The College Dropout

Jol & Hughton are fighting for their roles. Mackay is a sitting duck.

That's not what happened. In fact it's the opposite. Brought too many in (without a significant jump in quality) and destroyed the team spirit as a result.

It's both. You would take 11 Tevez's at Newcastle. There isn't the jump in quality to compensate for the loss of team spirit for Palace.

Silva wasn't better than Vieira. Silva was a more defensive player than Vieira and especially Toure. Petit/Silva is a better comparison and yeah I would say Silva was better.

He's pretty much admitted that he's made some big mistakes since he got Palace promoted. He's very unfortunate in that 2 of his very best players that helped get them promoted, the ones which had the best chance of making the step-up got sold/permacrocked. So he bought too many players (of questionable quality) to take their place. Thus not really strengthening enough in other areas. This also destroyed the group strength/attitude that brought them up. However, I#m not sure Pulis is the right man for the job. Crystal Palace are known for developing decent youngsters. Mostly attacking players: Wright, Moses, Zaha, Routledge, Clyne, Bolassie. They continually bring them through. Can't see Pulis developing the next batch.

I do agree, it's better for managers NOT to get promoted. Although Rodgers is a notable standout.

Holloway didn't get sacked btw. He tried to resign after the defeat. Was rejected and then they let him go today.

Ferguson says he was not “an elite international footballer” and that would be true. Same could be said of every Golden Generation midfielder however.

Gerrard and Lampard have never been world-class Gerrard won the CL on his own. He didn't like but it's nice to say. He's a match-winner no doubt and his last mniute goal against Olympiakos was a great moment. Benitez bringing on Hamann was the difference in the final. AC thought the game was won and that was the game changer.

Lampard couldn't do what Gerrard has done for Liverpool. But Gerrard couldn't do what has done for Chelsea. Think Gerrard has had a slightly better England performances.

I thought Jol was a goner but he's picked up 6 good points.

Allardyce too

As much as I like him it's a racwe between Mackay and Hughton. Hughton can turn it around or at least severely delay the unevitable. but Mackay, his position is untenable.

Tiote was behind him because he was labouring forward after going down with a knock in our box and thus being behind. It's no surprise it came as a bit of shock given the ball had long gone from that area. Tiote cleared the ball and is meant to be in-front of MYM. Suarez and the player on the ball (Gerrard?) knew where Tiote was.

He wasn't aware Tiote was so deep. That was a mistake in itself. It's not like Debuchy or someone was playing Suarez onside. Tiote was behind MYM. But anyway.. his reading of the game isn't very poor. It's just not a significant strength. The pace to recover from any small mistake in reading however is. And it's not a bad thing, it wasn't until their late 20's and early 30's that Sol Campbell and Rio Ferdinand learned to become excellent readers of the game.

NO he doesn't man. He often has to use pace to cover for his mistakes. I've also never sen a CB run away from defending. do you rate anyone that plays for us? MYM reads the game fine I've said it before. I rate most of the key players in our spine and if they play well for most of the season we will finish in the top half. Krul, Colo, Cabaye, Remy & HBA are excellent players. Gouffran is an excellent member of the team. I like Debuchy when he concentrates on defending etc. You notice MYM is very fast over 20 metres a lot. He uses his pace to nick the ball. His reading of the game isn't very poor or anything but it's not a noticeable strength like people keep saying. His pace, agility and athleticism is a great strength at the back. He doesn't read the game like Colo or something.

Gerrard and Lampard are some of the most effective players ever. Also brilliant in clutch moments. However, they would not generally outplay other players of that elite calibre. They wouldn't need too if they scored the winning goal or provided the key assist. However, for England the fact they can't outplay other players of that level becomes a much bigger issue.

NO he doesn't man. He often has to use pace to cover for his mistakes. I've also never sen a CB run away from defending.

Eh? Arsenal wiped the floor with Napoli at the Emirates.

Wouldn't call it tactically naive. They looked the better side. An Arsenal winner would've been a TKO for Dortmund and almost guaranteed Arsenal qualifying. They missed the directness of Podolski and Walcott today.

Same. The usual overreaction to anyone from foreign shores coming in and not scoring a hatful immediately. He's already got 3, IIRC he's assisted a couple, and has linked up well. He's doing well, and he'll score plenty more. He's showed touches of class no doubt, but he's largely been out of games in a Cisse manner. 2 of his 3 goals have come from the penalty spot. Tbh Adebayor and Defoe are not bad strikers, Spurs strikers lacking goals is a team set-up issue imo.

Have you watched much of them this season or last?

You're right, the likes of Gayle, Puncheon, Mariappa, Bannan, Jerome, Kebbe, Chamakh and Campana haven't improved their options at all. Options maybe. Half of those players are Zaha replacements and only Puncheon has nailed down a first team place. Bolassie who has been injured has looked better than the rest anyway. Glen Murray hit 30 goals in the Championship. I doubt any of the strikers they have signed could do the same in even that division. The front 3 out Zaha-Murray-Bolassie tore the Championship apart at times. I don't think the players they've brought in to basically cover those are a big step up. Puncheon has looked very good at times however. Had they managed to keep Zaha and keep the other 2 fit they wouldn't have had to buy so many players for those positions and could concentrate on other areas more. They've brought in loads of players, few of which are significantly better than those sold, injured or replaced.

If Holloway can stop it from being embarrassing he may keep his job.

With the top scorer crocked and their stay winger sold, Palace aren't any better now then when they where in the Championship and it shows.