We absolutely, 100% certainly cannot go through a premier league season without being able to field two reliable, top flight centre backs in nearly every game.

Whilst big teams have four first team centre backs (plus utility men) for two positions to allow rotation and increase the pressure on each to perform, we retain four first team centre backs (plus utility men) because it is almost unheard of for more than two of them to be fully fit at the same time.

Selling Dann would only make sense if we felt confident that the other players in that position would be fit for 75-80% of the games, and they won't be.

Unless that changes, we should continue with the current, successful policy of eeking a seasons worth of appearances out of the four of them.

Edited by TheBigToePunt (30 Sep 2020 2.54pm)

Personally I think Kouyate is a better midfielder than defender, and (perhaps more to the point) a better midfielder than the other players we have there.

There's not much in it between Kouyate, Luka, McCarthy (who has looked a steal this season having got a decent pre-season under his belt) and the evergreen McArthur, but for me Kouyate edges it as he gets around the pitch quicker, including from box to box.

If we sell Dann (or any other centre back) and play Kouyate at the back then we reduce the pool of first team centre midfielders down from four to three, which is a stretch too far.

We have four veteran centre halves and four senior centre midfielders. Leave well enough alone I reckon unless we sign a first team quality replacement, or a young player proves they are up to the task week in week out. Maybe Ferguson will, or Kirby, or Riedewald, but so far nobody has.

I have to disagree only in that I think he's better in defense than in the midfield. And that's where we need him right now so I'm happy he's there.

Success will lie to you but failure always tells you the truth.

Some good points on here.

I've always liked Dann. Hard as nails. There was a story about him equalising for Blackburn in the 71st minute (?) and realising only after 90 minutes that he had ruptured a testicle when he scored.

Back to the transfer, and Sky Pod Cast (what do they know) suggests that Scott Parker is also looking Foythe of Tottenham and Craig "GBH" Dawson at Watford among others.

If Fulham are looking for a a lot of bite, despite our views of him, I would want Dawson. He has been playing regularly compared to Dann and I think he gives a battling relegation side something more than Foythe can. He'd also been keen to get back to the PL.

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.

When considering this kind of transfer offer we should keep in mind that we have loads of players in the final year of their contracts, at least according to this:

[Link]

I believe we have the option to extend one or two of these contracts for one more year (Guaita for instance), and so I shouldn't think we'd lose all 18(!) final-year players come seasons-end. Even so, there could be very big changes at Palace next summer, not all of which can be predicted in advance. For me that means we absolutely must keep Dann now.

Firstly he will help to see us through this season. He's still a good solid player for us.

Secondly, whilst Palace are surely looking for players to ultimately take over from Dann, Cahill and Sakho, there's no guarantee the likes of Bella-Kotchap (or whoever else we are looking at) will sign, be good enough straight away, or even be good enough ever.

If by Xmas we are getting nowhere with defensive transfer targets, or we have signed a couple of exciting young prospects who won't be ready to be first choice for a year or two, we should give new one or two year contracts to one, two or all three of Dann, Cahill and Sakho, depending on how they have performed.

If, on the other hand, we have agreed terms with new, premier league proven centre backs then we can look at releasing one, two or three of the old guard.

Either way, don't release what we have until we have the replacements secured.

Edited by TheBigToePunt (01 Oct 2020 1.44pm)