Lacroix

The article at the top of the thread is complete boll*cks. The tweet could be too, or it could be something. But they are rumours.

If he is happy to stay we need to keep hold of him. Hendo, Lacroix, Wharton, and Sarr are all essential. They are the spine, they are the core of the team that has won us three trophies.

If we could in this window keep the squad exactly the same, and just let Sage have a go at training them up a bit more, I'd be completely happy with that. We don't need any signings if we keep hold of this group as is.

We can afford to jettison a few backup forwards as we are overloaded with inside forwards or wingers.

Nkets almost definitely goes now, I'm not talking him down and I'm not one to, but he's probably reached time with us. I will love them to stay and become their best under Sage, but either one of Yeremy or Brennan could go as well, only for the right price.
 
PatrickA said:
I wonder if some take the view ( mistaken from my standpoint) that we can just replace Lacroix easily and keep the change just because we managed that trick when replacing Anderson with Lacroix.
Guehi and Lacroix were the key elements in a defence which had the longest unbeaten run in Europe last season.
Lacroix played virtually every game, his recovery pace was vital and his form was so good that he forced his way into an exceptional French squad.
He's only 2 years into his long term deal, and unless there's a contract stipulation allowing him to leave, I can see no logic in such a move.
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Because we are a selling club, it's that simple. To compete in the premier League we have to sell players to makeup our shortfalls in finances.
 
It's only in the last couple of seasons that we've become a 'selling club.'

It could be argued that's because we now have a higher quailty of player who are more in demand by top clubs.

Nonetheless, we were not a 'selling club' in the first 10 years of our return to the Premier League, and in fact we managed to retain the likes of Zaha, Dann, and McArthur who were all coveted by other Premier League clubs.

We also brought in top players like Benteke, Sakho and Townsend who in the early days would have been seen well out of our range.

We've gone from that to a situation where as soon as a top club flashes their eyelids at one of our better players we are eager to pack them off.
It's something of a paradox that the more established a Premier League club we become the more readily It's accepted we have to sell our players.
With Lacroix there's not even the excuse that we would be selling to a Champions League club.
We haven't replaced Guehi and some are happy to see Lacroix leave?
And no, while Riad and Canvot have potential, they are not the experienced senior players of the pedigree of Guehi and Lacroix.
I support Crystal Palace FC not 'Players the Top Clubs Don't Want FC.'
 
PatrickA said:
It's only in the last couple of seasons that we've become a 'selling club.'

It could be argued that's because we now have a higher quailty of player who are more in demand by top clubs.

Nonetheless, we were not a 'selling club' in the first 10 years of our return to the Premier League, and in fact we managed to retain the likes of Zaha, Dann, and McArthur who were all coveted by other Premier League clubs.

We also brought in top players like Benteke, Sakho and Townsend who in the early days would have been seen well out of our range.

We've gone from that to a situation where as soon as a top club flashes their eyelids at one of our better players we are eager to pack them off.
It's something of a paradox that the more established a Premier League club we become the more readily It's accepted we have to sell our players.
With Lacroix there's not even the excuse that we would be selling to a Champions League club.
We haven't replaced Guehi and some are happy to see Lacroix leave?
And no, while Riad and Canvot have potential, they are not the experienced senior players of the pedigree of Guehi and Lacroix.
I support Crystal Palace FC not 'Players the Top Clubs Don't Want FC.'
Click to expand...
I think that was the problem 70m with no return, a factor is also the limited spending power of small clubs with limits set by PL and UEFA, its a fact of life, 13/14 years is a massive achievement by the board only the "Top 6" and Everton have currently been in the PL longer than us.
 
I really don't get this, if true. We're in Europe, proper now. Not just mickey mouse Europe and we sell our best defender, who has years left on his contract. Did we get a replacement? Or are we going to scrap around again to find one after the fact. If Forest can keep Gibbs White, why can't we keep Lacroix.

We have a new French Manager to boot.

Are we moving forward or just going to be happy with another 14th ish place finish. It's not like we have to spend loads of money, we have good players at the core of the club.

And we sell to Chelsea with the state they're in and for peanuts. Do we get Chalobah?

I need to wait and see what happens but I hope we don't prove Glasner right when he kicked off. I'm not saying we need to spend, spend, spend but Eagles are supposed to soar and I thought we were starting to do that...

I hope there is something we are all missing here and there is a cunning plan for the upcoming season.
 
PatrickA said:
It's only in the last couple of seasons that we've become a 'selling club.'

It could be argued that's because we now have a higher quailty of player who are more in demand by top clubs.

Nonetheless, we were not a 'selling club' in the first 10 years of our return to the Premier League, and in fact we managed to retain the likes of Zaha, Dann, and McArthur who were all coveted by other Premier League clubs.

We also brought in top players like Benteke, Sakho and Townsend who in the early days would have been seen well out of our range.

We've gone from that to a situation where as soon as a top club flashes their eyelids at one of our better players we are eager to pack them off.
It's something of a paradox that the more established a Premier League club we become the more readily It's accepted we have to sell our players.
With Lacroix there's not even the excuse that we would be selling to a Champions League club.
We haven't replaced Guehi and some are happy to see Lacroix leave?
And no, while Riad and Canvot have potential, they are not the experienced senior players of the pedigree of Guehi and Lacroix.
I support Crystal Palace FC not 'Players the Top Clubs Don't Want FC.'
Click to expand...

Zaha and Bolasie yes, I can't remember many were seriously coveted. The quality in squad is light and day. What is is 12 players at the WC...?

That fact that we have players the top clubs want is a good thing. We are doing well.

Eager to pack them off.....lets not believe everything we read every window, most of our first team are getting sold.
 
Lanzo-Ad said:
I think that was the problem 70m with no return, a factor is also the limited spending power of small clubs with limits set by PL and UEFA, its a fact of life, 13/14 years is a massive achievement by the board only the "Top 6" and Everton have currently been in the PL longer than us.
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We have experienced a 'Golden Era' at the club with the likes of Olise, Eze, Guehi, Wharton, Lacroix etc etc and the FA Cup and Conference League successes.
I am not suggesting that we are on the glidepath to perdition, however I accept that a Bronze rather than Golden age is the model of plausibility.
 
Lanzo-Ad said:
Please stop talking sense, it confuses many HOLers
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Thank you. I think the issue is going to be even more exasperated now with the replacement of PSR with SCR. It will handicap us more than others as we have such a low commercial/matchday revenue in comparison to others. Will mean we will have to sell players to make up the difference, and do so better than other clubs around us.

It will also make the disparity between us and other clubs greater with the fees we can command. We will not be able to turn down big offers for players whereas other clubs can hold out for larger fees, such as the 75mill valuations of Gatuso etc. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

And by the way for those who have said I am happy to see Lacroix go, Read back. I specifically say I would be sad to see him go. I am just pointing out the reality of the situation. we have to accept we will let these sorts of players go and hope we can reinvest and recycle, and make gradual forward progression in doing so.
 
This will upset a few on here, but I rather like Brighton's approach when they have players under long term contracts.
To Manchester Utd who wanted Baleba?
Well ok, but it will cost you £150 million.
They tend to get maximum value for players and more.
Somebody like Van Hecke, who has only has a year on his contract, looks like Brighton will get £50m from Spurs for him.
Brighton also took circa £200 million for Caceido, Cucerella and Pedro from Chelsea.
I wonder what Brighton's reaction would be to a Chelsea offer for Lacroix 2 years into a 5 year contract?

All this assumes that there is truth in the story.
It seems there is clear Chelsea have an interest as they have a habit of leaking these stories.
What is less clear is Palace's response and I hope it would be turned down flat.
 
Mwncisee said:
Because we are a selling club, it's that simple. To compete in the premier League we have to sell players to makeup our shortfalls in finances.
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1782487047834.webp
This basically highlights the problem. With a player sale net profit of 66.1 million in 2025, we only made a net profit of 8.3 million. Our income is simply not enough to balance the books without a sizeable net profit on player transfers.
If ever there was a club that needed a cash injection to increase stadium capacity it is Palace. A 50K stadium would significantly increase revenue and also improve our global image. Come on Woody, you know you want to.
 
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Mwncisee said:
Thank you. I think the issue is going to be even more exasperated now with the replacement of PSR with SCR. It will handicap us more than others as we have such a low commercial/matchday revenue in comparison to others. Will mean we will have to sell players to make up the difference, and do so better than other clubs around us.

It will also make the disparity between us and other clubs greater with the fees we can command. We will not be able to turn down big offers for players whereas other clubs can hold out for larger fees, such as the 75mill valuations of Gatuso etc. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

And by the way for those who have said I am happy to see Lacroix go, Read back. I specifically say I would be sad to see him go. I am just pointing out the reality of the situation. we have to accept we will let these sorts of players go and hope we can reinvest and recycle, and make gradual forward progression in doing so.
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Brighton, Bournemouth and Brentford seem to do it ok. Didn’t Bournemouth sell their whole defence last Summer and still get into Europe? Whether we’ve got the scouting network and nous to do this is another matter.
 
Hrolf The Ganger said:
View attachment 3705
This basically highlights the problem. With a player sale profit of 66.1 million in 2025, we only made a net profit of 8.3 million. Our income is simply not enough to balance the books without a sizeable net profit on player transfers.
If ever there was a club that needed a cash injection to increase stadium capacity it is Palace. A 50K stadium would significantly increase revenue and also improve our global image. Come on Woody, you know you want to.
Click to expand...
Very much agree and thank you for posting the numbers. We have needed a new stadium for a long time but there just isn't anywhere to build it. Personally I feel it is a crying shame a return to Crystal Palace park, our actual original home never materialised.
 
MrRobbo said:
Zaha and Bolasie yes, I can't remember many were seriously coveted. The quality in squad is light and day. What is is 12 players at the WC...?

That fact that we have players the top clubs want is a good thing. We are doing well.

Eager to pack them off.....lets not believe everything we read every window, most of our first team are getting sold.
Click to expand...
There was strong interest in McArthur and Dann too, both accomplished Premier League players, and we were able to keep a good nucleus together for a good length of time.
We were also able to bring in Cabaye , a player good enough to play for PSG and probably Newcastle's best player when he was there.
That would probably be the equivalent of bringing in Bruno G from them these days.
That would not happen nowadays and yet back then we were a less established club.

I understand the desire from fans to paint everything in a positive light including selling our best players, but the essence of sport is competition.

Take that away and what is left.

I recall Glasner saying for the Cup Final v Man C that we had a 1 in 20 chance.
And he's a positive guy.
If the current trajectory continues of big clubs hoovering up the best players then that will become a 1 in 30 chance.
How can that be right.
We'll soon be facing a situation when Arsenal reserves would be able to finish in the top 4.
 
Mwncisee said:
Very much agree and thank you for posting the numbers. We have needed a new stadium for a long time but there just isn't anywhere to build it. Personally I feel it is a crying shame a return to Crystal Palace park, our actual original home never materialised.
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That was never happening, but the old girl could hold 50K with enough money thrown at it. It just takes someone willing to speculate a sizeable chunk of money to put their name on a Premier League Club.
 
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