We've bought far worse, even for quite large fees for us. The funniest I can remember is Gareth Taylor. I thought Soares and Borrowdale were ok for the time.

Red and Blue Army!

Our academy is very good but we need to be sober. The fact is that very, very few players in the PL come up through a club's own academy. Banks, Rak Sakyi, Adaramola and others all look like real prospects at 18/19 but the chances even one will graduate into being a PL regular are fairly small and more than one, vanishingly small. There are so many variables, not least that the final stage of physical development can't be predicted or guaranteed. Of course, it's brilliant that we have a great academy and it does increase our chances of finding and attracting the best, but I'm not sure such a thing as a "talent factory" exists. Judgment comes into it, but so does luck.

All I'm saying is that we should temper our expectations. The academy is a real plus and thus far, it's arguably Parish's greatest contribution to the club as an owner. But it's far from a guarantee of future success.

Sydenham by birth. Selhurst by the Grace of God.

Both good players for us Soares and England U23 went for a decent fee when we were in financial trouble £2.5 M rings a bell

Borowdale went for about £650,000 after making over 100 appearances .

Both saw their carears nosedive but thats hardly reflective of where they were while at the Palace .

And we still need a striker