It might not get depleted as much as many think it will be!
I suspect some of our 'Dad's Army' will be donning the shirt next season.

Edited by Willo (24 Feb 2021 11.27am)

Whilst I largely agree that a replacement should be found for Roy for next season, it is interesting to note how some of those managers/coaches that we enviously looked at don't seem quite so bright and shiny at the moment.

Hasenhuttls Southampton are in dire form and Santo's Wolves aren't the power they were last year. Last season we looked at a rampant Sheff Utd. and many of us envied them having an adventurous manager like Chris Wilder. Meanwhile Dyche's Burnley are still below us the table. I'm sure you can think of others whom in the last couple of years were touted as potential Roy replacements but who don't appear to be such great prospects any more.

The grass isn't always greener on the other side.

Good points.

I'd suggest the success of managerial appointment is not always made on paper however.

A lot needs to be considered and nothing is ever guaranteed in football, all the managers you have mentioned have had good spells but as you've pointed out not so much of late. Alternately you could suggest WHU should of kept hold of Moyes first time or maybe Manure should never of let him go? Look at Klopp this season - he seemed untouchable last few years.

Whatever we do manager-wise next season a decision must be made in correlation with whatever plans there are for the squad which is probably the more urgent need to address.

Many want to make criticism of managers a personal thing on both the 'for' and 'against' side but that is a distraction. Sometimes things work out, sometimes they don't and as you've rightly highlighted, sometimes things work out for a period but can soon go downhill fast.

My stance on Roy, I would like to think, has always been relevant to what I see in our performances. I was comfortable with him as manager for a long period but of late, including this season, I have questioned whether he's been the right man to have at the helm - which I thought he was not, just my opinion (despite us actually churning out the points). Ironically, the pendulum can swing both ways and he may well again prove he is the right man. This final run in to the end of the season will certainly be interesting and should tell us more albeit that's limited with questions over the squad.

Now Zaha's got a bit of green grass ahead of him here... and finds Ambrose... not a bad effort!!!!

“I hope for the next two years to try and learn, to get my degree, and then hopefully work in a football club.”

expect Roy to receive two further 1-year contract extensions

Like your post Nicholas; just want to focus on the highlighted part.

Assuming Hodgson will see out the season, the remainder of it would seem to fall into two parts:

Firstly, the next four games before the 3 week break. For these, Hodgson's options seem pretty limited given our injury situation and we can expect a cautious defensive set up not dissimilar to what we saw against Brighton. 4 or 6 points from the Fulham and Baggies games would see us in a comfortable position for the final 9 game run-in that starts at the beginning of April. Any points gained against Man U and Spurs would be a bonus.

Assuming we get at least 4 points from our next 4 games, then come April and the second part, it will be interesting to see how Hodgson sets us up for those last 9 games. He is clearly aware of the flak he's been getting in recent weeks and may be a little bit tetchy about it. Will he try anything new? If he sees this as his last season he might just adopt a different approach just to show he can. He took the shackles off for that end of season Bournemouth game, so he can do it when he wants.

I’m pleased to see the beginnings of a groundswell of opinion amongst journalists and an increase in reporting of the need for Palace to rejuvenate its ageing squad. Hopefully, this has been partially initiated by the club themselves to show fans they are aware of the issues.

My bug bear the last 2 or 3 seasons has been the lack of signings or at least a drip feed of signings and when we have signed someone it’s been a senior player such as Tomkins, Kouyate and Cahill.

It would appear the message has got through and It is excellent news that they are seriously looking at the young centre half. This season has seen the start of a change in plan. We have Eze and Butland, hopefully Mateta will grow into a decent player and Ferguson will get fit and fulfill his promise, however I still think we are maybe 4 players short of where we want to be plus whatever happens with Wilf. The big question is have we got enough money to fill these gaps or have we left it a bit late and will have to continue to rely on the old hands.

We desperately need two youngish quality midfielders with legs and the ability to pass. I’d take Gallagher and Tufan.