Brighton - De Zerbi recognises things aren't quite working, makes a double change at half-time which changes the game.

Chelsea - Pochettino makes a double change and a tactical adjustment which doesn't work and so makes another change which does.

Roy - bring on a defensive player if we're winning/drawing. Bring on a forward player for the last 10 minutes if we're not.

You can almost set your watch by Roy's subs they're so predictable. It was the case in his previous reign too. The new move is to only bring on the young guns against teams he expects us to lose against, when we're already losing and the game is seemingly lost. The game, by Roy's own admission (see his interview with the FYP podcast), has moved on a lot in the last few years. The question increasingly is has he been left behind?

the absence of Hughes at Stamford Bridge was painful. I reckon we could have got at least a Draw, had he played.

Kayla did Anfield & Old Trafford

People make the argument that Roy has so much experience that he must know what he's talking about far more than us.

Obviously to an extent that's correct but, also, when a manager leaves then typically you'll see one or two of the players who weren't getting a look in suddenly thrive under their successor. Eze under Vieira / Roy as an example.

I think there are a few players, Franca and Ahamada in particular, who should have played a more significant part in recent weeks.

Have mentioned this elsewhere but you can't have a transfer strategy that revolves around procuring talented, expressive youngsters and a manager whose entire philosophy is centered on discipline and experience. It makes no sense. People seem wary of Cooper but I feel he'll be absolutely perfect for our transfer strategy.

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold...

87 minutes.

Dear opposition manager, Palace are easy to play cos they are very predictable. In the last ten minutes of every game, they are exhausted. So, play a counter-attacking running game, tire them out and hey presto.......a late winner/equaliser. It seems to work every time.
it doesnt matter whether your players have quality or even pace....just so long as they can sprint in the last ten minutes. So entice the Eagles onto your own goal, and then play the long ball up the other end of the pitch. You will find a goalkeeper all on his own.
Alternatively, you can clamour all your players around the Palace goal. Cos nobody in Red & Blue will be able to outrun your fresh legs in the event of a counter-attack....final ten minutes again.

the most competitive league in the world ? even an overweight beer-swilling slob can see why our recent form has been rubbish.

Edited by PalazioVecchio (30 Dec 2023 5.31pm)

Kayla did Anfield & Old Trafford