Can’t ever remember being so pleased and encouraged after a defeat. We were far better than against Norwich and I’d say it was actually one of our best performances of the season.
Ten thoughts:
1. Edouard is a dazzling talent. I’m not sure he is properly appreciated.
2. We have never felt as Wilf-proof as we do now. I still adore the guy but we can cope without him.
3. Ayew has been in incredible form lately and was superb today. Seeing him go off in tears was tough to witness. Is his Afcon dream ruined?
4. Andersen passed it like Hoddle tonight. What a player.
5. Mitchell looks tired. We lack cover at LB and that’s the only bit of Jan business we need to do.
6. Can we go a bit easier on the refs? He should have booked their left back earlier and bottled the backpass but the abuse was excessive.
7. Olise is so exciting. The way he cuts inside and delivers killer balls is great. Just what we never got from Andros.
8. We all love Joel Ward but let’s be honest - he just doesn’t offer enough going forward. We desperately need Ferguson to be the player we hope he is.
9. Luka was not as bad as everyone is saying but we miss Kouyate every time he doesn’t play.
10. Schlupp is not good enough to play for Palace.

Can’t ever remember being so pleased and encouraged after a defeat. We were far better than against Norwich and I’d say it was actually one of our best performances of the season.
Ten thoughts:
1. Edouard is a dazzling talent. I’m not sure he is properly appreciated.
2. We have never felt as Wilf-proof as we do now. I still adore the guy but we can cope without him.
3. Ayew has been in incredible form lately and was superb today. Seeing him go off in tears was tough to witness. Is his Afcon dream ruined?
4. Andersen passed it like Hoddle tonight. What a player.
5. Mitchell looks tired. We lack cover at LB and that’s the only bit of Jan business we need to do.
6. Can we go a bit easier on the refs? He should have booked their left back earlier and bottled the backpass but the abuse was excessive.
7. Olise is so exciting. The way he cuts inside and delivers killer balls is great. Just what we never got from Andros.
8. We all love Joel Ward but let’s be honest - he just doesn’t offer enough going forward. We desperately need Ferguson to be the player we hope he is.
9. Luka was not as bad as everyone is saying but we miss Kouyate every time he doesn’t play.
10. Schlupp is not good enough to play for Palace.

Interesting and positive post. Some thoughts on your thoughts, if I may...

1. I'm not sure what type of talent Edouard is yet. I certainly don't think he's a winger, or even an inside forward. He's probably a skillful, individualistic striker, but for me Benteke gives us more as the lone striker at present.
2. I'll believe us to be Wilf-proof when I see it over a long period. I felt we were crying out for him when we were on top before their first two goals. He remains irreplaceable, regardless of how he is performing against his own historic standards.
3. Ayew works his nuts off, but is an average winger who compensates for his lack of incisive creativity by looking to draw fouls. That's exactly what got him injured today. Fingers crossed he'll be fit for what may be his last shot at a trophy with his country of course, but even at his best (which he has been recently) it took minutes for Olise to outshine him. Whether its afcon or injury that takes Ayew out of the side, we may well be better for it.
4. He heads it like Hoddle too, and that's becoming a big problem.
5. I'd use Schlupp there when Mitchell needs a rest. Having two senior specialist left backs on the books is a bit much for a club without European football, one of them will be kicking his heels most of the time.
6. Good luck with that. Unfortunately abuse of officials is now culturally ingrained, and the poison trickles down to every level.
7. See 3 above.
8. Ward has played brilliantly this season, plus I don't think Vieira wants a right back who gets forward as much as Mitchell. I think the plan is that on the left wing we have a right footed winger cutting inside (Zaha, Edouard) and Mitchell overlaps to offer width, but on the right side we have a right footed winger hugging the touchline to provide width, with Ward tucking in alongside the centre backs to make a three. I think that's partly why Ayew has kept Olise out of the side.
9. Luka was poor today, but has looked reasonably good in his brief cameos this season. When we have Hughes, McArthur, Gallagher and Eze to pick from, I would be surprised if either luka or Kouyaté played very much.
10. I wouldn't disagree, especially with the way we play now though as above, I think he'd be a good left back option, and does come in handy generally.

Interesting and positive post. Some thoughts on your thoughts, if I may...

1. I'm not sure what type of talent Edouard is yet. I certainly don't think he's a winger, or even an inside forward. He's probably a skillful, individualistic striker, but for me Benteke gives us more as the lone striker at present.
2. I'll believe us to be Wilf-proof when I see it over a long period. I felt we were crying out for him when we were on top before their first two goals. He remains irreplaceable, regardless of how he is performing against his own historic standards.
3. Ayew works his nuts off, but is an average winger who compensates for his lack of incisive creativity by looking to draw fouls. That's exactly what got him injured today. Fingers crossed he'll be fit for what may be his last shot at a trophy with his country of course, but even at his best (which he has been recently) it took minutes for Olise to outshine him. Whether its afcon or injury that takes Ayew out of the side, we may well be better for it.
4. He heads it like Hoddle too, and that's becoming a big problem.
5. I'd use Schlupp there when Mitchell needs a rest. Having two senior specialist left backs on the books is a bit much for a club without European football, one of them will be kicking his heels most of the time.
6. Good luck with that. Unfortunately abuse of officials is now culturally ingrained, and the poison trickles down to every level.
7. See 3 above.
8. Ward has played brilliantly this season, plus I don't think Vieira wants a right back who gets forward as much as Mitchell. I think the plan is that on the left wing we have a right footed winger cutting inside (Zaha, Edouard) and Mitchell overlaps to offer width, but on the right side we have a right footed winger hugging the touchline to provide width, with Ward tucking in alongside the centre backs to make a three. I think that's partly why Ayew has kept Olise out of the side.
9. Luka was poor today, but has looked reasonably good in his brief cameos this season. When we have Hughes, McArthur, Gallagher and Eze to pick from, I would be surprised if either luka or Kouyaté played very much.
10. I wouldn't disagree, especially with the way we play now though as above, I think he'd be a good left back option, and does come in handy generally.

Can’t ever remember being so pleased and encouraged after a defeat. We were far better than against Norwich and I’d say it was actually one of our best performances of the season.
Ten thoughts:
1. Edouard is a dazzling talent. I’m not sure he is properly appreciated.
2. We have never felt as Wilf-proof as we do now. I still adore the guy but we can cope without him.
3. Ayew has been in incredible form lately and was superb today. Seeing him go off in tears was tough to witness. Is his Afcon dream ruined?
4. Andersen passed it like Hoddle tonight. What a player.
5. Mitchell looks tired. We lack cover at LB and that’s the only bit of Jan business we need to do.
6. Can we go a bit easier on the refs? He should have booked their left back earlier and bottled the backpass but the abuse was excessive.
7. Olise is so exciting. The way he cuts inside and delivers killer balls is great. Just what we never got from Andros.
8. We all love Joel Ward but let’s be honest - he just doesn’t offer enough going forward. We desperately need Ferguson to be the player we hope he is.
9. Luka was not as bad as everyone is saying but we miss Kouyate every time he doesn’t play.
10. Schlupp is not good enough to play for Palace.