Maybe I'm kidding myself, but I really like the look of the current team in pre-season.

If we keep Wilf, which I believe we will for this season, and if the players stay fit could we surprise everyone with a top six finish?

1990/91 was arguably our most successful season ever, coming third in the old first division and winning the Zenith Data Systems cup. So how does our current squad compare with those days?

Keeper

Clearly the big Cornishman was streets ahead of what we have now.

Defence

The Ninja and Andy Thorn were bed rock solid as are Mama and Tompkins. Humphrey and Shaw were also dependable full backs altho' Van Aanholt is probably a class above any of them

Midfield

Geoff had a great engine, Andy Gray was fiercely competitive, Gareth started out as a right-sided defensive midfielder I think, but we used to largely play long balls into the channels over the top of the mudfielders.

Today we mostly play through the middle and Luka, Meyer, Kouyate/Jimmy Mc and Townsend could be a very creative bunch indeed

Forwards

Wright, Bright and Salako/McGoldrick
could tear any defence apart on their day.

Wilf will surely become Palace's greatest ever player with 20-30 goals this season. While to have the options of Benteke, Sorloth and Wickham as no. 9s if they can stay fit is not at all bad even if they rotate.

Money is too great an influence on the modern game to get us thinking about finishing third as in 90/91, but I think finishing 6-8th would be comparable.

Of course, I could just be deluded and we might end up in another relegation scrap, but living in Southampton, I know their fans are clearly not happy about the team's form or lack of summer business.

So maybe, just maybe, 'Parish's project' will take us to another record season in the Prem with a new stand to look forward to.

After 51 years of supporting Palace through thick and thin, is there a chance that under 'Croydon Boy Roy' we will have our best season yet?

I would love it if we did, but that didn't do Kevin Keegan any good! COYP

55 years on the Palace rollercoaster!

That was a nice post. I agree. I think that 7th should be the height of our aspirations. Although I don’t disagree that this might also be a team of underachievers a la the team of the 80s.

I think your right about Zaha, but Real Madrid, Barcelona would be a bit less painful than Spurs Chelsea etc.

must admit this team is looking good on paper,If Meyer is not a problem child,then selhurst will be rocking with or without HF,
just a little unknown fact or maybe not, when there is a 9 in the year we have a season to remember-1969,1979,1989,1991 and stretching it abit 2016,2+0+1+6=9 fa cup final, so never know what 2019 brings

of course i do, but dont want to remember the bad ones positive thinking and all that,but 69,79,89 was big big seasons and the way it was achieved,and during the 90s we had alot of good cup runs

Such difficult eras to compare. How would Wilf have coped with defenders just coming through the back of him, often two footed? Which of those players would have had the technique and stamina to play today at the highest level?

Wilf, Wright, Martyn, Sakho all have to start (although I'm not sure Martyn could pass). After that, it all gets very hazy for me.

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