In terms of notable things from today for those who weren't there :

This was surely the XI that will start at Fulham. Roy is a settled side kind of guy.

Even though we had three wingers in the side, we actually played with a very narrow midfield four (Schlupp and Townsend tucked right in so much that they were often on the same side of the pitch with McArthur and Luka when shuffling over defensively). Very different to the 'keep feeding bolasie and Zaha out wide' days.

Zaha played free role / no10 sort of thing. Looked good like usual, a little petulant but that's Wilf!

Best I've seen benteke play. Missed a great chance but scored right after. Great link up play, held it up well, and ran around a fair bit. I repeat: benteke ran around. You did not misread that.

Some neat possession, a little clunky going forward at times (due perhaps to the lack of width) but had too much individual power for the opponent. Once we were ahead we looked threatening on the break, with benteke and Zaha looking sharp, ably supported by the selfless and hard working townsend.

I guess meyer isn't fit yet, having had so little pre season in his legs. From what we know of him he will probably take Schlupp's place on narrow left when fit. The extra class and creativity will be welcome, but he'll have to respect Roystons basic requirements of shape and work rate when out of possession, for that brothers and sisters, is the gospel according to Saint Roy, and I for one saw the light long ago. Hallelujah!

Edited by TheBigToePunt (04 Aug 2018 7.55pm)

Only 8 minutes, but we look sharp, keen and ready to go. Roy seems to have got them to peak at exactly the right time.

Only saw a bit in the first few mins, but Bostock was looking good too.....

A stairway to Heaven and a Highway to Hell give some indication of expected traffic numbers

I missed it.

What do people think of the new goalie Guait?
From reports I have read, maybe Speroni should have stood in for Hennessey?

[Link]

Edited by Durban Road Eagle (04 Aug 2018 8.47pm)

Kentish Maid, born Beckenham, Kent; lifelong Palace supporter.

Worried about new keeper. Parried two shots, first one resulted in goal, so no improvement on Hennessey.
We made them look good for first 10 minutes but slowly improved. Thought Bostock as good as any we have, slotted accurate passes out to the wings and played the full 90 minutes. Toulouse made about 8 subs. Kouyate not on for long and misplaced his first two passes to the opposition.
Our biggest failing?
As always a lack of a midfield general.
If Meyer IS the 'wonder kid' then he is much needed there .....

The club does make themselves look amateurish at times. Apparently the new shirts are coming up small and the club shop has been inundated with returns.

It was a sleepy start from Palace. We looked a bit mesmerised by the quick one-two movement by Toulouse in the early stages.

However, it was quite encouraging that we still managed to run out 4-1 winners without engaging top gear for more than a few brief periods of the game.

It was very hot out there yesterday and those player who are pretty well assured of a place in the starting line-up next week were never going to bust a gut with the first league match only a week away. Having said that Andros was still running after everything - is he the fittest player in football?!