Expect plenty of disappointment... and an endless re-hash of the tired old argument:

Yes, I do understand SP's intentions of running a tight ship given what we have been through but why can't we just show a bit of ambition... blah blah... millions more dosh with the new TV deal... blah blah...

An argument that conveniently forgets the number of available players, the number who offer what we need and the numerous other teams aiming for the same prize.

Fans - face it. We have strayed once from the path of fiscal prudence for our French chap and are likely to stray again this summer... but I suspect not enough. We are not an attractive proposition. We operate out of relatively dilapidated facilities and [wisely or otherwise] do not compete with our competitors for wages.

And as for being in London we are quite a way out from all the action.

Nope, like it or not 3 seasons in and we are still not far off competition with Bournemouth, Watford and the newly promoted teams; Stoke and Swansea are better payers; and any team in Europe - forget it. I know it's hard to endure, but given what we have we do pretty well - don't we?

AP ?

Bit of that obviously, I don't think we are as fit or well drilled as under Pulis. I'm not sure why Ben Garner wasn't good enough for us but good enough for Pulis to want him at West Brom. Pardew showed tactical inflexibility when key players were out and when we needed to dominate possession.

But also there is a serious lack of depth in the squad, I would go as far as to say we have collectively the worst set of 12th to 25th squad players in the league (possibly Jedinak is an exception within that). Our first XI is top 10, the bench and beyond is the problem.

Of course we never went into the relegation zone at any point over the season. Which is an improvement over the last two seasons. I don't know, its frustrating that we were 5th and finished 15th, but it was quite an achievement to be fifth, and had an amazing 12 months (which included a best ever finish in the premier league) and we were runners up in the FA Cup, if we threw in those premiership wins from the cup as league wins, we'd finished a lot higher (and given four of the five were premiership teams)...

But I think Pardew needs a decent start to the season.

"One Nation Under God, has turned into One Nation Under the Influence of One Drug"
[Link]

Townsend keen to stay - says the Times.

Good news for Kaikai. Moses would do great for us too

Johnny will return

I've got a feeling this thread could turn in the next "Eddie Howe " "Ross McCormick" threads and lead to bugger all!

SUPPORTING PALACE SINCE 1986