Baird of the land

"We had 20 minutes in the second half we were struggling. After the goal we played brave and tried to make the third goal." Ralph's comment just sums it up for me. He knew we were struggling so why not do something then before they equalise, rather than having to react afterwards.

Thought Livramento was pants today. There were any number of options to bring on for Smallbone today. Diallo was crap on Saturday but he has also been very good too on other ocassions..

Forgot they all had a game called off. Would have been vs united too. We've got no luck. There's pierced my optimism bubble pierced. Expect given today's subs we won't have any of the other strikers fit. I'll keep hoping ralph will one day rotate Livramento out for a game. Forster KWP Lyanco Salisu Perraud Elyounessi Romeu JWP Djenepo Tella Broja

I thought we should have at least taken off Smallbone on the hour mark. Ideally a double change then re-inforcing the right side where they had joy with (diallo & Perraud etc) Don't see why we have to wait for the 70th minute especially as Palace were on top even before they scored and yet they still made a sub.

I feel we are too passive. You knew they would make a change and get a chance to score. Make the first change when we are leading please.

Personally thought we were poor for 20 minutes, much the better side for the last 20 minutes. In the second half we dropped off and didn't have much other than one phenomal tella run until they scored. Then for next 15 we were the better team. Then it got very scrappy.

Nothing came of it because they legged him up.

He was decent. Feel he should have been subbed earlier though.

We're not buying a CH in January in a million years nor likely to sell Bednarek.

Personally thought Lyanco was OK and generally good positionally. Don't see much blame on the goal, if anything its caballero gambling the other way but its more the pass to Romeu/romeu's reaction. Thought of the defenders Livramento was poor. Fortunately after he got booked Palace took pity on him somewhat.

That moment where he was played through on the left and he showed how his pace has completely evaporated was bad. I don't particularly criticise him as he's done largely what Ralph wanted in terms of trying to hold the ball ocassionally (but its pretty depressing to see him getting minutes in the prem even if its injury/games coming thick and fast induced). The fact Tella/Broja were both pulled off makes me worry ralph knows they are his only fit frontmen for Saturday too, so there may be more long pain.

Also got to wonder does Ralph just hate Perraud or has Livramento been promised he'll play 90 minutes each week?

A point is ok away to Palace i suppose ( very annoying not to get the three though) Frustrates me how ralph didn't make a sub till they equalised. The game had shifted and we weren't likely to be able to sit on the lead. Make the changes earlier and maybe they don't score that scrappy equaliser. After we make the changes we once again look the better team for the next 10/15 minutes. For a 40 year old very average keeper, Caballero had a good night and made a couple of key contributions. Think Tella is an important player for us with his pace. He's the only pure pace machine we have. Nice to have Broja who can shoot too. At the end with Long and Walcott as our strike force i was praying for FT. Djenepo back to his infuriating self. have a ****** shot.

Ralph seemed to imply there was a chance Forster might make Saturday. Yeah for me Caballero is understanably weaker than our normal keepers(happyy he pulled off that near post save today at 1-0) & its about limiting what we require him to try and save.

A shame we couldn't have got a third while we had them on the ropes. We still don't look particularly solid when they counter. Fantastic recovery, those first 15 minutes were bad. Livramento looked poor defensively and Caballero save and their finishing stopped us being overrun. Great to get a free kick in the JWP goldilocks zone and for him to nail it. Broja has been excellent. Run their defence ragged. My favourite moment was Lyanco bullying Zaha and the camera then zooming in on Zaha moan face. Pls pretty please can we carry this on and see this game out.

Pretty happy with that lineup if it ends up being some form of 4-1-4-1. Feel that playing a little more conservatively against palace could be way to success. Like that Lyanco is back. Interesting to see Smallbone ahead of Diallo, but not a shock given Diallo's performance on Saturday. Only real issue is with refusal to rest Livramento. Though helps my FF team as otherwise i'd only have 2 defenders plating.

I generally like the 4-2-2-2 formation but with injuries we really should change formation for this one and try and play on the counter

Be tempted to go 5-3-2. Choosing between Long or Redmond as 2nd striker is just ughhhh. Forster (or if not fit Willy) KWP Stephens Lyanco Salisu Perraud Diallo Romeu JWP Tella Redmond

I really don't want to see Bednarek in the team again for a while. For that first goal i think any of the other three CB would have gone to deal with Saka.

Is that like saying what's the difference between 3-5-2 & 5-3-2 I don't want us to play 3 CB regularly. I'd certainly like some more formation flexibility but not of the psychotic liverpool game variety.

He played well when starting with Romeu. Clearly we need to hope for no more suspensions or injuries for him as we haven't been able to afford to bring in cover.

Yeah to me we just played into their hands.

No. From the injury thread you'd assume it's minor but who knows "Ralph Hasenhuttl says Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy will be out for “3-4 weeks” with a hamstring injury & that this weekend is “too soon” for Fraser Forster to return from his setback"(dan Sheldon)

Not sure which of Tella/Long or Tella/Redmond i find least objectionable for the palace game

Hopefully Forster is back for midweek game