some senior players who should have worked harder, rallied and cajoled the others were even worse.

Also set pieces again we are fragile in defence yet we cause no threat ourselves, why?

Last night In a word embarrassing!
The Souare incident was a disgrace as any true Palace fan would not dream of doing that to Pape after all he has been through!

Also once again not having a quality striker cost us big time!

Good post Dangermouse - I alluded to the managerial problems elsewhere on here a few days ago.
Pardew did freeze players out though - it was not just De Boer - Jedinak and Murray were prime examples and he only used them when he absolutely had to.
We are definitely losing our identity as you say - maybe with some dross gone in January we can fight again and the second half of the season can be an " all for one and one for all" mentality?
We shall see of course but right now the Club has issues from top to bottom.

read the manager's post-match comments. This was a chance for second-choice players to make a claim for the first team. Roy was bitterly disappointed that no one performed. It shows that none of the rest of the squad have the character or ability to step up to the starting 11.

Frank was certainly a surprise. Surprise SP thought he was suitable.

COYP