How did that team put 4 past Blackpool? - we didn't have a single attempt on goal in the entire 1st half on saturday!

I suppose Holloway's gung-ho approach suits us (4-0 at home too), but breaking down teams like Palace who come to Upton Park, set up to defend, are a different kettle of fish

Both defences were on top all game. Green & Faye were our best two players - Green made 3 good saves from shots that were definitely going in (one of them an excellent double-save).

The PA man seems to have replaced last season's pre-recorded, "And today's Man of the Match is Scott Parker" tape with a Mark Noble one, although, to be fair, Noble was at the heart of most of our play; his passing and distribution was good, but he can't really beat a man, so, faced with two lines of defence in front of him, Noble was never going to open them up.

The two players who could open up the opposition, the wide men, Faubert and Vaz Te, go down the flanks well, but their limitations were exposed whenever they attempeted to cross. Seriously, the standard of the final ball from Faubert & Vaz Te was terrible, even for this level.

Faubert got taken off at half-time, presumably because 1) he was playing badly & 2) Allardyce wanted to change the formation as we'd created nothing in 1st half. But I thought it was a bit strange bringing on C.Cole while taking off Faubert - as bad as Faubert's crossing iis, C.Cole has to get service from somewhere?

Collison never gets a run in the team in the same position. Constantly shoved from pillar to post, he had a good game as an attacking central midfielder at Blackpool by all accounts, finally finding some form, but 45 mins into this game, and Collison's pushed out wide again, where, it has to be said, he didn't look comfortable.

One player stood out as a class above everyone else on the pitch, the Palace no.16, Hanes? (it's Zaha) - cut us open a couple of times, and looks as if he could play in the Prem?

A sunny day, sold out game, quite good atmosphere, and we're still in top 2, so not too despondent, despite poor match.

Edit - not Hanes, Zaha.

Last Edited By: Clack Feb 27 12 5:10 PM. Edited 3 times.