Having just watched the Southampton game I am extremely frustrated at a couple of things. Before I get into that I want to make it clear that I think Pulis is doing an incredible job and we are punching well above our weight and honestly today we were beaten by a better team.

What irks me though is firstly KG and Punch. KG is in the team to sit next to Jedi and break up the play. When Ledley was in that position that is what he did, he sat there, broke up play and looked to pass the ball on. Today Ledley half the time was behind KG defending just outside our box! He was supposed to be the man supporting Murray not doing KG's job as well. I really think we missed the chance to play Ince behind Murray with Ledley playing those two in. We saw against West Brom that Ince will take a chance and get beyond the striker which would have offered something for Fonte and Lovren to think about and I really think we could have got amongst them like that.
Punch. I was very critical of him when he first came to Palace. He then made me eat my words completely but as someone has said on a different post we can't have players that don't fight week in, week out. We can't have him fire 2 weeks then one week put in a show like yesterday and potentially lose us a game. Barry Bannan gave 150% every time he was on the park, maybe it is time for him to come in, we will def get some better crosses out of him.

Secondly, why do we give other teams top players so much time on the ball Against Newcastle we let Cabaye do what he wanted and look what happened. Yesterday we let Lallana do what he wanted and he bossed the game completely. Yes he is an annoying bell end always in the refs ear, but get close to him, hassle him and he wont have the effect on the game that he did. at times we gave him the freedom of Selhurst, no wonder he has time to go and talk to the ref! If we got up at him and put hte pressure on him then he would concentrate more on what he had to do and get frustrated about it, rather than have time to watch everything that goes on and talk to Howard Webb complain and moan all the time.

Thirdly, why do we start so slowly. Yes I know we are up against teams that are technically better than us. Bust these tehniocally better teams hound us, put us under pressure and force mistakes. Why do we allow teams with players that can pick us apart to do just that! First half last week for example, we made an average Swansea team look like the team they were last season, second half we battered them and should have beaten them. Today, if we had gone at Saints would their hearts really have been in it? They are safe, are not qualifying for europe and are away from home. At home yes, they will put a show on for their fans, but away against a team that should be like rabid dogs for points they looked like they were the ones that needed it more.

Yes Howard Webb was awful today but he was not the reason we lost, we really missed a trick there and this is the first time that I have questioned TP's decisions. He has got us where we are so he certainly knows what he is doing but I think he got it wrong today.

Huge game next week against Sunderland. If we can get at them rather than make them look like Chelsea for the first half we can beat them and beat them well. I think a few players have got comfortable that they are going to play without having to perform and yesterday shows what happens when that mentality is there. I would love to see Bannan int he side and Ince behind Murray with Ledley partnering Jedi, and have them go at Sunderland like we went at Swansea second half from the off. We go a goal up, their crowd will not like it and they will come at us which wil allow us to then hit ont he counter attack and it could be taylor made for someone like Gayle to come on with 25 to go as well.

I am glad I got that out there, not all of you will agree but just my thoughts

Absolutely spot on

Forever Palace

good post....i do wonder what the issue with bannan is though, wonder if there is something going behind the scenes we dont know about...

They're justified, and they're ancient
And they drive an ice cream van

Completely agree with all points made by the OP. We need to hurry up teams much more,iam praying Bannan starts the next games or atleast comes on second half.
Puncheon has previously had a few good games,but it's time he gets rested.

Member of the Keith Millen Club. COYP

Everyone on HOL and at the game seem to agree with the KG-Puncheon-Bannan and general style of play problems,if the 20,000+ can see it,wht can't TP?If he gets tunnel vision and feels the system he is playing is the right one to stay up,we could be in for a painful end to the season!.

We broke down play and then didn't have a clue what to do with it. Agree with OP's points. But Puncheon was playing wide and asked to track back a lot which he did a good job of for the most part. He's not effective there though. If you play him then it needs to be in the hole IMO.

Need change of tactics otherwise we're going down. Let's hope Pukis feels the same.