I certainly thought we would push on from last year’s finish, even frightening some of our early opponents. I reckoned 11 or 12 points from these first 6 games - unbeaten even - but the optimism has somehow evaporated.

I agree that we now have a clutch of highly-paid strikers who can’t seem to fulfil their basic role (to put the ball in the net) but unfortunately the rest of the team apart from Wilf don’t know where the goal is either.

On the plus side, relative to the same six fixtures last season (depending on which team we regard Fulham as having replaced) we are no worse off than last season. But last season was a relegation struggle, and I had hoped for better. Also, we aren’t on zero points and zero goals like this time last year, but we have only faced one of the big boys.

Palace since 19 August 1972. Palace 1 (Tony Taylor) Liverpool 1 (Emlyn Hughes)

Yesterday's game highlighted why we have to try to get benteke back and firing again. Even if he isn't scoring goals, he gives the option to go long, hold it up or flick it on for someone else. Plus the numerous crosses that came in with no one on the end of it

Yesterday we really missed that option, and Newcastle were able to close all the gaps and stop us from developing attacks.

Home results have let us down so far
...... and Sakho couldn’t head into an open goal from 3 yards.

My thoughts entirely.

You took some stick because you didn't given the lad a chance. Finding a goal-scoring striker seems to be a problem for other teams in the PL (Huddersfield, Newcastle, Cardiff) but the issue this year has been no one else has been scoring aside from Zaha, because remember he has actually been a goal-scoring striker/winger (albeit in a less traditional role).

Personally, I think Kouyate will get a few if he keeps playing and the same for McArthur and Luka. We were much improved yesterday compared to the performances against Huddersfield and Saints and in the second half we were the only team likely to win it. Hopefully Meyer gets to start the next game as he seemed like a younger, quicker Cabaye, linking up the game, coming back to receive it from defenders, etc.

Like the OP I thought we would be better than we have been, but the fact we have 7 points despite this is a positive, especially if we can build on the second-half performance from yesterday.

Sorloth plays 10 mins here and there. I'm sure if he'd been given the minutes that benteke, ayew, wilf and Townsend have had he'd easily have bagged 3 goals. Lad being judged on scraps.