I agree with 90% of what you write but Fulham are 3rd bottom and averaging 2 points every three games and there are another 4 teams between us and them. My big worry is that we will stay up with a bit to spare and Roy stays on and Steve and the septics don't invest again. We need to either blood some of the youngsters and give the senior players a chance to refresh or carry on as we are and assume that five of the seven below don't overtake us. Which could well happen. Do we bite the bullet and drop Andros? I would and play him in the last 15 or 20 mins. I would play Benteke up front and Eze behind with Wilf on the right unless there is bad blood between Wilf and Benteke in which case Wilf stays and Ayew is up front who will not hold the ball up but will not lose the ball. Not a great time to be a Palace fan.

Enjoying getting up later and not having someone who knows better than me (apart from the missus of course).

Spot on. We have become far too complacent is every aspect. We have kept faith with RH despite the performances and results falling off a cliff in the last 12 months. We have kept hold of too many players on big contracts and way past their best. And the craziest thing is we assume these changes can all wait until the summer as we can’t get relegated. Not sure how many more defeats we will have to suffer before reality sets in!

Today,all W.Ham's goals were as a result of crosses.
Against Man C, Stones scored his first from a cross and his second was when he reacted quickest to a corner which wasn't cleared.

I do think Guaita should dominate more when the ball is crossed from wide positions, in fact I cannot recall the last time he came out and caught a ball in such situations.
He has made some excellent saves, but he doesn't dominate his box and his kicking is not the best.

Previous Hodgson crew tell the same story - his training methods are boring the pants off the players. Maybe they just go through the motions during the week, not giving 100%?
And why should they? The same dross week is in the starting line up in and week out. There seems to be no plan when we have the ball, the amount of wrong passes is embarassing, and let us be honest - it could easily have been six or seven against the Hammers.
Our veteran "warriors" are simply not up to the task anymore. It seems the manager truly has lost the plot and he is too stubborn to make drastic changes.

While I agree with the crosses comment, there's no way the first goal was his fault, Kouyate left his man (Antonio), and he flipped it into the box.

The second goal, maybe, but it was a mistake by the defense again.

The 3rd goal, also free header. Tough to say if any goalkeeper would have gone out to meet that.

I think it's more man marking than the GK's problem.

All of that being said, I think this is Roy's last season. We are very unlikely to go down.

I know this isn't the "method" in coaching, but I would take on Lampard as an assistant manager for the rest of the season with an understanding he will take over at the end of the season. Good way to transition. And honestly he will definitely be more attack minded and will have 4 months to see what he has.

Doing all the points per game etc it is very hard to envisage any scenario where any of the current bottom three turn around their points per game and we reverse to a point where we are in danger.

Having said that, watching performances like last night is miserable, give me 17th now if we are going to play like that ( except first and last five minutes ) and no need for masochistic viewing.

Starting team next week should be team that finished with Clyne in for Ward.

Responsibility Deficit Disorder is a medical condition. Symptoms include inability to be corrected when wrong, false sense of superiority, desire to share personal info no else cares about, general hubris. It's a medical issue rather than pure arrogance.

Keep Guaita

Responsibility Deficit Disorder is a medical condition. Symptoms include inability to be corrected when wrong, false sense of superiority, desire to share personal info no else cares about, general hubris. It's a medical issue rather than pure arrogance.

I would like to see Bats start with the new guy and Zaha on the wing instead of Townsend. We need to see if Bats can make it and give him 4/5 games.

One more point

I won't claim to know more than the coaching staff but is it not obvous that we look better with Riedewald on the pitch?

He has a pass in him and runs off the ball. Surely it is clear that our midfield is so static with McArthur and Mila. One of them has to be sacrificed.
Time to end the Benteke farce as well. Play Batshyui and Ayew or the new guy up front and with Eze behind them. Stick Wilf back on the wing and sign a better winger than increasingly poor Townsend for the other side.
Sacking the manager is not the answer now. He just needs better options and a little less loyalty to bang average players. It might also help if we signed a centre half who actually remained fit for more than two games in a row.

Not sure we'll make that total, we have the second highest goals against tally in the league! Despite the pundits reeling off the cliche "Hodgson's teams are difficult to break down" cobblers, this season has been anything but a defensive masterclass - the myth is busted, and now that is gone with one dimensional Croydon Roy there's nothing else but the inevitable slide.