I thought our passing was slow and we played too many backwards and sideways which we did not need to against an inferior team. Our best football earlier in the season (against Brighton at home and Arsenal away) was a lovely mixture. Now we are taking too many touches. I still think we are a class outfit, but we waste so much time over-playing.

I agree that we seem to have posession for posessions sake, then after about every 15 sideways passes it goes to the keeper and repeat or hoof. What we seriously lack is apass from defence through the middle of the park or at least a link up between players. If we could sort this last piece of the puzzle out then we will be a table riser. If we dont then we will be relying on olise to pull something out the bag like we used to rely on zaha yesterdays opponents werent even premier league.

COYP

I don’t think ‘possession for possessions sake’ is a thing. When you have possession, you can’t concede and chasing the ball is more tiring than having the ball.

The point of knocking the ball around our own box is to draw the opposition forward which creates more space to get up the pitch. Personally, I think it’s a good tactic which we are generally doing well. There will be times when they run out of options and lay it back to keeper for a hoof - better than trying to overplay yourself out of a dangerous position.

Anderson, Guehi, Hughes and Gallagher are all technically good enough for it to work successfully.

As for the Hartlepool game, we didn’t need to get out of 1st gear and if it wasn’t for their keeper it could have been 5-0. Hard to be too critical of the performance.

In the main, I would agree with this. The one component that you don't mention but is something we need to work on is that our movement off the ball isn't great. A lot of our players are far too static when they haven't got the ball themselves and that's what limits passing opportunities for those players who do have the ball. Although often criticised here, Ward is one our better players in this area. Mitchell, Schlupp, and others are not as good.

If there's no one running into a (dangerous) position that's when the result becomes a sideways pass. It's not lack of intent, but lack of options. If you look at many of the goals we do score, they're the result of quick ball movement that's possible because at the time players are running into space. We don't do that often enough.

I would say that thus far this season, Vieira's coaching has cracked the first half of the puzzle. We're much better at retaining the ball. What he now needs to do is improve the standard of what players do when they don't have the ball. Gallagher has been so effective because he's far and away the best player in the team in this area. Whether he has the ball or not, he's always looking for space to receive it and always running to support and give options to players who have it.

Sydenham by birth. Selhurst by the Grace of God.

You're absolutely right. We've missed Macca more than many people seem to realise (or perhaps not. Perhaps they do realise).

Eze's recovery has been slow, though given the nature of his injury that's not surprising. Even on Saturday against lower-division opposition, you can tell the self-confidence and timing aren't completely there. It's a pity because the player he was last year really would have flourished playing next to Gallagher, but it hasn't happened because he's simply not all the way back to his best yet. All we can do is be patient. If he clicks between now and the end of the season and starts firing on all cylinders, we could quickly become a very dangerous team indeed.

Agree with you totally about Schlupp. And I suspect that's why he's a squad player rather than a nailed on star. He's a very good player to have in your 23, but when you're relying on him to start every game, he comes up a little bit short. If Vieira could coach him to become what he has the potential to be (by improving his movement and awareness), however, he could yet become far more than the sum of some very good parts.

Sydenham by birth. Selhurst by the Grace of God.

I think we all agree that we should mix it up with short and long balls.

We have come from years of kick and rush and hoping Wilf does something to now playing out all of the time.

The transition has been remarkable and we will get better at it; remember it has only been half a season so far.

Teams are coached not to put the ball at risk and that makes the play look a little safe but the gaps will eventually appear.

I could rarely get my Sunday league team to do it and we would beat teams heavily and the lads would talk about how many goals they each scored. If we had passed more we would have crucified those same teams.

Palace are still a work in progress and with another few signings, I think we will be top half.