My view is that there is a greater chance of Academy players being introduced into the fray should we get relegated !

Gutting loss with devastating injuries. This season just feels like a non-starter we just get some injuries back and then more come along. Olise finally back to take some creative pressure off of Eze and now all the pressure will be on Olise after Eze's new injury (hopefully it's not too bad).

The last two games we should have had something to show for but in both we've found a way to lose, late on and with individual errors. The so called 'easier' run of fixtures has not started well. Results need to improve in the next two otherwise it could be a very grim looking festive season.

Decoure's season looks to be over and I wish him a speedy recovery. Our play hasn't been amazing so far but we've also had rotten luck with injuries.

I doubt we could afford one. What we could afford is a striker who maybe gets 10 goals a season but works his socks off up front putting the defenders under pressure and holding the ball up.

These players are available Eddie and JPM are neither great goal scorers or strikers who make defenders groan when they see the team sheet.

One more point

Potter would absolutely ruin eze and olise

It would depend on these players demonstrating their potential consistently in the remaining games and not be mere flash in the pans with one good game in three. Top clubs aim for consistency, and the better players are the more consistent. Some of our players are consistent only in the sense that they regularly score five or six in the ratings. Clubs don't pay big money for that.

Stating the bleedin' obvious, that is a game we should not have lost.

If we are playing the blame game, then as Manager, Hodgson has to accept his share. But the players and the Director of Football / Board are in the mix too.

Roy was unfortunate to lose two such key players in Eze and Doucoure and it knocked the stuffing out of the players for a period. We all know that the right back position needs addressing. The call for Richards to replace Ward is understandable but you have to question why that's not happened. I don't think the answer is that '' Roy has his favourites ''. His job is to win matches and he clearly believes that Ward is still a better option than Richards. Given he coaches those players and sees them on a daily basis, I'm relying on his judgement here.

Another big selection issue is that of Edouard. This guy is stealing a living. He makes Benteke look industrious. Palace can't financially compete for a top striker, and finding a 15 goal a season gem good enough for this league is a tall order. Is it too much to ask for a player that at least works the opposition's centre backs when we're not in possession ? Mateta does that to a degree but not to the standard required. Between the pair of them we are blunt in attack.

The goals conceded yesterday were both poor ones, although that ball into the box for their second was of top quality and hard to defend against. Personally I thought Johnstone could have been more positive in that situation.

It's been said on here numerous times but the summer transfer strategy looks totally flawed. I could understand the reason for a squad lacking in quantity and quality had we not spent the budget on the players we did. Now Franca may turn out to be another Olise type signing, but it's a huge gamble on that being the case, and there are other areas in the starting line up that needed addressing more urgently.

Not even December and already the season looks over and a dour struggle ahead.

Old, Ungifted and White