As weeks go, it doesn’t get much worse than the one we saw for Crystal Palace and their fans here in the Tavern are in absolute disarray after the 4-0 home thrashing to relegation rivals Sunderland.

The Eagles were 4-0 down at half time to one of the division’s biggest relegation strugglers and many are now beginning to question whether Big Sam really is the man to take things forward at Selhurst Park.

The former England man arrived at the club with an immaculate record of keeping team’s in the division but with the Eagles seriously struggling, many are now beginning to wonder what lies ahead for the club.

What certainly does lie ahead is another tough game this weekend, this time against Stoke City, who will fancy their chances after Palace folded at home last weekend.

And with the Palace punters in here pretty down about things right now, how should Sam line up his troops for the crunch fixture against the Potters?

Here’s the team we think Palace should go with if they’ve got any chance of doing better this weekend…

GK: Wayne Hennessey

Welsh international Wayne Hennessey didn;t cover himself in glory during the defeat to Sunderland but by no means was he the worst player on the pitch at the time.

He’s going to have to really step up against a Stoke City side who definitely have goals in their rank, though.

RB: Joel Ward

Palace veteran Joel Ward has plenty of making up to do in the game this Saturday and his job won’t get any easier with the likes of Saido Berahino in the Stoke side.

Tightening up defensively is what’s going to bring the results back to Selhurst Park and it simply has to start this weekend. The Palace punters here in the bar are hoping Ward will have what it takes to step up for this one.

CB: James Tomkins

Summer signing James Tomkins will have hoped for far better after joining the Eagles from West Ham United but in retrospect, he’s probably having a tougher time than his former employers right now.

The Englishman has the top-flight experience needed to get out of situations just like these and he’ll certainly be calling on that this weekend.

CB: Scott Dann

Once tipped to be an England international, former Birmingham City defender Scott Dann isn’t having his strongest season in the slightest.

We’ve seen some fantastic stuff from the former Coventry City man in the past though and there’s plenty of optimism amongst the Palace faithful that if he can find some form once again, the results should start rolling in.

LB: Patrick van Aanholt

Perhaps the most disappointed member of this squad will be Patrick van Aanholt, who joined the Eagles from Sunderland in a big-money move this January.

The Dutchman would have been horrified to be on the end of a 4-0 thrashing from his previous employers and he’ll have a lot of proving to do to ensure the Palace punters are back on his side for the season ahead.

RM: Bakary Sako

Wilfried Zaha hasn’t been doing it for a long time for Palace and we think he’s a player who should certainly drop to the bench for the game against Stoke City.

Coming in is Bakary Sako, who has had to really bide his time for first-team minutes since joining the club. But as we know, he’s a hefty unit on the wing, with plenty of pace and throwing him into the mix at this stage of the season isn’t a bad shout in the slightest.

CM: Joe Ledley

Welsh international Joe Ledley replaced Yohan Cabaye after just 27 minutes this weekend and it might have been a game he’d have preferred to watch from the sidelines.

But with the Frenchman out injured, he’s more than likely to return to the starting XI for the game against Stoke, where he needs to prove what he’s made of once again.

Stoke have got plenty of quality in the middle-of-the-park and he needs to cut out their threat right away.

CM: James McArthur

James McArthur’s flying start to the season hasn’t continued in the same stead as some may have hoped and it’s clear that he’s been lacking some confidence in recent weeks.

He’s a firm favourite amongst the Palace fans drinking at the bar and a couple of good performances would certainly get the Scottish international back in everyone’s good books going forward.

LM: Andros Townsend

Andros Townsend has lots of making up to do after news linked him with a move back to the Championship this January and we need to start seeing more from the England international.

He’s a tricky, pacy unit but at times, his final delivery is poor. Getting quality into the box is key for this Palace side and Townsend really needs to step up his game in the coming weeks.

ST: Loic Remy

Palace have been laboured and ineffective going forward in recent weeks and we’d like to see Big Sam really throw caution to the wind by throwing Loic Remy into the mix for the game against the Potters.

The Frenchman would give the Eagles a real yard of pace on the forward line and it’d be good to see Christian Benteke play with a strike partner upfront.

ST: Christian Benteke

Former Liverpool man Christian Benteke has been starved of good service at times this season and Palace fans here in the pub are frustrated that his teammates just aren’t getting the ball to him in good situations.

He’ll be keen to get back on the scoresheet against the Potters and reaffirm his popularity amongst the Palace faithful.