Three defeats in a row and no goal scored in the last two.

I thought we were ok in the first half against Chelsea and insipid after the break. Tiredness may have played a part but considering that Chelsea got to the final of the League Cup and have been playing European football as well, it's not really an excuse.

However, I thought the first half last night was one of our poorest all season. The complete lack of energy and ideas compared to ASM, Joelinton and so on was stark. We had Zaha, Olise, Gallagher and Edouard which, for me, isn't too far off my first choice attack.

Maybe I'm being harsh and it's just an inevitable dip in form after a good run of results but it feels a bit like the players have checked out which, considering we could still finish anywhere between 9th and 16th and there's a couple of million for each place higher you finish, is frustrating.

Thoughts?

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold...

Its important we dont get into that mindset as its normally still there at the start of the next season . Likewise a good finnish normally equates to a good start .

surely Laziness is a sackable offence ?

remember Mesut Ozil, walking after the ball when a breakaway has just started.

Kayla did Anfield & Old Trafford

I had heard that Forssell worked so hard on the training ground and it was difficult to get him off it.
I recall him as a player with quick feet who was very strong and had the ability to score with both feet.
The poor lad was blighted with injuries a few yeas after he left our club.

Edited by Willo (21 Apr 2022 10.14am)

So Brighton have returned from their beach have they? Teams against us are allowed to score and beat us, so what if it's three in a row, we sound a little bit like we should be in the top six.

Edited by Tickled pink (21 Apr 2022 10.24am)

I think it's clear that Mitchell is still not quite fit following his injury against Leicester and should probably not have played last night to give him a rest. Olise was probably rushed back too quickly and Edouard looked like JPM when he first came back into the team, having not played for ages.

It's also not hard to understand that following the hugely disappointing loss in the semi, for a group of younger players, to then have to travel to the other end of the country 3 days later for amatch against the team that since January has recorded the second most points in the league was never going to be easy.

Had last nights game been played with a couple more days rest, I think we would have seen a completely different side from us.

I don't think Viera is the type of person who would allow the players to switch off and I think we just lost to 3 good teams under difficult circumstances. Leicester with one eye on the cup match and then no real recovery time after Chelsea match.

At least we now have a longer break before Leeds on Monday.

Fair points.

Yeah I've got no issues over Vieira's motivation but I just felt that Saint-Maximin, in particular, was livelier than our entire front four last night and we didn't really pick up until McArthur came on in the second half.

Our last six games are all very winnable so I just think it would be a shame to slip down the league rather than finishing strongly in mid-table.

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold...

Talk about a storm in a tea cup. We could have beaten or drawn against Necastle and Leicester and it wouldn’t have not been deserved. We lost both games by fine margins. Arsenal lost 3 in a row, Southampton lost 6 out of 8 and on it goes.

This league is ruthless and there are no guaranteed points. No need for the dramatics and panic.

I don't think there's a chance of us being relegated, but I do think there's a reasonable chance of us finishing in 16th place, which would be a complete embarrassment given the positive vibes we've had this season.

Basically, if we finish 16th, all the goodwill we've had this year will be lost, and we'll be a relegation favorite for 22/23.

2017 Feb. (Van Aanholt) Palace 1 - 0 Middlesboro
2018 Jan. (Sako) Palace 1 - 0 Burnley
2019 May (Batshuayi, Batshuayi, OG, Van Aanholt, Townsend) Palace 5 - 3 Bournemouth
2020 Feb. (Van Aanholt) Palace 1 - 0 Newcastle

We didn't even have a chance against Chelsea, because of a ridiculous line up and pathetic substitution's, against Newcastle poor selection and poor substitutions, Why does Ayew have to automatically come on when Olise goes off, Mateta could have come on, Edouard left, Wilf Right, but no same old same old

“That’s a joke son, I say, that’s a joke.” “Nice boy, but he’s sharp as a throw pillow.” “He’s so dumb he thinks a Mexican border pays rent” “ “Son… I say, son, some people are so narrow minded they can look through a keyhole with both eyes.”__ Forhorn Leghorn