I would be concerned if Parish can't find some way of financing the purchase of one or two decent players to strengthen the squad, particularly in mid-field. I always think that if you stand still in the Premier League you are in great danger of actually going backwards.

You need to build on what you achieved the previous season, and one or two fresh faces around the club creating more competition for places is one aspect of that (although perhaps not the Holloway method of bringing in 15 of them).

In one sense teams have to almost re-invent themselves each new season to keep things buzzing and fresh, and to avoid complacency.I suppose you could argue that if Wickham could stay fit (mmm) ,if Sorloth could prove his worth, if Jach turns out to be an able player, and perhaps if the odd youth could graduate, then that would go some way to providing some added options and a new dynamic. Whether that alone would be enough to avoid another struggle is open to question, even if we were to keep Wilf.

It's hardly the sort of comment to make new players queue up to join us either

Our ambitions for this year are simple.

1) Stay in the premier league
2) Enable the start of building for the new stand

We are not going to spend fortunes on players. I agree with a couple of posters on here that by stating we are skint, we are not going to get our pants pulled down quite so much in the transfer market this time around. For me, a quality replacement for Cabaye is a necessity, although that need not necessarily be a "name". If he was of the Milivojevic standard and price then that would suit me just fine. RLC on loan would be a massive bonus, otherwise he too needs to be replaced. Worse case, we need two midfielders, best case, throw in a speedy striker and a winger as well, but I can't see all of those coming off with the financial constraints mentioned.

I also disagree with comments that we are not going to attract the right sort of player. If players cannot see how we have progressed the last 5 years and what we are trying to do by improving the infrastructure of the club, then I don't really want to see them in a Palace shirt anyway.

We can all speculate what is going on behind closed doors at CPFC and some of the criticism is unjust towards Steve Parish. Before you start laughing could Donald Trump has something to do with the American investment in the club.
I can not copy or link the article due to the FT and Twitter copyright regulations
The article in the FT dated February 5th 18 stated “Americans abroad hit by Trump’s new repatriation tax rules. What it is saying is that all Americans who invest and have a controlling percentage of a company aboard and who own 10% or more of that company will have to pay repatriation tax of 15.5% on all profits earned aboroad, this includes individuals and green card holders. This tax is possibly a one off payment to put taxes back into the US by Americans.

South London & Proud
Sometimes I really wonder if family are really worth it.
Because it doesn’t matter how time and affection you give
It’s never enough

You are as always Midlands, contrary in the extreme. If having our longest stay in the premier league is not progress then I fail to see what is.

The "progress" being referred to is within the PL. If we continue our annual flirt with relegation, we'll be relegated. Progress would be to start and finish a season without all the angst for a start, to get to safety earlier, to have a higher points total than the previous season; get the idea?

Bexley Dave

Can you hear the Brighton sing? I can't hear a ******* thing!

"The most arrogant, obnoxious bunch of deluded little sun tanned, loafer wearing mummy's boys I've ever had the misfortune of having to listen to" (Burnley forum)