Our present squad

palace99 said:
Agree at least 1 CB and possible a CM are required, however, for me the big concern is the left side of the attack, regardless of the formation.

Whilst Eze was not a natural fit there he did suit OG's formation and proved very effective.

Pino was never a natural replacement and whilst i hope he will be better this year as he adapts to the English game he is so right footed i'm not sure he can play left in a 433, and he wasn't great in a 3421.

Even if Pino proves me wrong he clearly needs competition. Johnson has shown he is too limited so i'm struggling to think of alternatives.

Was hoping Esse might step up, but not sure he will and i think he's more right sided anyway
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So far, Sage has played a 3-4-3 or 3-4-2-1. However, I believe he wants his 10s to play wider which may suit Pino more than the narrower option.
 
DANGERCLOSE said:
Crystal Palace expected to leave Danny Imray out of squad for the pre-season Como Cup in Italy 🇮🇹 The 23yo closing in on move to Wrexham as they mount Championship promotion bid. Deal worth around 5m for full-back after successful loans #wba #utmp #cpfc
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I wonder if Brennan might not be a better fit for the ambitious Welsh club?
 
Wharton has not featured in friendlies and not travelling to Como. I haven’t seen any club comment. He’s not late because of w. Cup. He’s not injured is he? Sage must be gagging to get is quarter back into the mix. Any news?
 
1969eagle said:
Wharton has not featured in friendlies and not travelling to Como. I haven’t seen any club comment. He’s not late because of w. Cup. He’s not injured is he? Sage must be gagging to get is quarter back into the mix. Any news?
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Thought the club stated it's an ankle I jury? Well, it's an ankle injury. Think they said about two weeks until fully fit. Which was about a week ago.
 
Established, proven first team

Henderson
Benitez
Matthews (does a job as a 3rd)

Munoz Cannot Richards Riad Mitchell
Mingueza None None None None

Wharton Kamada
Hughes Lerma

Sarr Pino
Johnson (generous) None

Mateta
Strand Larsen
​

The hope they come good or accept they won't group


Whitworth Goodman

Cardines Sosa Benamar Adaramola

Doucoure Devenny Ozoh

Esse Franca Rak-Sakyi

Nketiah
​
With the exception of our CBs where we clearly need to replace Lacroix, it's a quality issue rather than a numbers issue. Excusing a couple who were playing U18s last year, we've got far too many in that second group that are neither contributing nor being moved on.

Looking at the size of the first group it needs probably 5 of that second group to turn into genuine first team options who could seamlessly start in the PL. Hopefully Doucoure will get back to it but finding 5 feels like an enormous stretch.

I'm honestly amazed that at start of August ALL of Esse, Rak-Sakyi, Franca, Devenny and Nketiah will still be Palace players. Maybe 1 will come good but most clubs are turning that list of names into £50m and bringing in two strong options.

One final note on that first team group - 6 of them don't have a contract past next summer. Somehow every year I manage to still feel surprised by how late everything seems to happen and how willing we are to throw away points in August and September.
 
So at the moment our starting 11 looks like this:

Henderson

Muñoz

Riad
Richards
Convott

Mitchell

Wharton
Kamada

Sarr
Mateta
Pino

Subs
Benitez
Mingueza
Sosa
Lerma
Doucoure
Hughes
Johnson
Nketiah
Strand larsen
JDT

Defo need CBs, I know we got a month but SP needs to get his finger out so they can be bedded in
 
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Looks like the best predictor of new squad additions is based on players who can come to us on a "free" I see they just signed Beth England for the Women's .... on a free ....😆😆
 
Henderson/Benitez/Matthew's

Muñoz/Mingueza

Riad
Richards/Tomiyasu
Convott

Mitchell/Sosa

Wharton/Doucoure/Lerma
Kamada/Hughes/Devenny

Sarr/Gozo
Mateta/Strand Larsen/Nketiah
Pino/França/McNeil

Possible outgoings:
Mateta
cardines loaned to Bristol City
Rak-sakyi
Ozoh
Esse
Muñoz

Possible incomings
Anan Khalaili
Disasi
Le Guen
March
Guessand
Camara
Njie

We defo need another centre back
 
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ambrose7 said:
I'm honestly amazed that at start of August ALL of Esse, Rak-Sakyi, Franca, Devenny and Nketiah will still be Palace players. Maybe 1 will come good but most clubs are turning that list of names into £50m and bringing in two strong options.

One final note on that first team group - 6 of them don't have a contract past next summer. Somehow every year I manage to still feel surprised by how late everything seems to happen and how willing we are to throw away points in August and September.
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I'm assuming you meant by the start of the new season?

At the moment it looks more likely that Esse and Johnson could go. I don't see Nketiah nor Franca going.

I know that if I were a championship side I'd be interested in Ozoh and Devenny, if I had the funds.
 
Of our fringe players I'd keep Devenny ahead of the likes of Esse, JRS and Ozoh.
Not because he's brilliant, but because he's workmanlike, sticks to his task and can play in a number of positions.
He also has a good temperament as demonstrated with his winning penalty in the Community Shield v Liverpool.

Of course from his standpoint it would be better for a move to enable him to get regular football which he's unlikely to get at Palace.
 
DANGERCLOSE said:
Henderson/Benitez/Matthew's

Muñoz/Mingueza

Riad/Tomiyasu
Richards
Convott

Mitchell/Sosa

Wharton/Doucoure/Lerma
Kamada/Hughes/Devenny

Sarr/Gozo
Mateta/Strand Larsen/Nketiah
Pino/França

Possible outgoings:
Johnson
Mateta
cardines
Rak-sakyi
Ozoh
Esse

Possible incomings
McNeil
Disasi
Le Guen
March
Guessand
Camara
Njie

We defo need another centre back
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It sounds like the McNeil/Johnson deal is happening.

Also sounds like Khalaili is going to happen. Will he be Munoz back up.... or a Munoz replacement? And presume this would be instead of Gozo?
 
MrRobbo said:
It sounds like the McNeil/Johnson deal is happening.

Also sounds like Khalaili is going to happen. Will he be Munoz back up.... or a Munoz replacement? And presume this would be instead of Gozo?
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I think a lot depends on whether Sage wants us to play with two No10s tucked in centrally behind a No9, as Glasner did, or if he wants us to have two slightly more wide wingers instead. I haven't seen enough of the preseason games to form a view on that.

If we are to play with wide attacking players, or maybe one wider attacking winger and one tucked in a bit more, then McNeill, Gozo, Khalilli, and even March all make a different kind of sense, perhaps?
 
MrRobbo said:
It sounds like the McNeil/Johnson deal is happening.

Also sounds like Khalaili is going to happen. Will he be Munoz back up.... or a Munoz replacement? And presume this would be instead of Gozo?
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I suspect Munoz will be going as there is interest, I believe, and he is 30 now so time to take a profit. Also, I believe Khalaili is in addition to Gozo, whose visa is yet to come through.
 
doombear said:
I suspect Munoz will be going as there is interest, I believe, and he is 30 now so time to take a profit. Also, I believe Khalaili is in addition to Gozo, whose visa is yet to come through.
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If a big club taps Munoz, he may well go, and allowing it’s a decent fee for a thirty year old it could be good business for Palace.
But we are building a squad with good quality options for rotation. The signings being made for the right side give plenty of cover for Munoz, which will be needed. Change of subject but I would like another experienced central defender to come in creating better rotation options there.
 
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