I'm impressed by Banks, albeit having only seen him play on the U23 highlights reels on the Palace TV website. Can anyone comment on what kind of player he is generally. I can see that he can score goals as he scored a great one from the edge of the box against Chelsea U23s. Is he similar to Gallagher in any way (which is what I'm really getting at, could he replace him after this season), i.e. can he tackle, is he in any way a box-to-box like Conor?

There seems to be some real quality elsewhere in the U23 side, could also see Rak-Sakyi make an appearance soon, as he's regularly finding the net? Especially if Zaha leaves next summer. Any others that have caught the eye?

Exciting times anyhow!

Edited by anerley_eagle (15 Nov 2021 8.30pm)

Bank's is certainly good on free kicks from around the opposition penalty area. However, having watched most U23 games live via Palace TV he hasn't made his mark in quite the way I hoped he would. There is a good player there and he is still only 20, but with a much stronger senior squad this season, any academy player is really going to have to excel to come in to the reckoning.

I would suggest that with the first team playing the way they are that dropping an academy player in would either bring the best out of them or show them up as unable. If they can't make the grade in with a first XI they may not get further chances at all, but 20 minutes at the end of a game?

It has been said of Connor Gallagher that he will be able to fit right into a Chelsea first XI and that the better players with a better reading / understanding of the game will draw better football from CG.

That could be true of our academy starlets. But the level is greatly different.

So I manage a Workshop which provides a safe learning environment for blokes struggling with PTSD and other mental health issues. Being a Palace fan isn't listed yet.