Agree with most comments and that all 11 selected yesterday were under par including the ref. Biggest disappointment for me was Olise and Zaha when receiving the ball mainly knocked it back rather than driving forward. Players didn’t get into the box quick enough as well. Perhaps Villa should take credit for slowing us down but I think it was more our doing then them? As for Luka, awful performance including captaincy. Looked lost and passing was awful. Let’s hope it’s not just the loss of MacArthur and Andersen yesterday, otherwise our bench / replacements aren’t as good as we think they are?

Although they broke up our forward play with their antics they did defend exceptionally well, we didn't and that's why we lost.

I think we were due one of these. Recent performances have been of a high standard even if results ( too many draws ) were a little underwhelming.

Yesterday we weren't quite at it. Added to that a Villa side that were well prepared and clearly responding to their new manager.

We weren't helped by the naivety of the referee who was taken in by Villa's antics in breaking play up.

Conceding yet again from a set piece is my biggest concern. It's getting to the point of spreading nervousness every time we concede a corner or free kick in our half.

In terms of our players, Tompkins was ok given this was his first start in ages, but he doesn't convince me as a player that's anything other than a back up, not genuine competition for a place in the team. Olise was disappointing and maybe best introduced later in games - but of course he needs time to learn and I think that's why he wasn't hooked when he could easily have been. Luka....well, this player has been in decline for a while now but that was brought into sharp focus yesterday. Him and Kouyate together does not work.

In a different thread ( I think on Gallagher ), I offered the view that Palace will not only need to replace him next season, but also to identify a successor to Jimmy Mac - I think that's becoming clearer after the last two games. It also appears that it's not going to be Will Hughes - I thought the Villa game would be ideal to hand him a start compared to Leeds / Man U away.

Old, Ungifted and White

I hope that the lesson PV learned was that if you have a slow midfield due to injuries playing the pressing game isn't going to work so either adapt your tactics or play more a mobile midfield.

One more point

Agree with this. Several times Tekkers could have noved into a more lethal place to finish off disguised passes from Gallager Wilf or Oliseh but never did. He is just lay and never reads the game. Always expects to be served the ball directly on his feet or head. Very poor footbaling mind this guy even if hes scored some goals, but hes also wasteda ton of opportunities.

I think teams of similar stature to us will come and park the bus while we pass the ball from side to side and then try to do us on the break or from a set piece.

Overall we've failed to convince in our home games IMO.

Losing 1-0 at home to Villa isn't the time to flex your muscles with Zaha when Benteke and Olise were so poor. The latter looked like a player lacking confidence which is surprising given the start he's had.

No more needs to be said about Luka than other than it has to be Eze or Hughes in McArthur's absence as I don't see Riedewald or Schlupp as realistic alternatives.

Villa's play acting and diving particularly Martinez and Watkins was pathetic but they seemed to find a bit of quality at key moments when we lacked it.