Your second option is spot on, make the team fit the players and not the players fit the team, he plays like we can stroll around like Ligue 1

“That’s a joke son, I say, that’s a joke.” “Nice boy, but he’s sharp as a throw pillow.” “He’s so dumb he thinks a Mexican border pays rent” “ “Son… I say, son, some people are so narrow minded they can look through a keyhole with both eyes.”__ Forhorn Leghorn

I’m pretty sure I remember our manager/owners saying that we don’t fritter away money and we only buy players that will make the team better from the off.

So out of our recent signings, we have bought 2 keepers who hardly ever make the starting 11, Ferguson who has been injured for 2 years, Richards who has been injured for most of his time since arriving, Ebiowei and Plange who don’t look ready for the top level and Hughes who is never picked presumably because he is too lightweight.

Guehi, Anderson and Doucoure have been good signings but we have become so reliant on these three to perform as there is no proper cover or assistance for them.

In the midfield we have lost Kouyate, Gallagher and McArthur is constantly injured and Milivojevic past his best so we buy just one recognised replacement and we try to shoehorn Eze Olise and Schlupp into positions where they are not comfortable and they get consistently run off the ball.

I would suggest our buying has been generally pretty average at best and I would be happier if they stuck to their own mantra of only buying players who can operate in the first team squad and then introduce players gradually from the youngsters.

I genuinely think we are in serious trouble second half of the season if we don’t resolve the midfield issue and get some defensive support in. I think we have the attacking flair to win games but only if we secure decent ball in midfield first which will allow the front 3 to flourish.

Yes. Way beyond his sell by date. It was noted at the beginning of the season that should either of Andersen or Guehi pick up an injury or get suspended then the lack of cover is minimal at best. And thanks to expert foresight from the management, here we are.

Yet even after the Forest shambles, members were convincing themselves that all we needed was a good break (with very few of our players going to the World Cup) and we'd come back all guns blazing to destroy Fulham on Boxing Day.

Palace since 19 August 1972. Palace 1 (Tony Taylor) Liverpool 1 (Emlyn Hughes)

In a post match interview Vieira said he may have to reconsider how we set up.
This sounds as if lessons are being learnt.
However, he made similar noises after the Everton game but in subsequent games has still persisted with only one defensive midfielder with players shoehorned into roles that don’t suit them.

I raised the issue some months ago as to whether it was possible to include Zaha, Eze and Olise all in the same team on a regular basis in a tough competitive Premier League.
Even though they are all very talented, I remain unconvinced.
It’s difficult to have three players who don’t contribute out of possession , particularly when you only play with one defensive midfield player.
There also has to be a question mark about using Zaha regularly as a centre forward even if he is our most likely goal scorer.
It’s not playing to his strengths as he spends his whole game chasing lost causes or trying to battle physical centre halves .
I wonder if part of the reason that Zaha is used up front is because Vieira is of the view that it will allow him a system to also to accommodate Eze and Olise in the team.

After Bournemouth we have a really tough run of games coming up and I really hope that lessons have been learnt with a more suitable playing system which allows us first to compete in the midfield to get a foothold in games.
We all hoped McArthur would be fit for the second half of the season, but this looks more and more unlikely.
The noises about signings in January don’t sound too promising so Vieira may well have to look at existing resources to resolve the problems in midfield and restore a proper balance in the team.
For me this would mean Edouard up front , Zaha restored to the left of a front three and a more defensive midfielder introduced at the expense of either Eze or Olise.

agree with all that has been said.
Our manager is a bit like Southgate, reacts too late to introduce substitutions. Players have got to act more responsibly and not be careless with tackles.
After such a long break, you would think they would have come out and given the fans something to shout about, the opposite, it was dreadful. Pay good money to watch highly paid rubbish.
In the January window we must get a couple of strikers, even if it means going into the Championship or Morocco - Rashid Harkouk!
Clearly we need Wan Bisaka asap.
This is a poor team that has good individual players who are not playing to their full potential. The team does need a complete overall. Hopefully, Bournemouth have a bad day on Saturday!
I am truly concerned because with performances like this, the Championship is beckoning!