One step forward two steps back? Though think most fans would of taken six league points over however disappointing last nights performance was. Draw would of been kind to get to semi final so rubs salt into wound further.
From last nights game I would just persist with Garcia up front injury or suspension permitting until January. It was always a gamble having three unproven strikers to start the season of which one does not even get in a matchday squad. The team has to come first and if we are going to get goals out of Bobb King Iwobi etc then we need a striker who can control a football take a defender away and create space something you would expect from your centre forward. I get the impression Garcia might be trying to hard in a bid to end his drought and starting to snatch at opportunities when they arrive. Blame has to be with recruitment not knowing there trade and failing to read the room!
Won't go over the Muniz debate as made my feelings known last season though I would add that he has made footballing musical statues his own art form!
We just need to hang in there up until new year now as goals do look like being a premium for this squad as currently we are totally reliant on the front four. If we can stay in games up to 60-70mins then we will have a chance of getting a point or more but if we were to go 2 down in a game then I just do not see how this current team get back.
Thought last night was quite reminiscent of games under Marco where it went side to side and slow lethargic build up. Think Arbeloa is stuck between a rock & a hard place due to the poor start and has had to hedge his bets. The quick high press intensity has been replaced with more of a conservative approach to stay in a game.
Substitutions I thought he got wrong again last night and ended up being wasteful. Leadership Bassey? good competitor but does not look a leader to me but you look around the team and think who else?
We move on but think it's fair to say it will be a difficult period between now and January but even then with our record there is every possibility we leave approximately 12 -15 points on the table in January if you go by our previous record when desperate for a centre forward leaving it to last day of the window? If that was to happen this window then a serious neglection of duty would be in order.
Fingers crossed we can get one or two surprise results as I do not see this team putting anyone to the sword like we should of done to that Palace side last night and they looked weaker than both Hull & Coventry!
Don't see the point of going back over manager position but Arbeloa looks to me like he is in need of an experienced head to lean on and that could be the difference not just for him but the team.
Unfortunately its going to be difficult to move on from because the fundamentals of our predicament will remain the same.
Overrated players who cant score and lack bottle, an inexperienced manager and a DOF whose strategy is 'he was at madrid'
The games we have coming up are harder than what preceded them and I'm struggling to see where the points are going to come from really
Quote from: ffcthereligion on October 29, 2026, 10:07:08 AMUnfortunately its going to be difficult to move on from because the fundamentals of our predicament will remain the same.
Overrated players who cant score and lack bottle, an inexperienced manager and a DOF whose strategy is 'he was at madrid'
The games we have coming up are harder than what preceded them and I'm struggling to see where the points are going to come from really
Can't argue with your reply. Hoping we have character in this team as the next month's football might define our season.
I think the bigger issue goes beyond whether Garcia or Muniz starts up front.
Looking back at Palace, the problem wasn't really the striker, it was how slowly we progressed the ball once we got into the attacking third. We had plenty of possession, but too much of it was sideways, backwards and recycled into another cross against a settled defence.
That's why I'm not convinced changing the centre-forward alone fixes much. Any striker will struggle when defenders can stay compact and organised because the ball isn't moving quickly enough to force decisions. Garcia certainly has to improve, but I don't think he's receiving the sort of service that consistently allows him to play to his strengths.
What's interesting is that our most dangerous attacking performances this season have generally come when we've been far more direct, progressed the ball earlier and attacked space with greater urgency. Arbeloa seems to have made us more secure after the difficult start, but perhaps we've lost a little too much attacking ambition in the process.
You are absolutely spot on about the throwback to Silva's team's, as I feel the same - just waiting for a moment of individual brilliance to save us, rather than knowing we'll create quality chance after quality chance.
I wrote a more detailed piece on exactly this topic at The Craven Corner for anyone interested: https://thecravencorner.wordpress.com/2026/10/29/possession-without-purpose-is-a-waste-of-possession/ (https://thecravencorner.wordpress.com/2026/10/29/possession-without-purpose-is-a-waste-of-possession/)