MOTD2 had us playing a 4-3-3 in the lineup thing last night. It was anything but that. It was 4-4-2, or effectively 4-4-0.

COYP

We don't have a player that links the midfield to the forwards, all our centre mids are try hard players but lack creativity. In the past we've had RLC, Cabaye even Puncheon at times, I was hoping Camarssa was that player but he didn't even make the bench - another one Roy had no say in maybe?

Also Sakho's ability to be calm under pressure, playing forward passes through the midfield has really been missed.

It is extremely frustrating that Roy is mostly reactive rather than proactive. Substitutions after 60-65 mins every week is guaranteed and almost a joke in the stands.

We enter every game, home or away, looking to set up for a point and remain compact.

It has it's positives in the fact we will very rarely get turned over 4 or 5 against the bigger sides, but we just never seem to put any team to the sword.

However, Sheff Utd away is a game we really should be winning regardless of the atmosphere or hype in the build up. They really arent a great side.

Their game plan was let our centres halves play out from the back and when they get them ball, go wide and overlap. We are so narrow with Townsend, our only winger in a midfield 4, that they split us apart too often.

The shape was wrong and I think it was harsh to drop Ayew for Zaha. Benteke for Ayew should have been the replacement - or even start Wickham !

The players are professional and I expected a similarly professional performance yesterday.

We were absolutely shocking.

What I learnt yesterday is the following :

- Townsend had a successful time last season as he didn't have to look after AWB for 90 mins.

- Benteke is useless.

- Zaha really doesn't want to be here.

- PVA needs cover/support in front of him as he can be creative from full back and gets exposed.

- We miss Sakho.

- Start Cahill, we need leadership.

- We won't score more than 30 goals this year.

Same old situation every year and I think we may have survived one too many times.

I want Roy in charge but he just seems to be too stubborn.

Look at wolves since Fosun bought them 3 years ago for £45m!!!
Same price as Wan Bissaka. Laughable but true.
Fosun are worth £7.5 billion. They have a clear plan of how to grow the club.
SP and our want away American Owners could probably get £100m for us. We so need new owners with very deep pockets or I fear we will be seriously struggling. SP has let us all down this summer selling one of our best players and banking most of the cash. No key replacements. Big mistake. Huge.
We have all but lost our best 3 players from last season and dismally failed to buy players in key positions that we all know. WZ should have gone for £50m. Their are no excuses. Sadly we are stagnating which you simply can’t do in the premier.
Our club management and now team management are constantly being called to account by us fans.
A serious overhaul is called for if we want to progress. But it is very late in the day to do something significant.

You do know the director loans were probably being demanded to be paid back, and we bid for right backs but weren’t prepared to go to £20 mil and Clyne got injured, don’t you?

Did you at any point say we should have sold Zaha for £50 mil or are you just saying it now. What if he returns to form vs villa?

COYP

The Americans are a big problem, but maybe they were the only interested investors. They did pump funds in for the Allardyce survival, but that c0ck up was down to Parish’s regular fvck up. That time it was bringing in FDB to overhaul the football on such a small budget compared to the £80-100 mil it would’ve needed we’d never have or we’d broken ffp in doing it so fast.

Parish drives a hard bargain, sometimes too hard for football when you need players by a certain time. It’s not an office after all and the 3 worst will go down, or the manager get the hump and leave. But when it comes down to football though he has absolutely no idea and no idea on who to recruit.

Ask yourselves honestly. If someone bought the club today, who out of Parish’s assistants or employees would be kept on?

Roy and Ray? No
Freedman? Never
Bright? No. Maybe short term for info. (Glenn Murray anyone?)

We’ve had so many inexperienced former players be recruited it’s become a painful joke. John salako doing tricks at HT. wtf? Richard Shaw is doing well with the academy, but who is now invited back at Selhurst? Julian fvcking Gray, that’s who.

But Parish will never step aside, loves the limelight and doesn’t trust anyone to do the great job he does in using knowledge from people without experience in the roles he’s getting their knowledge from. Parish knows how to save a pound though. We’ll see how that goes in panic January or reflection May time.

Surely if someone out there buys us there’s a way or someone to be sensible with the club finances so we don’t end up destroying ourselves who doesn’t have to be Parish?

COYP