Good post.

I know some may have an unrealistic hope for “total football” but I think most Palace fans are happy with pragmatic football with the occasional victory over the big boys. I personally love us being a “party pooper” for any of the top six and regarded as a tough game in their calendar.
But the thing I can’t bare is the lack of ambition or attacking intent. If that’s limited to corners and free kicks when needed - I wouldn’t mind that. We’re not even having a go any more! A balance can be struck between defending well and getting on the ball and playing with some intent - as Fulham showed last week. If they can do it why can’t we? I believe it’s the Manager.

After such a distinguished career I would like the club to recognise the good job he has done in bringing Premier League stability and create an ambassadorial/support role for him. I would also like Roy to bow out on a high and hope we get to the magic 40 points and then start playing some football.

But I suspect Roy (given what we have seen of Roy’s reluctance to be proactive or change the mental approach to games) he would stick to playing the same old sh!te.

I agree. We do not want to be like Fulham or Brighton and play expansive football but lose every game. But I would expect more ambition against the lower teams and to look like we are able to beat them. Overall our play looks over negative every game regardless of who we are playing and our passing is shocking. Roy seems happy with less than half the points from 5 games from teams at the bottom. I expected 9 from those 15 and that should have been easily achievable. The flashes like the 2 goals against Brighton are not enough out of 180 minutes of football.

There doesn’t according to Roy’s relatives on here. Either one or two shots on goal per month and survival, or the alternative of relegation and then the football conference.

COYP

I expect some encouragement and excitement in each game.

Some will result in loss, some a draw and some a win.

What I don't expect is constant 20% possession EACH game, no shots on target and not being able pass the ball. Which is what we having getting for quite a while.

I don't expect a cup run, pushing for European places and even a Top 10 finish.

I don't think that's a lot to ask for.

My expectations are to compete.

There's no shame in drawing at home 0-0 to Fulham. There's plenty to worry about when it is clear the management have actually set us up to play for exactly that result. What message does it send to the players when all week it is drilled into them how to stop Fulham from scoring ?

I enjoyed watching the games away to Arsenal, West Ham and home vs Spurs. We didn't win any of them but we played reasonably well and with some intent. The performance against Brighton was embarrassing and only celebrated because of who we were playing.

The best I have seen us play was the first 45 minutes at home to Liverpool and we ended up being 3-0 down at half time. As somebody else has already mentioned, find the middle ground between being ultra defensive and leaving ourselves wide open. For that to happen we need to be more aggressive, fitter and press a little more than we do.

Football, as with life, encompasses every type of expectation from the hard nosed to the unrealistic.

From my perspective I think Palace have been relatively fortunate over the last few years. Fundamentally it's been the correct managemental change allied to the fear in teams created from one player that has kept us playing at the top table.

What we can be assured of is that we have people at the top of the club who have presided over above average success for us.....and most of us remember how bad it was before them.

In truth we are a yo-yo club that is undergoing a good period. We have taken advantage of that to finally produce a top level academy, which does increase the club's reputation.

However, we don't have the stadium of a big club and realistically for us to move forward and expect improvements in play allied to league position we need big money to come in.

Sure, we can point at more attractive and attacking teams, but the number of instances of teams outside the top six playing attractive football without big money is rare.

Usually they end up relegated within two or three seasons because opponents work them out.

So personally I think the comments Roy recently made about expectations, money and style of play were very accurate.

Next season we will be without Zaha and the look of our squad will be different. I think the lack of noise coming from the top means that they want to ally that change with a change in management.

It's a close call due to Roy's age and a possible sense that his players are less motivated than before....whatever happens I have my fingers crossed that we will do well in the transfer markets.

When people complain about 'average' they often forget that half are performing below expectations and to consistently perform above the average you require an edge....outside of personnel (who are always temporary) that's money, pure and simple.

Edited by Stirlingsays (03 Mar 2021 11.23am)

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