Our most critical season ?

[Save Dwindlehurst]

New season, new manager, new team, new stand started and three promoted teams who look like they won’t roll over.
If we get it right, stay up and win the Europa League, which is far from impossible given our bigger squad and the 2 legged phase after the group stage, we would be in the Champions League and all the riches that comes with it. And surely set for years more in the Premier League and higher finishes in front of 34,000 fans every home game.
If we get it wrong and get relegated maybe the ‘start of a new dark age’ as Churchill once said (albeit it not
about Palace)!
That’s why this season is so critical……

 

[ASCPFC]

Every season has this kind of thing with us. We're always a few games away from relegation at some stage. We seem to always need a rebuild, a change of tactics or a new manager. It's like a permanent state of critical.

 

[Fanofzhiyi]

A lot of rumours online parish is considering replacing Pierre sage, surely not true……is there something going on behind the scenes we do not know?

It’s been an ok start. The issue is defence but we did not replace Lacroix yet

 

[ASCPFC]

A lot of rumours online parish is considering replacing Pierre sage, surely not true……is there something going on behind the scenes we do not know?

It’s been an ok start. The issue is defence but we did not replace Lacroix yet

Players are complaining about management. It's an unsettled squad, that was the whole point of the Henderson contract news. But we've still got two senior squad players: Sarr and Mateta mouthing off. We've got an unhappy couple of others too, Canvot, Lerna, Guessand. Not even entirely sure what Guessand and Lerma are up to.

 

[samprior]

A lot of rumours online parish is considering replacing Pierre sage, surely not true……is there something going on behind the scenes we do not know?

It’s been an ok start. The issue is defence but we did not replace Lacroix yet

Yes it doesn't seem healthy behind the scenes. A sad state of affairs, as we once again seem to have failed to capitalise on any momentum and success, and instead look ready to implode.

 

[park the bus]

A lot of rumours online parish is considering replacing Pierre sage, surely not true……is there something going on behind the scenes we do not know?

It’s been an ok start. The issue is defence but we did not replace Lacroix yet

3 points from 12, sitting 17th in the league table, minus 5 goal difference. Yes it could be worse I guess.

 

[samprior]

Players are complaining about management. It's an unsettled squad, that was the whole point of the Henderson contract news. But we've still got two senior squad players: Sarr and Mateta mouthing off. We've got an unhappy couple of others too, Canvot, Lerna, Guessand. Not even entirely sure what Guessand and Lerma are up to.

Lerma played in the cup, but is not in the Europa squad. Canvot and McNeil were obviously given a shake and came back looking a bit more alert.

Guessand has disappeared, but I can't blame Sage for not including him as he's never looked that impressive.

Sarr and Mateta situations are out of Sage's control.

It does appear all is not well behind the scenes, but as much blame lies with the board and poor summer prep as it does with Sage in my opinion. Pierre has been dealt a pretty sh*t situation to come into.

 

[park the bus]

Lerma played in the cup, but is not in the Europa squad. Canvot and McNeil were obviously given a shake and came back looking a bit more alert.

Guessand has disappeared, but I can't blame Sage for not including him as he's never looked that impressive.

Sarr and Mateta situations are out of Sage's control.

It does appear all is not well behind the scenes, but as much blame lies with the board and poor summer prep as it does with Sage in my opinion. Pierre has been dealt a pretty sh*t situation to come into.

I totally agree.

 

[RedandBlueSash]

New season, new manager, new team, new stand started and three promoted teams who look like they won’t roll over.
If we get it right, stay up and win the Europa League, which is far from impossible given our bigger squad and the 2 legged phase after the group stage, we would be in the Champions League and all the riches that comes with it. And surely set for years more in the Premier League and higher finishes in front of 34,000 fans every home game.
If we get it wrong and get relegated maybe the ‘start of a new dark age’ as Churchill once said (albeit it not
about Palace)!
That’s why this season is so critical……

While this may well turn out to be a 'rebuild' season ( which every club has to go through now and again ) to establish a long-term platform for success, ( like Glasner's first season was ) you are right in saying this could be our most important season ever. It could be argued all we've ever done until very recently was be a occasional blip in the top tier and spend the rest of the time in grim survival, with the occasional existential crisis. If we stay up well and win the Europa our entree to Champions League would mean we have truly arrived. Our 'brand' would be elevated hugely to a more serious level as our 'high-water mark' would basically be redefined as a potential elite club. Provided we don't shoot ourselves in the foot, we'd have access to players and managers we could only dream of for most of our history. ( Lombardo aside )

If I was a betting man, I'd bet we will eventually become an elite club anyway. We've turned a corner in the last few years, IMHO, and a couple of new stands and five more years of decent-to-high success ( well achievable, IMHO ) will see us eventually purchased by someone who wants to turn us into the next Newcastle. Even with SCR anchors placed upon us to stop us spending the way the big four do, I think that level of investment, plus our catchment area and access to South London academy talent, will make us one of the top clubs in the U.K. Maybe not PL title-winners but a perennial top six finisher and team capable to making the CL from time-to-time. This will take another 10-15 years to happen but I think is more likely at this point than another total collapse. Winning the Europa this season would only accelerate the process.

Yes, critical season. We need to fix the defence and then should be set for a great season. We have superb squad depth, a system that is already making us more potent and we are scoring well without Mateta and Sarr, who will also likely boost us. Hopefully, we'll have the old Doucoure back as well and Ordonez coming in January. There's a lot to be optimistic about, regardless of how some here are.

 

[doombear]

Yes it doesn't seem healthy behind the scenes. A sad state of affairs, as we once again seem to have failed to capitalise on any momentum and success, and instead look ready to implode.

What inside knowledge do you have to come to this conclusion? I saw nothing in today's performance to support your statements. In fact, I saw Canvot trying to give his best; I saw players working hard for each other (and presumably, therefore, for the manager) and I saw an overall performance to suggest that things are moving in the right direction.

 

[doombear]

3 points from 12, sitting 17th in the league table, minus 5 goal difference. Yes it could be worse I guess.

Yep, we could be Spurs proudly holding up the table having spent the best part of £300m.

 

[RubinsCube]

3 points from 12, sitting 17th in the league table, minus 5 goal difference. Yes it could be worse I guess.

Direction of travel looks positive to me.

A big win in Europe in the week. A very good point against a good Leeds team in their backyard. Two clean sheets with our first choice goalkeeper and captain injured, and a rejigged back three.

I'll take that all day long. COYP!

 

[MrRobbo]

A lot of rumours online parish is considering replacing Pierre sage, surely not true……is there something going on behind the scenes we do not know?

It’s been an ok start. The issue is defence but we did not replace Lacroix yet

I just cant believe any of the Sage sack rumours. It would be MENTAL. He's show that he can transform a solid but blunt team into a attacking force.

He's also shown today he can keep things tight.

(All whilst Glasner is getting a load of stick for his team being absolutely clueless against a low block Coventry)