Crystal Palace - my analogy

[VinceHilaire]

I get why you’re feeling like that — that hollow, “was that the peak?” feeling after something genuinely magical ends. It’s brutal because 2025 didn’t feel like a fluke run, it felt like the start of something. And when players like Olise, Eze, and Guehi move on, it doesn’t just hurt tactically — it hurts emotionally. That team felt ours.

But here’s the thing I’d gently push back on.

What you witnessed wasn’t just a great season — it was a proof-of-concept. Palace didn’t win the FA Cup by accident or nostalgia. They did it with a clear identity: fearless football, elite youth development, players who went on to be genuinely top-level. That matters more than people realise.

Every club outside the super-elite goes through this cycle;

• build something exciting
• get raided
• dip
• rebuild

The danger is thinking the story ends at the raid. It doesn’t.

You won’t just be telling future generations “I was there when…” — you’ll be saying:

“That’s when Palace stopped being content with survival.”

That FA Cup win is permanent. No one can take it. It changed how the club is perceived, how players view Palace as a stepping stone (or even a destination), and how fans see what’s possible. Selhurst isn’t suddenly small again just because the stars moved on.

Also — and this is important — Palace fans are used to joy being rationed. So when it comes all at once, the instinct is to clutch it like it’s the last drop. But clubs like Palace don’t get one golden moment. They get eras, even if those eras come in waves rather than straight lines.

Right now you’re in the comedown. That doesn’t mean the party’s over — it just means the room’s gone quiet for a bit.

And honestly? Years from now, when Palace lift something else — because they will — that 2025 team won’t feel like “the end”.

It’ll feel like Chapter One.

You’re allowed to grieve it though. That team deserved that.

 

[MancunianEagle]

Is this AI mate

 

[VinceHilaire]

Yep - I tried putting down all my disgruntled feelings - and AI came up with this -,which actually made me feel better

 

[cryrst]

Yep - I tried putting down all my disgruntled feelings - and AI came up with this -,which actually made me feel better

I would have lied my arse off with how you got it but fair play 😁

 

[ex hibitionist]

those robots on the old Smash advert saying 'then they smash them all to bits' might apply to what has been done to our squad, though we seem to be in the market for new potatoes

 

[elgin eeagle]

Technically we might still lift something else in May, rather than 'in years to come' too. The squad might be weaker with the loss of Eze, Guehi and now probably Mateta and Glasner in the summer, but that isn't to say it is now terrible. Just terribly out of form and confidence. But those things do return at some point don't they.

When the new signings add enough to get us going again we could add another trophy and qualify for European Competition for another season, which the hard-working players deserve after the travesty of last summer's shenanigans with the fat greek.

 

[johnmcormick8]

I get why you’re feeling like that — that hollow, “was that the peak?” feeling after something genuinely magical ends. It’s brutal because 2025 didn’t feel like a fluke run, it felt like the start of something. And when players like Olise, Eze, and Guehi move on, it doesn’t just hurt tactically — it hurts emotionally. That team felt ours.

But here’s the thing I’d gently push back on.

What you witnessed wasn’t just a great season — it was a proof-of-concept. Palace didn’t win the FA Cup by accident or nostalgia. They did it with a clear identity: fearless football, elite youth development, players who went on to be genuinely top-level. That matters more than people realise.

Every club outside the super-elite goes through this cycle;

• build something exciting
• get raided
• dip
• rebuild

The danger is thinking the story ends at the raid. It doesn’t.

You won’t just be telling future generations “I was there when…” — you’ll be saying:

“That’s when Palace stopped being content with survival.”

That FA Cup win is permanent. No one can take it. It changed how the club is perceived, how players view Palace as a stepping stone (or even a destination), and how fans see what’s possible. Selhurst isn’t suddenly small again just because the stars moved on.

Also — and this is important — Palace fans are used to joy being rationed. So when it comes all at once, the instinct is to clutch it like it’s the last drop. But clubs like Palace don’t get one golden moment. They get eras, even if those eras come in waves rather than straight lines.

Right now you’re in the comedown. That doesn’t mean the party’s over — it just means the room’s gone quiet for a bit.

And honestly? Years from now, when Palace lift something else — because they will — that 2025 team won’t feel like “the end”.

It’ll feel like Chapter One.

You’re allowed to grieve it though. That team deserved that.

this has been my experience since 1970,

 

[Mets1]

Sorry to be a party pooper!!
But with Steve Parish with his hands on the finances- we will never grow as a club!!!
As demonstrated this season !!! He blew it !!!
Let our greatest manager walk away- bitterly !!!
Players in disarray !!

Steve Parish courts the safety net of mid table -( and securing his wages and bonuses )as expressed by Textor and others!

Who dares, wins ! Eh Steve!

 

[CT Charlie]

I'd much rather read your genuine, unrefined, ungrammatical, disorganized thoughts than any pile of Artificial Next-Word-Predictive SLOP, regardless of whether said SLOP somehow reflects "what you wanted to say."

Just say it. Especially at this moment in history, the world needs more straight-from-the-heart emotion rather than synthetic crap that's dishonestly marketed as "Intelligence."

 

[JRW2]

I'd much rather read your genuine, unrefined, ungrammatical, disorganized thoughts than any pile of Artificial Next-Word-Predictive SLOP, regardless of whether said SLOP somehow reflects "what you wanted to say."

Just say it. Especially at this moment in history, the world needs more straight-from-the-heart emotion rather than synthetic crap that's dishonestly marketed as "Intelligence."

Well said. 🙂

 

[radicalsteve]

Sorry to be a party pooper!!
But with Steve Parish with his hands on the finances- we will never grow as a club!!!
As demonstrated this season !!! He blew it !!!
Let our greatest manager walk away- bitterly !!!
Players in disarray !!

Steve Parish courts the safety net of mid table -( and securing his wages and bonuses )as expressed by Textor and others!

Who dares, wins ! Eh Steve!

Bang on! It is stupefying that the leadership failed to invest in the summer and even more bewildering that this scenario has played out before with mid table teams that exceed expectations one year and then unable to secure the success the next year because they think it is business as usual if you step out of the performance zone. Glasner may be a problem now, but he was bang on correct in characterizing Parish as lacking ambition and that my friends has now become the perception and brand of the club, reinforced by the lack of rectification in this transfer window. I guess it is an "aiming for bronze" mentality that will never lead to a repeat of 2025 with the current leadership in charge. I am a firm believer in managing risk, but if you don't take any ..... then the outcome will always be negative and there can never be progression while those around you march forwards.

 

[cryrst]

Bang on! It is stupefying that the leadership failed to invest in the summer and even more bewildering that this scenario has played out before with mid table teams that exceed expectations one year and then unable to secure the success the next year because they think it is business as usual if you step out of the performance zone. Glasner may be a problem now, but he was bang on correct in characterizing Parish as lacking ambition and that my friends has now become the perception and brand of the club, reinforced by the lack of rectification in this transfer window. I guess it is an "aiming for bronze" mentality that will never lead to a repeat of 2025 with the current leadership in charge. I am a firm believer in managing risk, but if you don't take any ..... then the outcome will always be negative and there can never be progression while those around you march forwards.

Who are these clubs marching forwards from our level. Weed, spurs, Everton, Bournemouth Sunderland I don’t see them more than 2 wins in front. I get your point but also look at the failed ones either yo yoing every couple of years or still struggling to get back to the top table.

 

[Linford]

As much as I dislike AI, I very much appreciate those words and the theory behind them. It describes the feelings involved quite well. Here’s hoping the predictions are just as accurate.

 

[NEILLO]

I get why you’re feeling like that — that hollow, “was that the peak?” feeling after something genuinely magical ends. It’s brutal because 2025 didn’t feel like a fluke run, it felt like the start of something. And when players like Olise, Eze, and Guehi move on, it doesn’t just hurt tactically — it hurts emotionally. That team felt ours.

But here’s the thing I’d gently push back on.

What you witnessed wasn’t just a great season — it was a proof-of-concept. Palace didn’t win the FA Cup by accident or nostalgia. They did it with a clear identity: fearless football, elite youth development, players who went on to be genuinely top-level. That matters more than people realise.

Every club outside the super-elite goes through this cycle;

• build something exciting
• get raided
• dip
• rebuild

The danger is thinking the story ends at the raid. It doesn’t.

You won’t just be telling future generations “I was there when…” — you’ll be saying:

“That’s when Palace stopped being content with survival.”

That FA Cup win is permanent. No one can take it. It changed how the club is perceived, how players view Palace as a stepping stone (or even a destination), and how fans see what’s possible. Selhurst isn’t suddenly small again just because the stars moved on.

Also — and this is important — Palace fans are used to joy being rationed. So when it comes all at once, the instinct is to clutch it like it’s the last drop. But clubs like Palace don’t get one golden moment. They get eras, even if those eras come in waves rather than straight lines.

Right now you’re in the comedown. That doesn’t mean the party’s over — it just means the room’s gone quiet for a bit.

And honestly? Years from now, when Palace lift something else — because they will — that 2025 team won’t feel like “the end”.

It’ll feel like Chapter One.

You’re allowed to grieve it though. That team deserved that.

Total Bollix.

Not my words....😉

I think when looking back on this season, I'll be telling future generations '' that's when Palace reverted back to being content with survival ''. Because right now Premier League survival is the priority.

And at the moment, with a want away manager, our captain being sold, our top scorer agitating for a move this feels like the polar opposite to an '' era ''. And the Cup win the '' golden moment ''.

Yes, we are used to seeing joy being rationed. So what AI is telling us is that we should just accept it. And that's where the lack of emotion and the human condition is absent from it.