In terms of timing, it's hard to see anything other than that Stoke away game. We were 5th and flying and then fell apart. Bolasie's absence turned out to be pretty huge. Probably gave us a false sense of security too, reaching 5th, and contributed to a lack of strengthening in the window that followed.

Since then there have been lots of turns for the worse. Flogging Yala hasn't gone well...or replacing with Townsend (so far). No holding midfielder. No cover for Pape. Dann has looked to be playing with a knock most of this season. McArthur's injury last season. Cabaye's nookie away from his missus probably affected his form and behaviour.

Whatever you think of AP or SA we could have been luckier.

If you want to live in a world full of kindness, respect and love, try to show these qualities.

This is INCORRECT. The bit you highlighted talks about PERFORMANCES. You have listed RESULTS. The performances under Allardyce have been so dreadful that he leads Pardew 2-0 in times booed off the pitch at halftime, has already bettered Pardews record defeat by losing 4-0 to Sunderland and also leads Pardew 1-0 in number of times players attacked at halftime. We have also scored a lot less goals, have less possession and have already spent more time in the relegation zone than we did in all Pardews time here. He has also got us knocked out of the FA Cup. (You know that tournament Pardew took us to the final of?). Finally Allardyce has been in charge of 8 Premier League games not 7. Dont just take my word for it though see below.

[Link]

When Pape had his accident.

'- Really? Honestly? Back in the USSR,,,you don't know how lucky you are.

Oh yes he did at SP. I watched the game on holiday in the US.

We had NEVER gone for a player like Adebayor before. He was a total gamble on the clubs part - will he perform like he was once known for/we're in a different league getting players like him to sign. What also sets this signing apart is the ridiculous wage he picked up. We had never done anything like that before.

This was once a quality forum....

Agree with almost all of the points but the marked pay-disparity since Cabaye arrived, set a rot in our dressing room.
Dougie and Parish started a process of only signing players after significant investigation into their likely 'fit' into our dressing room. Slowly, that process got eroded and we now have half a team of mercinaries who (thankfully) will be first to jump from the ship they relegated.

Aside from this, continuing to play players whose form was undeserving of a place in the squad, let alone the starting eleven, beggared belief. Hennessey, Puncheon, Ledley, Kelly....all apparently superior talents to anyone else at the club.

Ps. Special mention to Jordan Mutch; spectacularly bad signing, huge fee, huge wages (more than Zaha), hugely damaging.

Spirit of 1974