I think we have to be realistic, this is a team in transition ... with only three new players on the pitch, all of whom did a better job than the players that they replaced from last season's team.

Bekkers was poor, Kouyate was a liability, Ward can't operate as a wing back and Schlupp was unable to create anything for the team. IMHO, PV should sub Wilf if he has another game like to today and then either he continues to throw his toys out of the pram, or he smartens up. PV needs to show who is in charge and make tough calls, even though it might hurt in the short term, in the long run it sets the tone for the whole of the team. AND I was completely unimpressed with Benteke throwing his hands up all the time insinuating that his team members were at fault. He was like a cart horse today, no speed, no running off the ball in to space and just wanting the ball on a silver platter - oh and by the way when he got a great cross on to his head, he put it way over the bar. I rest my case!

Edited by radicalsteve (22 Aug 2021 4.45am)

[quote=bright&wright;3656098]

If Vieira isn't smart enough to realise Ward is a League 1 quality right back and gets rinsed by anyone with any ability and doesn't sign a right back by the end of the transfer window he should be sacked.

We've needed a right back for 3 seasons. It's insane how we've still not bought one (Clyne is a backup and Ferguson has not played since Vieira was playing).

I thought Ward was excellent today. We’re you watching the same fame?...

Is the correct answer. No excuses for his display today and the petulance will never leave. However all the times teams are allowed to double/triple up on him, he won’t do much.

[quote=bright&wright;3656098]

If Vieira isn't smart enough to realise Ward is a League 1 quality right back and gets rinsed by anyone with any ability and doesn't sign a right back by the end of the transfer window he should be sacked.

We've needed a right back for 3 seasons. It's insane how we've still not bought one (Clyne is a backup and Ferguson has not played since Vieira was playing).

Perhaps PV is smart enough but who do you suggest he plays instead? Clyne has COVID and no academy players are good enough. Can’t blame PV for who he has available to pick from

It was a good day for me! I took the 4 and 6 year old to their first game, it was exciting for them walking into the Arthur - Block U to a wall of sound, chants, songs and flag waving across the stadium at 2.40pm.

They enjoyed their first experience of Selhurst and start their palace journey with a draw!

Alongside this my eldest started her first day working at Palace scanning fans into Selhurst / turnstile operator in the Holmesdsle so a proud day on two fronts for me!!!

I think it’s about perspective, as I didn’t attend any matches last season and to be totally honest, I was just looking forward to being back at Selhurst and taking in the sites and sounds walking with and through big crowds and enjoying that feeling of being Palace and at a football match.

I was watching wilf very closely throughout (amongst constantly entertaining a 4 year old boy with snacks) as stated - yes he has lost a yard of pace and in my opinion, his unwillingness to take on his marker is due to a lack of confidence in beating his man and his instinctive nature of tricking his way past with an array of skills just wasn’t present at all. - (however)

Every time he got the ball facing their goal with the intention of running at them - everyone stood up in anticipation leaving me to constantly pick up the kids to stand on a chair so they could see.

That happened a good few times, so he still has the ‘wow factor’as it got to the point where I was conscious of preparing to pick them both up in a way where they could see what was happening and quickly!

A draw was a fair result, we just lacked that spark moving forward cohesively and with any great plan or rhythm. Really, no matter what honeymoon period Brentford are in we should be winning that game, new manager or not. Wilf and Benteke are both meant to be a level above those defenders and should be able to be match winners or assist with some skill or something that is top draw enough to settle the game!

Yes, so do i Gallegher and McArthur were excellent, the new CDs did well, and Mitchell was ok, the rest poor

“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

I wasn't there and I've only seen the highlights on the website so can't comment with a real understanding of the game. But it's interesting to read quite a lot of negative remarks about Kouyate when the Sunday Times reporter gave him an 8 along with Gallagher. The highest scores of the team.

Dad and I watched games standing on the muddy slope of the Holmesdale Road end. He cheered and I rattled.

There are a few negative remarks about Chek and he did lose control on a couple of occasions in the second half, but he also mixed it up and he helped push Brentford back and I thought for the last 20 minutes we looked like the more likely winners.

Also there were a couple of comments about Ayew, but again he seemed to unsettle the Brentford back 4 with his close control and running at them. MOTD didn’t show this in the footage until the panel in Jennas showed some extra clips.

In truth I’m not sure about Brentford really , lots of falling over and time wasting. They will be coming down with the Christmas decorations for sure. Lots of huff and puff atm, nothing special…

I watched the whole game (Thai TV). Entertaining (esp 1st half), our 3 new signings our best players (together with captain McArthur), Kouyate make too many mistakes, Ayew, Schlupp, and Ward basically squad players.
With Olise & Ese in the line-up, players more comfortable with our new style and hopefully 2 more class signings, we will be all right. As long as PV drops some of the horrible tactics of playing out from the back. Andersen and Guehi standing behind Guaita when our goalie is about to pass backward. Suicide mission, no more no less!

So, was my 7 hour round trip to Selhurst worth it yesterday?

Yes, it was! It was great to be back to experience the buzz of a live, live game with passionate fans supporting both teams.

It was good to see that we are trying to play more positive football.

it was good to see our 3 new players doing so well. I thought Andersen was excellent. Yes, Toney gave him one or two problems but Joachim marshalled him well.

I thought Ward was OK yesterday. He's the best we have in that position IMO and can do a job until we see what Ferguson is made of. The obvious needs of a wide player and a striker have to be sorted before we think about a RB (or LB).

I thought we looked better when Wilf was down the right and Schlupp down the left.

Finally, it was good to bump into a couple of Palace fans when I got back to Birmingham and we got on the same local train.

PS.
I was happy with a point and a clean sheet. After 6 weeks of 'Vieiraball' things are looking OK and can only improve.