There is sense in this. I've said it before but although the board are well within their rights to sack Roy if he continues to lose games 2-0, 3-0, the way we are currently playing is BECAUSE of the players we have. More importantly the age of said players, especially the defence.

We cannot play a higher line because we have geriatric defenders who can't run fast. This means the whole team suffers as everyone has to sit back more, track back more to cover the weakness.

Unless we get a couple of younger, faster defenders in it won't matter what manager we have, or how many youthful attacking players we buy. Although it could mean we draw more games 2-2, 3-3. At least it would be entertaining.

Anyone who thinks a team playing a pensioner/Dann at the back with a midfielder can afford to play free flowing positive football doesn't understand how football works.

If anything it's the boards fault for not investing in the defence more – buy all the strikers you like. Won't make any difference.

Edited by SW19 CPFC (19 Feb 2021 11.11am)

Exactly. Roy works with what he has at his disposal. Currently that is a centre back pairing with a combined top speed of about 1mph. Whilst that remains the case, we are not going to play a high tempo attacking game as Premier League opposition will have a jolly up against us & we will be relegated.

This isn't even an attack on Parish as I believe maintaining our Premier League status for now will be significant in the clubs long term future.

I don't want to come out and attack the fans (although I have no issue with taking digs at the HF) but the turning on Roy is disappointing beyond belief and puts any myths about our "special" fanbase to bed. Roy is a good manager & has done well for us whilst feeding off scraps. And the attacks on him is childish & ridiculous.

There is sense in this. I've said it before but although the board are well within their rights to sack Roy if he continues to lose games 2-0, 3-0, the way we are currently playing is BECAUSE of the players we have. More importantly the age of said players, especially the defence.

We cannot play a higher line because we have geriatric defenders who can't run fast. This means the whole team suffers as everyone has to sit back more, track back more to cover the weakness.

Unless we get a couple of younger, faster defenders in it won't matter what manager we have, or how many youthful attacking players we buy. Although it could mean we draw more games 2-2, 3-3. At least it would be entertaining.

Anyone who thinks a team playing a pensioner/Dann at the back with a midfielder can afford to play free flowing positive football doesn't understand how football works.

If anything it's the boards fault for not investing in the defence more – buy all the strikers you like. Won't make any difference.

Edited by SW19 CPFC (19 Feb 2021 11.11am)

Isn’t this the reason why we have to go back to three central defensive midfielders in front of the back four with two wide midfielders either side of those three? Have Ayew working his socks off as a lone striker and hope we get a break to hit the opponents against the run of play. Hodgson was doing this until trying to fit in Eze and it’s gone Pete Tong badly? Let’s scrape together the points to keep us up.

That is your opinion.

Attacking Roy on every possible level is arguably wrong to the same extent as it is to try an absolve him of any responsibility or criticism.

I've stated before that I would consider what Roy has achieved in keeping us in the Premier League as worthy of respect if not high praise. Does not mean people can't have differing opinions on the scales or merits of any achievements, that's the nature and beauty of football. It also doesn't mean that a manager is permanently shielded from criticism in the here and now.

As it stands, we are not factually safe from relegation, have seen some awful performances this season (some may say many), have lost the last two without even a whimper, looking terrible in the process and have an abysmal record without Zaha under Hodgson, which is the situation we now find ourselves in.

I would never consider the measure of a fanbase to be its blind devotion to individuals in high paid jobs but rather its commitment to the club itself including what actually goes on on the pitch, which surely is the primary purpose of a club in the first place.

We've always scored highly in polls of 'best fans', as a season ticket holder I am accustomed to hearing the chant 'where's your famous atmosphere' on less entertaining days/nights and I believe even FIFA (the video game) have included commentary lines to note the passion of our fans. It's a bit too self indulgent for me to harp on about it but its worthy of recognition.

I can't understand why a Palace fan would be so quick to defend our manager from any criticism yet insist on criticising the clubs fans within the same breath.

You're easily pleased them if that's the best you expect from this group of players, our performances for most of this season have been absolutely pathetic and wasn't even worth them turning up. Southampton first game of the season so was a coin toss, we played utd at the right time, Leeds were unlucky with a close var decision and then a freak own goal, west brom looked the better team till the sending off, a poor wolves without jimemez, scoring on our first shot on target after 60 mins. Tbh can't even remember our Fulham wins as our performances have been so underwhelming and forgettable this season.