Time to start doing Business Steve..!!

[grumpymort]

The fact that's probably true speaks massively to the problem!

I think Wharton is a top-level, international standard midfielder (I know Lerma & Kamada are regular internationals, but neither for top level national sides).

I think Doucoure was on a path to that sort of level but has been really derailed by injuries - remains to be seen if he ever recovers to the same standard as we saw in his first season, but he's certainly not going to be any sort of reliable depth before Christmas.

I'd argue that Hughes, Lerma & Kamada are all in the bracket below, to varying degrees - good PL players who can certainly play at this level.

Devenny as one of the two deeper midfielders is pretty much an unknown - most of his appearances have been further forward.

Lerma plays for Colombia just like Munoz does how is that not a top level national team (They are currently ranked around 14 and reached final at last Copa)

Japan are ranked 17 they recently dropped 2 places so not sure what you class as top national sides (England are ranked 4th and what have we won 0)

Doucoure is done we need to consider selling or even loaning him out if ever gets fit again.

Devenny will improve if getting proper game time and needs a more locked down role/position (N. Ireland who he plays for are ranked 71)

Hughes is a solid player I said it for years and people kept moaning about him it looks like a lot of them changed there tune (The thing is with him he is nothing special but he does the things you need at times and is a mid table prem player)

His u21 England record was really good most people thought he would go on to be senior player but he didnt that could be for many reasons not at big club and other names being selected all the time.

 

[CPFCSaturn]

Lerma plays for Colombia just like Munoz does how is that not a top level national team (They are currently ranked around 14 and reached final at last Copa)

Japan are ranked 17 they recently dropped 2 places so not sure what you class as top national sides (England are ranked 4th and what have we won 0)

Doucoure is done we need to consider selling or even loaning him out if ever gets fit again.

Devenny will improve if getting proper game time and needs a more locked down role/position (N. Ireland who he plays for are ranked 71)

Hughes is a solid player I said it for years and people kept moaning about him it looks like a lot of them changed there tune (The thing is with him he is nothing special but he does the things you need at times and is a mid table prem player)

His u21 England record was really good most people thought he would go on to be senior player but he didnt that could be for many reasons not at big club and other names being selected all the time.

Would Lerma or Kamada get near a squad for for France, Spain, Brazil etc.? That's what I mean by a top level national side. Just look at the clubs represented in the Colombia squad - it's evidently not top level. Same for Japan.

I love Hughes but he's not an England standard player - I don't think we need to speculate on other reasons, he's just clearly not as good as the likes of Rice and Bellingham.

 

[Phil’s Barber]

Wharton and Hughes are a really good PL midfield pairing.
Then add to that Lerma, Kamada, Doucoure (eventually) and Devenny.

I'd argue it's the position we have the most strength in depth in.

I was just pointing out that last season we encountered injuries to Lerma and Eze whilst Doucoure and Wharton were also ruled out. Hughes was on a suspension which led us to playing Marc Guehi in centre midfield alongside Justin Devenny (who was making his debut in the starting XI).

We lost 2-0 at home to Fulham and were totally outplayed - particularly in midfield.

 

[Palacesince64]

Would Lerma or Kamada get near a squad for for France, Spain, Brazil etc.? That's what I mean by a top level national side. Just look at the clubs represented in the Colombia squad - it's evidently not top level. Same for Japan.

I love Hughes but he's not an England standard player - I don't think we need to speculate on other reasons, he's just clearly not as good as the likes of Rice and Bellingham.

Having a squad full of international standard players doesn’t guarantee anything apart form disharmony when they don’t play. It’s a team game and the players you mention have contributed greatly to our success.

 

[CPFCSaturn]

Having a squad full of international standard players doesn’t guarantee anything apart form disharmony when they don’t play. It’s a team game and the players you mention have contributed greatly to our success.

Not sure I've suggested a squad full of international players - we've certainly got plenty of room to add some more before we have to worry about squad disharmony.

Similarly, not sure anything I've said is neglecting the contribution of our existing players given I've described them all as 'good PL players' - Hughes is probably my favourite player in the squad.

But we should be in the market for upgrades.

 

[Phil’s Barber]

I was just pointing out that last season we encountered injuries to Lerma and Eze whilst Doucoure and Wharton were also ruled out. Hughes was on a suspension which led us to playing Marc Guehi in centre midfield alongside Justin Devenny (who was making his debut in the starting XI).

We lost 2-0 at home to Fulham and were totally outplayed - particularly in midfield.

Furthermore, I think we can write off Doucoure sadly so yes, we do need another top quality central midfielder.

Hughes isn’t going to maintain his form for ever and Real Madrid will come sniffing for Wharton.

 

[Nicholas91]

Furthermore, I think we can write off Doucoure sadly so yes, we do need another top quality central midfielder.

Hughes isn’t going to maintain his form for ever and Real Madrid will come sniffing for Wharton.

Really liked him, thought he looked a great player, but I had reached this conclusion in my own mind a while back now.

 

[ASCPFC]

Really liked him, thought he looked a great player, but I had reached this conclusion in my own mind a while back now.

I'm not so sure we should write him off. Players have come back. Even at Palace.

 

[Nicholas91]

I'm not so sure we should write him off. Players have come back. Even at Palace.

True AS, I only do so to shield my Crystal Palace-related emotional instability.

If I think of him as never coming back, I avoid any pain there.

 

[Palacesince64]

Really liked him, thought he looked a great player, but I had reached this conclusion in my own mind a while back now.

Maybe a bit premature to write him off. Glasner said he had “a reaction “ in his knee when almost back to full training. He won’t be available for a couple of months but there’s still a chance he’ll be back. Whether he can regain the level he achieved 2 years ago is another question.

 

[doombear]

Not sure I've suggested a squad full of international players - we've certainly got plenty of room to add some more before we have to worry about squad disharmony.

Similarly, not sure anything I've said is neglecting the contribution of our existing players given I've described them all as 'good PL players' - Hughes is probably my favourite player in the squad.

But we should be in the market for upgrades.

Upgrades to proven good PL players are out of our price range. What we may be able to afford are players who can compete with the good (as opposed to top international standard) PL players we have.

We undervalue ourselves - we have a very good squad of 16/17 PL standard and above players when all are fit.

Despite all that has happened and is happening, McNulty at the Beeb has us finishing 9th this year in recognition that we're not all about Guehi and Eze, but have quality from back to front (as both Citeh and Liverpool discovered at Wembley this year).

 

[CPFCSaturn]

Upgrades to proven good PL players are out of our price range. What we may be able to afford are players who can compete with the good (as opposed to top international standard) PL players we have.

We undervalue ourselves - we have a very good squad of 16/17 PL standard and above players when all are fit.

Despite all that has happened and is happening, McNulty at the Beeb has us finishing 9th this year in recognition that we're not all about Guehi and Eze, but have quality from back to front (as both Citeh and Liverpool discovered at Wembley this year).

Upgrades on Hughes/Lerma are not at all out of price range - Dewsbury-Hall has just been sold for £24m, for example.

I agree we have a fantastic squad and team - by far the best Palace team I've seen and certainly the best manager.

That's precisely why I would like us to continue adding to those foundations.

 

[Nicholas91]

Interesting graphic for ‘least money spent in top 5 leagues’.

Ammunition for moaning and/or panicking if nothing else.

 

[doombear]

Upgrades on Hughes/Lerma are not at all out of price range - Dewsbury-Hall has just been sold for £24m, for example.

I agree we have a fantastic squad and team - by far the best Palace team I've seen and certainly the best manager.

That's precisely why I would like us to continue adding to those foundations.

He'll be 27 in September, so a few months younger than Eze. Unlikely to have a higher sell-on value come the end of his contract. Do we want to be buying such players? It's one thing buying a Sosa at £2m or a Lerma or Kamada or Benitez on a free when they are past their peak because we want some solid squad players with experience to balance our youngsters, quite a different thing buying a player who should be at their peak for peak or near peak value.

After all, if the Chairman says we can't afford to let Guehi go for free next summer and we need to sell him (for £35m or £40m?) now, it shows just how tight our finances are.

If we're looking for upgrades we should be continuing our policy of identifying younger players who the club believe have the potential to be very good PL players. It does mean having to give them time to settle and develop their potential.

 

[Cucking Funt]

He'll be 27 in September, so a few months younger than Eze. Unlikely to have a higher sell-on value come the end of his contract. Do we want to be buying such players? It's one thing buying a Sosa at £2m or a Lerma or Kamada or Benitez on a free when they are past their peak because we want some solid squad players with experience to balance our youngsters, quite a different thing buying a player who should be at their peak for peak or near peak value.

After all, if the Chairman says we can't afford to let Guehi go for free next summer and we need to sell him (for £35m or £40m?) now, it shows just how tight our finances are.

If we're looking for upgrades we should be continuing our policy of identifying younger players who the club believe have the potential to be very good PL players. It does mean having to give them time to settle and develop their potential.

Or you could say that it's good business to get a sizeable chunk of cash now for an asset that'll depreciate to nothing in 12 months time. Surely that's just common sense.

 

[CPFCSaturn]

He'll be 27 in September, so a few months younger than Eze. Unlikely to have a higher sell-on value come the end of his contract. Do we want to be buying such players? It's one thing buying a Sosa at £2m or a Lerma or Kamada or Benitez on a free when they are past their peak because we want some solid squad players with experience to balance our youngsters, quite a different thing buying a player who should be at their peak for peak or near peak value.

After all, if the Chairman says we can't afford to let Guehi go for free next summer and we need to sell him (for £35m or £40m?) now, it shows just how tight our finances are.

If we're looking for upgrades we should be continuing our policy of identifying younger players who the club believe have the potential to be very good PL players. It does mean having to give them time to settle and develop their potential.

In my opinion, yes.

Prime of his career, an immediate upgrade on what we have, by all accounts a good professional, and a very reasonable transfer fee.

We can't exclusively get by signing young prospects and cheap back-ups - we're generally very good at that type of business, but you have to supplement it with players who can just come in and improve the team.

 

[park the bus]

He'll be 27 in September, so a few months younger than Eze. Unlikely to have a higher sell-on value come the end of his contract. Do we want to be buying such players? It's one thing buying a Sosa at £2m or a Lerma or Kamada or Benitez on a free when they are past their peak because we want some solid squad players with experience to balance our youngsters, quite a different thing buying a player who should be at their peak for peak or near peak value.

After all, if the Chairman says we can't afford to let Guehi go for free next summer and we need to sell him (for £35m or £40m?) now, it shows just how tight our finances are.

If we're looking for upgrades we should be continuing our policy of identifying younger players who the club believe have the potential to be very good PL players. It does mean having to give them time to settle and develop their potential.

What is an upgrade? The first 11 picks itself more or less. Therefore an upgrade would have to be a player better than those already in place, keeping in mind to overall balance of the team. Also as you mention, it takes time to settle in and develop. What is concerning is if Eze and Guehi were to depart on the final day of the window, upsetting the overall balance, what then? They are two essentials of a side that has come together and gelled under Glasner's guidance.
If they stay then Parish & Co have managed to kick the can down the road until next time.

 

[Lanzo-Ad]

I think Devenny is massively underrated, and will compliment Wharton, Stronger, more box to box, i don't think we should buy a CM, it may hinder his progress, Future Palace Captain for sure.

 

[CPFCSaturn]

I think Devenny is massively underrated, and will compliment Wharton, Stronger, more box to box, i don't think we should buy a CM, it may hinder his progress, Future Palace Captain for sure.

I don't think it's anywhere near as clear cut as that.

I think he's been pretty good and looks like he might make a career as PL footballer, but I don't particularly see him being much more than a squad player for us, unless he improves very steeply.

He's older than Wharton, for reference.

 

[Jim_Cannon]

I don't think it's anywhere near as clear cut as that.

I think he's been pretty good and looks like he might make a career as PL footballer, but I don't particularly see him being much more than a squad player for us, unless he improves very steeply.

He's older than Wharton, for reference.

I like his energy and attitude. Took guts to take that penalty. Bodes well for his career