I’m chuckling to myself after our MoTD highlights. The commentator makes quite a song and dance in raving about Mateta’s ‘dummy’ for Eze’s goal. Now, I may be wrong, but I’m quite sure he tried to control the ball and it just ran under his foot. Grateful for any other thoughts here but was amusing for me in it seeming so bizarre and only of course, because we won today!

After the worst possible start, that was a well earned and deserved win. Let's hope it gives the players the boost in confidence they need.

I think it highlighted the difference between Palace and other teams in the lower half of the table. We have, in Eze and Olise, two players that can produce the extraordinary. If they stay fit, we will be fine.

Ebs actually had a very average game in my opinion. He's still not back to his pre injury best. He did well to anticipate JP's mis-control and took his chance well. Olise is developing into our most influential player.

I understand why Roy has deployed Richards at DM, and he is getting to grips with the role bit by bit, but he and Lerma are not a match made in heaven. If we are going to be active in January, then a midfield specialist is a must.

Olise will rightly have captured the headlines, but a word about Nat Clyne. Very sound again yesterday. As he has been since replacing Ward.

Lots of people on here talking about facts that Roy always makes late subs which doesnt ring true to me, so I've checked out the last 10 games and these ARE the facts about his subs.....
chelsea 79 / 90
brighton 59 / 70
man city 34 / 80 / 81 / 91
liverpool 45 / 68 / 84 / 95
bournemouth 29 / 69 / 69 / 86
west ham 82 / 87
luton 49 / 54 / 80 / 80
everton 67 / 83 / 89
burnley 58 / 70 / 70 / 86
tottenham 60 / 70 / 70 / 79

I dont think that qualifies as always makes late subs.

Only part of the facts as you haven't explained why the early subs took place, so here we go:

1. The 67th min sub against Everton saw Olise brought on for his long-awaited first game of the season after his June injury. Had he been fully match fit, he would have started the game.

2. The 2 early 2nd half subs in the Luton game arose out of injuries to Eze and Doucoure - nothing tactical about those 2 subs.

3. The 29th min sub against Bournemouth was another injury related necessity (Mitchell).

4. The HT sub against Liverpool was yet another injury forced one (Edouard).

5. The 34th min sub at the Etihad was another injury forced one (Ward)

6. The 59th min sub against Brighton (Hughes) was the only earliish tactical one as I recall as Hughes was in danger of getting a 2nd yellow.

Take those out of the equation and the complaint about Hodgson leaving his subs till too late has merit. Interestingly, in his post-match presser yesterday, Hodgson said how often Palace struggle to hold on to leads in the last part of games. Hasn't he cottoned on to the fact that players getting tired in the final 20 minutes tend to make mistakes (Eze v Chelsea). Brentford got a second wind with their 5 subs on (think fresh legs for half the outfield positions) and had they taken the chances they should have done, we would have only drawn that game. During that spell when they pegged us back it was crystal clear that we needed fresh legs BUT Hodgson refused to budge until the 86th minute.

Until Hodgson starts to make earlier subs and tactical ones to counter the opposition manager's, we will continue to concede goals in the last 10-15 minutes of matches IMO.

Finally, as someone who sits in the Glaziers section of the main stand, I'm fed up of seeing the opposition players scoring those late goals to win or draw matches.

Edited by doombear (31 Dec 2023 11.22am)

Edited by doombear (31 Dec 2023 11.23am)

This was a game we had to win and Roy and the team got the job done. As for timing of subs and team selection Roy has the C/V that as he rightly says qualifies him more than most to do this job. I personally feel for him because he has stuck with us doing a very difficult job over the years, even coming out of retirement when Parish could not find anyone to take the job. In the past others have walked away, probably because they were probably not prepared to put their own reputation on the line trying to keep us in this league with little support from the club in terms of team investment. Roy should therefore be applauded for his great achievement. The fact that he now has limited options each week in terms of team selection is not his fault that i'm afraid lies squarely with Parish and his fellow investors who have failed to provide the necessary funds for team strengthening to keep up to speed with other similar teams in this league. AS the old year ends and new one begins I would like say a big thank you to Roy and Ray for the job they are doing and wish them, the team, the club and all of you a very healthy happy and succesful new year...onwards and upwards!