I agree with you on PVA. Until our forwards are given decent service however I refuse to totally slag off Batshuyai, Benteke or Mateta. Having said that, you can’t just be a traditional centre forward any more and it looks like we potentially have three of them. The game has moved on I’m afraid and we see our CFs just watching the game instead of getting properly involved. Perhaps Mateta will surprise us, I hope so.

If only you could sit down and talk to our players ...and manager.

Armed with a mask.

I'm struggling to think of a midfield combination at our disposal that would provide 'service'. The closest thing we have to an old school supply line is Townsend, who is punching above his weight to be called 'average'.

I know football has moved on, but I always compare Palace sides to the Wright and Bright team. That team was set up to avoid defeat, then service the front two. Everything else was not so much a bonus as an unwelcome indulgence. You wouldn't want to be Salako, Barber or McGoldrick most days - anything other than constant good service was going to get both barrels.

I don't think Zaha and Eze are anything like Salako et al. The current two are really skillful, but very individualistic, and thats not the same as supplying service to a forward.

We'd do better to produce a poundland version of the Real Madrid forward line, where Benzema worked hard to get Bale and Ronaldo in the game. I doubt we'll see a 20 goal forward at Palace in the forseable.

Mateta is of a preferable age and has time to settle down with Eze and a few of our other younger players if our club decides he could be of use, What I found the most irritating toady was not so much the result but the refusal to allow Mateta the game time which is required to bond together with the players around him.

I need a whole day to get over this because otherwise I may say something silly about our manager.

It's alright for you lot as a good neighbour just up the road is a Burnley fan. I can't to the shops without passing his house. Unless I can glide past like Eze.

Conjunctivitis.com - A site for sore eyes.

That's a fair point. Players are just human beings, and the value of a crowd giving you both barrels when you have been complete s*** shouldn't be underestimated.