There was a curious piece in yesterday's Echo which suggested that Pellegrino's honeymoon period was over and, quoting a number of statistics, suggested that we had gone backwards as an attacking force. I felt that it was a particularly ill-judged article as I think the we are more entertaining to watch than last season albeit the attacking failing remains. Quite clearly, the forward line is a massive problem and I don't feel that Pellegrino has been helped by the board insofar that this problem has not been rectified by a signing as important as finding a replacement for Jose Fonte. I don't quite understand the negativity and think that the Echo's comments are largely attributable to the management change at Palace last week. Last season was significant because the management team were not good enough and, for the first time, the recruitments brought in were not good enough to replace the talent going out. Hojbjorg and Pied both look increasingly like a players who are going to be left on the margins and I am becoming less and less convinced by Redmond. I feel we have squandered a lot of money on mediocre players or players like Boufal who have talent but can't attempt to our style of football. It is really fascinating as a supporter to compare the transfer acquisitions with the situation with jack Stephens who, I think, has been nothing short of a revelation, I am wondering how much it would have cost to have signed a defender of his calibre in the window and truly think this a player who is going to emerge as the academy's best product since Luke Shaw. With this in mind, surely it is time for the reserves to start contributing to leading the forward line ? I was amazed that Sam Gallagher was allowed to go out on loan and it does best the question that if Redknapp saw something in him, why didn't Pellegrino. I would like to see his thrown in a the deep end. So far, I think I am correct is saying that the academy has only provided the erratic JWP and Stephens to this first time in the league this season despite some substitute appearances by other players. When you think of attacking players from earlier generations such as the Wallaces, Shearer, Le Tiss, etc, we just don't seem to develop these kinds of players anymore. The last forwards to make any impression in the first team at leading the line were the likes of Dexter Blackstock and McGoldrick who both ending up performing in the Championship. Our better attacking players like Lambert, Mane, Pelle, Sharpe, Jay-Rod, etc have all been transfers from other clubs. With regard to today's game. I would be pleased with a draw. With Hodgson coming in, it just feels like Palace will bounce back and you can anticipate that there will be some sort of response from the home team. I am not convinced we will get anything out of today's game but I still think that Les Reed should have given Pellegrino more support in acquiring a forward as the current three are not cutting the mustard so far this season.
First game of the season at home and he was our best player by a country mile although he was been pretty poor since and anonymous against Watford last weekend. I wonder if this season will be the last throw of the dice for him and whether he will be moved on if he doesn't make sufficient progress. The success of Stephens does not help his cause either but I do feel JWP needs a run in the team before hitting form. I think Hjojberg will be moved on next season though - just a personal thought.
I did suggest Long for Gabbi might be the way to go, if we weren't to change formation. Still got Tadic and Redmond the wrong way round though!
Tadic didn't start the last game. And whilst I am a huge Stephens fan (more so than Maya), I did think he was very poor against Watford.
