LordSepulchrave

El Ahmadhi looking suspiciously like a No.10 atm. Also. GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH. So close.

Encouraged and anxious. We need to make our good play count - when Rogers brings on another midfielder they'll get control of the game.

Kendrick is saying he doesn't think Lowton's absence is an injury. Worrying times. https://twitter.com/MatKendrick/status/424590255585361920

I agree. Don't know why people care so much about the "we go again" thing. Here we go again. It's better than "we'll just give up and not bother trying." "I hearby disband this club and all who are in it's employment."

Bacuna has been inconsistent at RB, but he's had good games there. Without Lowton in the team, I don't understand why people have a problem with this?

Looks like Rodgers is playing a two man midfield. Probably a great tactical decision, hope it backfires big time though.

Weirdly, I think this is Lambert wanting to play a better style of football. I think he wants players in the backroom and on the pitch who played with him at Norwich, so he can help make us transition from quick counter attack only to playing in a style more reminiscent of his Norwich. Plus, if you're going to sign a player for an off the field impact (and I subscribe to Carregher and Neville's theories that this is why he was brought in), it's not a bad shout signing one you know well.

http://thepowerofgoals.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/the-premiership-logjams.html So apparently palace have the best point total at this stage of the season for any 20th ranked side in the history of the Premier League.

This as well as Holt? At this point, I'm really confused. Even during all those players coming in during the summer I could see the reason, but it's all beginning to look like there's no real plan behind these transfers.

Even in the first half we were limiting their chances and creating better ones - they're in bad form and it showed. Aside from a mad couple of minutes, acquitted ourselves very well. Let's hope we can get some momentum going after this and the Sunderland result.

It seems that Lambert's interest in his old Norwich lot probably stems from his inability to replicate the style of play he had there with us. If bringing in a couple of the old guard will help with that, then I've got no problem with it. As others have pointed out, Holt is just here because Lambert (wisely) wants a primary striker in case of injury to Benteke, and Kozak's injury has made it necessary to find a short term solution. No matter what else happens this window, there's still going to be a large number of holes to be plugged next summer.

Yeah, Bacuna has been a bright spot. Luna, Clark and Vlaar have all done well enough too. Everyone else gets a thumbs down, but at times Delph, Benteke and Agbonlahor have all threatened to make a dent on the game. Hopefully they can make the step up - would like a consolation goal if we could.

Delph's decision making could definitely be much better.

It opened up for you Bacuna, just run at it. Urgh, we're playing with way too much fear and anxiety atm.

Not really sure we have anywhere to go from here really.

Ah shit.

Ouch, hope it's nothing serious.

Set-up like we were against Man City. Hopefully we can replicate that score - playing better would be nice though.

Something about this gives me a pause. We're rubbish at home, they are great away; they are suffering a slump in playing form but are still managing to eek out results, we're in a bad run of form and beginning to pick up points again despite this. With no Vlaar or Clarke and our strikers continuing to stutter, it looks suspiciously like we don't have an attack, midfield or defense. Their record at Villa Park (as Sky have been at pains to repeatedly point out) is bad news for us. Where I come unstuck is just how clear cut things look to be - I doubt this match will be a simple one. Not really sure what to expect.

Yep - there's never been protracted rumour-mongering and drawn out talks with Lambert's signings. Helenius was the only one that took a while because of the Danish Stock Exchange but usually the OS confirms our signings a couple of hours after the thread opens on VT. I do remember there was a bit of a wait for Okore too, but Kozak, Luna, Bacuna and Tonev all seemed to get here the moment we realised there was a link.

This place is mental. I imagine that when we do get any new signings through the door, we won't get a sniff of them until they are done, just like the summer.

Edit - never mind, I just can't read.

Good man, still a courageous thing to do, retired or not. Assuming that sexuality dictates things like this is, you know, kind of a big part of the problem.

People need to actually connect possession stats to the performance. We used our 35% way more effectively than they used their 65%. You can't win a match without having the ball, but you can't win it by having the ball most of the time and doing nothing with it either. We've got the win - hopefully we can start picking up momentum again.

Needs to put wins on the board quickly. I've always tried to defend Lambert, but the team really need to show something now. Looking down the table rather than up.