[Slick_Footwork]

The Zaha one just after the red was much worse. If that's not retaliation, what is it?

Yea, if that's not a booking, then a booking doesn't exist.

That said, our players don't help themselves. Had Sawyers gone down rolling about like Van Anhalt then the ref has to at least book Zaha if not go to VAR, but instead he just stays on his feet and the ref gives a regular foul. It was Van Anhalt going down like he'd been shot from Pereira's nominal movement that's forced the ref to go to VAR. As much as I hate diving, play acting or pressuring the ref, sometimes you have to do it in order to make the game a level playing field. We seem to be very naive in the way we are going about our business.

I don't call it naive, I call it 'honest', and that's the way I'd prefer us to be, full stop.

The philosophy to be against cheating at all costs is admirable. The problem is, the authorities do not clamp down on it players going to ground unhurt. I mean, not a single pundit criticised Van Anholt for going down under Pereira's extended leg, despite the fact it was clear that he wasn't hurt. As unfortunate as it is, this seems to be accepted in modern day football.

Sometimes the refs seem to need a 'nudge' to actually see a bad tackle. It seems only our opponents are privy to this.

If our failings are down to genuinely honesty, then I suppose we can be commended even if it costs us our status in the league. My gut feeling is it's more down to naivety than honesty though, given our players will happily fall down in the box if there is a chance of winning a penalty, like Bartley first half. They simply don't seem sharp enough to go down writhing in agony when they are genuinely caught late.

I think it's one of our many failings at this level, as sad as it is to say.

---

As far as today's game goes, it's hard to be critical given we more than matched them XI on XI in the first half.

I've criticised Pereira before for lack of professionalism, diving, lack of effort. But I struggle to blame him today because I can't be certain that he kicked out after watching the replay several times.

The sending off considered, the performance second half was unacceptable. To concede 5 goals to Palace, even a man down is nothing short of embarrassing. Surely Bilic plays X on XI in training to gear the side up for these scenarios? I mean, I can't think of any other team that would fold like a pack of cards after just losing a man. It's not like we were attacking them and being open at the other end, we managed to look completely open without launching a decent attack. Everyone other team seems to be able to keep things tight and lose by the odd goal when down a man but we get totally demolished by a team that is at the bottom end of the creativity scale. Lord knows what will happen if we lose a man against a City or Liverpool...

For me the evidence remains that Bilic is out of his depth. Okay, he can't be blamed for our loss today, but the second half performance showcased his major failing - that he failed to see and address that we are soft as butter through the midfield and at the back. The lack of defensive awareness in our midfield was glaringly obvious since last season and Bilic prioritised the Krovinovic signing for reasons only he will know. Second half today our midfield simply didn't go with their overlapping players and it doesn't matter if you have 10 or 11 men, you have to do that.

We seem to be shoehorning players into this formation which leaves us even more open through the midfield. I can't help think we should've sacrificed a centre half today after Palace scored their 2nd given most of the threat was coming from deep but Bilic simply couldn't see it. I do think we're on a hiding to nothing with this man at the helm.

[Salopbaggie]

Not much to say other than we were 1-1 before that VAR decision which has in most cases become a joke and has lost most teams the game or a win. Seriously needs looking at, as does Bilic' team selection.

Can't understand Bilic not playing Gibbs, Krino to start, or even when we were 3-1 down.

I assumed the reason Gibbs did not start was he simply was not fit enough and was only on the bench to make the numbers up. He has hardly played since his sending off and earlier injury plus he is getting over Covid, at his weekly wage that's a big pot of money going to waste.

[wba13]

The fact is we were in this game with better 1st half stats. Pereira no discipline like Gibbs #stupid. Red card.....no, but today’s rules it’s a YES

Totally ruined everything like Gibbs did at Everton.

We are well and truly relegated already. Too many players in the starting 11 who are championship level I’m afraid.

The only person I’m angry at today is Pereira

Well I’m sorry you think Pereira is to blame, because if that was a sending off my Aunt’s my uncle. Palace had 2 players Zaha who never even got booked for his first half tackle, and McCarthy should have walked for his jump tackle which was not even looked at by VAR.  we are being totally f****d by var. but Bilic will be lucky to keep his job because his sides cannot defend.  IT WAS NO RED CARD IN ANY ERA.

[Slick_Footwork]

Not much to say other than we were 1-1 before that VAR decision which has in most cases become a joke and has lost most teams the game or a win. Seriously needs looking at, as does Bilic' team selection.

Can't understand Bilic not playing Gibbs, Krino to start, or even when we were 3-1 down.

I assumed the reason Gibbs did not start was he simply was not fit enough and was only on the bench to make the numbers up.  He has hardly played since his sending off and earlier injury plus he is getting over Covid, at his weekly wage that's a big pot of money going to waste.

I suspect Bilic has fallen out with Gibbs or vice versa after Bilic called him "stupid" on TV post Everton game.

After the suspension Bilic made comment that he wasn't doing enough in training to get a recall, so I assumed Gibbs simply doesn't want to play for Bilic now. Subsequently he was out with Covid, but I guess it's more to do with their strained relationship than any lasting effects of Covid.

[Blue Baggie]

Mistake after mistake
Changing our formation after we win our last and only game.
Picking Phillips today or any day In fact.
Not picking or playing Gibbs, if he's fit he plays.
Dropping Robinson probably our best striker at the moment.
Pereira stupidity and lack of discipline.
Failure to basically defend
Making VAR the scapegoat.

[4evaabaggie]

Just when I thought I couldn't hate the premier league any more than I do, today happens.

Let's get out of this cheating ba----ds league.

I really am done with it ....... So so angry.I

Give us our game back .... The working man's game, we deserves better.

So angry I had to post ..... But that really is it, I am signing off. Goodbye to you all, thank you for making my time on here mostly enjoyable. Will miss you all but I can not be doing with these negative emotions. Thanks for effing nothing premier league, sky sports, MotD, biased media and the self serving FA for killing football, sportsmanship and fair play. I'm done.

[Blue Baggie]

Just when I thought I couldn't hate the premier league any more than I do, today happens.

Let's get out of this cheating ba----ds league.

I really am done with it ....... So so angry.I

Give us our game back .... The working man's game, we deserves better.

So angry I had to post ..... But that really is it, I am signing off. Goodbye to you all, thank you for making my time on here mostly enjoyable. Will miss you all but I can not be doing with these negative emotions. Thanks for effing nothing premier league, sky sports, MotD, biased media and the self serving FA for killing football, sportsmanship and fair play. I'm done.

Hi 4Eva, your not on your own. We are all mega pi55ed off about the sending off, then the surrender today.
Unfortunately Pereira gave the VAR the chance to dismiss him and he/she obliged. It was a stupid thing to do tbh.
We can't use the VAR for the reason we fell apart today. It knocked our confidence and this was reflected in the score line.
But we know are players are soft touches and have no backbone, Lets hope we can buy a couple of b'stds in January.
We are Albion fans and stuck with it good or bad.

[wba13]

For those who think Pereira should have been sent of . This was looked at by VAR
https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments...post_title
We also should have had 2 pens this is one.
https://twitter.com/wrighty_14/status/13...77472?s=21
Believe what you want But the idiots on VAR only look after themselves we have yet to have a decision this season.

[Lord Snooty]

When we were getting shafted every week during our relegation season, I found coming on here to rant about the cheating bastards very therapeutic. I'd stay and do just what you've done today.
In my opinion, there is a conspiracy to get you Burnley and Sheff Utd out, because they want to keep "big clubs" like Leeds in. But of course, I could be wrong.

[Stairs]

VAR is not the problem (although I’d kill it off tomorrow) but it’s the people interpreting it.

They just do not see what it is telling them. They get it so wrong and are so inconsistent that the only conclusion is a hidden agenda.

VAR is cheating me off my football
Players feigning injury and diving is cheating me of my football
The relentless pursuit of money by the big clubs has stolen my football.

I have switched off.

Anyone want to own a sports chat forum, free to someone who can keep it safe and sound intact.