We really have an excellent defensive back line and Kelly, despite being much maligned by some has always been impressive.....could definitely be a first team starter in another mid to lower Premiership side.

With also having Dann I think we will see one of our excellent four centre backs leave in January.....I think we could afford to lose Sakho....Who I highly rate but he's on big big money and we have quality already here for his position....as long as Dann's return to fitness is consistent.

Tomkins has been immense and it should be a battle for who partners him.

Edited by Stirlingsays (16 Dec 2018 10.23pm)

I can see Parish taking an opportunity to move away from the £130k per week salaries though. You could see offers for Wilf and Sakho happening.

I really couldn’t disagree with your post more. Which teams would Kelly get into the starting xi currently? Apart from (definitely) Fulham or (maybe) Cardiff I don’t think you’ll be able to back that one up realistically.

I don’t think we’ll see any of our centre backs leave in Jan, why would we? You need 4 centre backs and Riedewald is clearly not trusted in that position.

Also, Sakho is our best centre half and the beginning of many of our best moves. His passing is so underrated, we need to keep him in there.

Apart from that though, great post :0)

Sakho for me is first name on the team sheet for defence and it seems Roy agrees. He's the best modern CB at the club but he isn't the best traditional CB and this is where Tomkins/Dann/Kelly all better him at just being last line able to head it away or kick it down the field.

It's a bit annoying that one of the three doesn't have Sakho's qualities on the ball as then we'd have a more even 2 and 2 for each position rather than 3 competing for 1.

Someone did mention recent comments from Sakho though? If he wants out this is the only way we let him IMO. If he's happy here we should do all we can to keep him but it's always bamboozled me that he wants to be at Selhurst in the first place when I think he is Champions League quality in most other leagues. I could see him beasting Italy or Spain attackers.

With Kelly it's a bit of a shame. I just Googled all the ages thinking that Kelly was around 25 and Tomkins around 32. I was wrong on both counts and all 3 CBs are around prime CB age with Dann being the oldest at 31.

Bit annoying Kelly can't be a bit younger and take over the mantle from an older Defender. I can see him going for first team football and then us not being able to find a good defender for love nor money in a couple of seasons, just like our striker situation now.