Palace is like you wanting a new TV, the old one is ok, but i will wait 6 months for black Friday to get a bargain.

“That’s a joke son, I say, that’s a joke.” “Nice boy, but he’s sharp as a throw pillow.” “He’s so dumb he thinks a Mexican border pays rent” “ “Son… I say, son, some people are so narrow minded they can look through a keyhole with both eyes.”__ Forhorn Leghorn

Ward and Hughes are still regular first-team players. I'd be surprised if either were released. Given the club gave Tomkins and Clyne new deals then that tells you everything. Personally I think both are too slow for the speed of the PL. Ward has good positioning, but sometimes that is not enough. Hughes has guts and is a good passer, but once again he lost the runner from midfield and didn't have the speed to get close to Barkley resulting in a goal. The same happened against Everton.

As it is it seems highly improbable we'll sign a third right-back for the squad, even if it seems an obvious weakness. With regard to Doucoure Parish and the board may well ask Roy why he doesn't use Ahamada more when he does seem to have the legs and the speed to be a box to box midfielder. Plus we have Hughes and Jairo. I think the squad needs more investment n January, but I also question whether Roy should at least be giving more fringe players a chance to prove themselves rather than just falling back on tried and tested players and throwing subs on for 10 minutes. People keep saying Roy would play them if they proved their worth in training, but some players keep playing when they aren't performing in actual games. Which also beggars the question, why would the club buy/loan more players when Roy doesn't seem to like to make changes.

Ward will be nearly 35 at the start of the next season, and Nat Clyne will be 33.Tomkins will be 35.
I do not see them being retained beyond the end of this season.

Heard DoF at Brentford interviewed. Buy a player in January in order to field them at full strength in August.

People expect those they buy to make an immediate impact. They usually do not.

Which is why I live in hope for e.g. Franca to come good in about February i.e. when I suspect we will really need him.

On January buys, I live in hope but expect nothing. And if we get, I expect from them very little initially.

Good analogy. I'd also add: "Though not impossible it's unlikely the old one will break until then so we'll take the risk that it won't, purely for financial reasons".

Now Zaha's got a bit of green grass ahead of him here... and finds Ambrose... not a bad effort!!!!

“That’s a joke son, I say, that’s a joke.” “Nice boy, but he’s sharp as a throw pillow.” “He’s so dumb he thinks a Mexican border pays rent” “ “Son… I say, son, some people are so narrow minded they can look through a keyhole with both eyes.”__ Forhorn Leghorn