DuncanRG

Romeu and Lemina are stronger, that's it. You really can't fault Ward-Prowse for effort, and it's nonsense to suggest he rarely fights for possession. His defensive job is to pressure and block off passes, not fly into tackles.

Don't get me wrong, Mane is miles better but Pelle's contribution to our team was just as big. Klopp and Liverpool have got Mane playing as well every week as he did in his handful of standout games for us. In my opinion it's the failure to replace Pelle that's cost us more than replacing Mane, which would always be incredibly difficult given he had that X-factor. Since the days of Lambert our shape and play has needed a strong, intelligent forward whose movement makes space for others. Gabbiadini showed that in a different way during his purple patch but no one's up to it at the moment, which makes things harder for Tadic, Redmond and the rest. If we're going to change to 3-5-2 or whatever, this might be the moment we move on from that model.

Eriksen is less than two years older than Redmond. They're not in the same league. I expect Redmond to improve but it's perfectly valid for fans to question why he starts every week if we're still waiting for him to make the step up. The price doesn't particularly matter. Redmond is indeed a top half player, but only just. We need to aspire to the higher standard which we've reached consistently for a few years. No one's expecting another Mane but another 2013/14 Rodriguez is not unreasonable!

We weren't reliant on Mane in the slightest. He was a great player but Pelle was just as important to us, if not more so, and we had strength throughout the team. You're not giving Koeman enough credit - what he achieved with us was absolutely stunning. That won't change no matter how he does at Everton.

If they're better at defending now, isn't that a good reason to push them up a little bit and make attacking easier?

I'm not saying Koeman should be fearful for his job, but it's the manner and scoreline of the defeats, in those games and in Europe. They've been terrible and have deficiencies which should have been addressed in the transfer window.

One for when he's rehabilitated... We got a call from Klopp We told him to f*ck off We've got Virgil van Dijk

Shame United will come into our game with a big lift, not really merited from the way they wilted in the second half. Reckon we can give them a game, particularly with Pogba out, but we'll have to take any chances we get, because we know they will.

Were Adkins, Pochettino and Koeman stubborn in persisting with a lone striker?

I was always surprised Barca fancied Coutinho over Mane. Down to a contract situation maybe?

He probably has, to be honest.

Given the number of people cheering and singing his name, I'm sure there were plenty at the game who didn't like the booing. I spend money watching the team and think the booing is demented, but I didn't chant either. Pretty much an even split of booing and singing from where I was stood, though the chants were quieter to begin with.

I felt bad for the rest so gave my vote to Hoedt for no good reason. Hoedt was good though.

This is a highlight of the post-Watford madness

For anyone who watched - how similar were Everton's deficiencies to ours in the Europa under Koeman? Wondering if it's a failure to motivate.

In a word: no.

Do you have any ex-pros in mind?

I think Van Dijk and Hoedt (if they play) are capable of keeping Benteke from scoring. After Saturday I'm more worried about our speed to the second ball, which is even more important to Palace than it was Watford. Ward-Prowse didn't work in the hole but his defensive workrate would be useful. Assume Lemina will be back too, which is just as well.

I think you've misunderstood. I'm a big admirer of Cortese.

With the rate of sackings I feel like every team gets it now and again, then thinks it's always them. We have had a couple in the last few years but can't remember who.

It's 'quite the opposite' in the fact that he took a salary, I suppose. He didn't own the club. Always interesting but not always welcome to see him pop up. Wonder what he's got on his mind this time.

Utterly mad when you could see the signs of improvement yesterday. You can only justify such a quick sacking if he's totally lost the dressing room, which doesn't seem to have been the case at all. It made me think of this Klopp v Guardiola piece from the weekend, about the time it takes to lock players into complex systems. Dunno if that applies to De Boer quite like it does Guardiola, but if there's any truth in it then Palace and Inter both failed him.

We've made two major signings, so we really are trying to integrate one or two players. Talk of relegation battles or sacking the manager is obviously demented, but the signs aren't great right now and it's no use pretending otherwise. We may improve or may not.

Hold on, I thought saturated fat was the problem?

That was really worrying. Lacking energy, soft in midfield and couldn't do the basics properly. There's only so much you can say about personnel when the whole team's as poor as that. It's the manager's responsibility, so let's see the reaction next week.