DJ Barry Hammond

I have no issue in that change on its own - other than it was made on it’s own like his other two changes. But the shape he switched us to meant we couldn’t get near Palace when they had the ball - and couldn’t keep it when we did get it back. The stark reality is - Cooper’s decisions are hindering the team, not helping it.

At this level, choosing not to use 2 of your permitted changes is a waste. Energy levels when trying to close a game out is vitally important. He made changes on the 72nd, 76th and 83rd. Make just one of those together, you then have the further option to make a 4th and 5th change. To tie your hands in such a way - makes no sense.

Can’t believe we’ve found another manager who fails to understand how to use his 5 substitutes over 3 allowed stoppages. Making single substitutions twice is a waste - especially when it’s clear Ayew could do with coming off as well! Leaving yourself with 3 possible substitutions from 1 stoppage is not good game management.

Can’t imagine Ayew has much longer on the pitch - not much point switching him if so. Kind of game situation McAteer would have been handy to have on the bench to call upon.

Cooper needs to make substitutions and quickly.

No chance - it was Justin’s outstretched leg they were looking at.

I think they had issues with the available camera angles. My understanding is they have pitch mapping, so could take a position taken from one image and transpose that onto another - but I’m not clear if that’s clever enough to take into account angles and depth perception. My feeling - it could turn out to be a dubious call once all is known.

Strange not to have the player playing the other guy onside in the picture. I’m not convinced by this - are you?

Harsh rating given Ayew gets a 6.5 Hermansen deserves a higher rating too - done a lot of simple looking things (that aren’t necessarily) well.

I don’t agree with this at all. We aren’t pressing as high as we did at the start of the game, all with the same amount of energy. But we’re not deep at all. What’s causing us difficulties to me is our flat 4’s in defence against a Palace attacking shape that is more staggered - and letting their better passers too much time on the ball. Good to get into halftime in front though to regroup and go again.

I assume Cooper has instructed Ndidi to sit closer to him without the ball - we’re coping a tad better towards the end of the half. Got to say - Palace look devoid of confidence - like a side that have seen several players leave.

Suddenly look a bit shit. Would like to see more energy from Ayew - and Ndidi has become a bit lax in his press too. We’ve definitely dropped off and allowed Palace more comfortable possession.

Every now and then our press breaks down and Palace find themselves in loads of space and in behind our midfield. Get the feeling it relates to our 4-4-2 defensive shape - and Palace playing two out and out strikers. Hoping Cooper addresses this

Have to say… so far Ndidi’s having a good game!

Loved the fact it started with English commentary and then as soon as the game kicked off, foreign 😏

Training ground move 👍

You want the visual just to experience how lovely our kit looks in the early autumn sunshine.

By the way. If you hate this weeks line-up, just wait until next week when Cooper benches Vardy.

You could argue Ayew should of scored there - at least hit it on target. That might be the one thing Cooper sees in Ndidi further forward - he’s not bad as an aggressive presser of the ball.

Decent start. Ayew looks to be the one drifting inside with Justin playing as the more advanced full-back to me.

The really stupid thing is his substitutions suggest he kinda know’s what the right combinations are (bar Ricardo) - he’s just afraid to go with it from the off. Thing is - the effect pressure can have on thought processes is perhaps not fully understood by fans. Yes, the right starting line-up seems obvious to most and this isn’t it - but if you’re contemplating something all week, knowing you seriously need to get a result here in terms of your job - it can contribute to massively over thinking and coming up with the mess he’s set out here. Maybe he’ll get there? Mav has forced his way in which you can at least say is a positive in the lineup. I expect Fawatu to get on the pitch at some point too and hopefully be in the mood to show in no uncertain terms he’s starting material too. Were also likely to see at least one of our two natural 10’s on the pitch at some point too - the hope has to be, we’re still in the game at that point.

Anyone else just lazily think “we’re signing Cat Steven’s now?” I know, it’s hardly close.

Anyone else had a nice couple of weeks off, checking out of the melodrama that is Leicester City so far this season? Those that have stayed locked into all the drama - what’s the situation now, is there anything pressing that one might have missed? I take it Cooper is still viewed as a twat - given that lineup is unlikely to convert views his way. One side interesting thing, outside of the obvious ones - no Vestagaard in the squad, Coady is preferred on the bench.

I’d add Bournemouth in that grouping given it’s a home game. I think Cooper’s position as manager for the rest of the season will be clarified come the next two international breaks. He may get past the next one (after the one we’re in), but if he’s not picked up a couple of wins and a decent total of points - more than 10 certainly - by the second break (finishing with Man Utd away on the 9th November) it then becomes necessary for the board to act. December looks a lot trickier in comparison - but no doubt that’s where we go on a run of 6 wins in 8 😂

Why do I get a feeling - even this far away from the game - that Cooper will go with Ayew up top, demoting Vardy to the bench?