I think Southampton are a better example - they’ve had the likes of Mane, Lovren, Van Dijk and Clyne come and go over the last few years, making a massive profit on each, and getting at least 12 months of high level performance out of them. They’ve also had the likes of Chambers and Lallana move on from their academy.

If I’m a young domestic/overseas player trying to make it to the PL now, i’d be looking at Saints as an ideal first club to secure playing time and development within the Prem, safe in the knowledge that if you do kick on and generate interest from higher up the table, they are willing to listen to it. We need to position ourselves the same way.

Our player recruitment is piss poor and generally has been for years. I'd still argue we haven't brought in a really decent striker since we won promotion.

Every year it's the same story, I have a heart full of hope when the the transfer window creaks open and then find myself desperately praying for a miracle in the final week of the window. I never learn, it's like constantly going back to an ex who always cheats on you.

Leaving it until the last minute never helps us. Max Meyer's interview today specifically mentions how he struggled after failing to have a pre-season with us, we're forcing our signings to play catch up. It's reflected in our results as well as we're usually in the bottom 3 after 8 games until they learn how to play together.

We seem to leave it until the last minute to try and get a couple of million discount on players, yet how much have we lost in prize money due to this approach?

After a very modest season in terms of signings, we actually desperately need a good window this time. A right back, centre back, winger and striker are all imperatives. Yet what is the betting we leave most of it until the end again, if we do it at all? Happy to be quoted and ritually abused if we do pull our fingers out, will be worth it.

Edited by Canterbury Palace (10 Jul 2019 5.11pm)

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold...

Yes but there is a settling in period, or not, with nearly all the players sign.

COYP

Its odd, because recent signings in the majority have been terrible, he does have an eye for a player. He signed Wardy Yannick Damo and Jedi all were fantastic successes.

it really makes me laugh how morons with f*** all understand of what it takes to do deals/run things behind the scenes in a football club take to the internet to slag people off.

no wonder people call us stripey nigels!

‘Football isn’t instant coffee. You have to work at it. You must grow the bean, grind it.’ Ian Holloway

I watched the "Sunderland till I die" doco on Netflix and it is clear that getting any player over the line is not easy and not just a problem for Palace. I also think identifying undiscovered gems in the lower divisions in both the UK and overseas markets are equally difficult due to the exposure and coverage of the players on the internet ( reference any on Matteo's excellent posts ).
At the moment Chelsea seem to have a monopoly on most of the best of the young talent and everyone else is fighting over the remainder. Hence whey AWB went for 50 million.
The reality is that to stay in the premier league you need a nucleaus of proven pro's and they maybe able to carry a few talented younger players. Get the balance wrong and you won't be in the division.
I guess what i am alluding to is Dougie does not have an easy job.