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March 29 2024 5.19am

Hypothetical Wilf

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View EverybodyDannsNow's Profile EverybodyDannsNow Flag SE19 21 Dec 22 1.12pm Send a Private Message to EverybodyDannsNow Add EverybodyDannsNow as a friend

Originally posted by TheBigToePunt

Whether it's next month or in the summer Wilf will surely go, and it will be the most significant individual departure since Ian Wright left for Arsenal 30 years ago.

The financial equation is important of course (how many points/league places/millions does Wilf equate to vs the fee we might get), but managing the other implications is equally important.

When Ian Wright went to Arsenal it was much more than a case of 'How do we find a similar replacement, or otherwise adapt the tactics?', which is how many are approaching the loss of Wilf.

Back in 1991, not only did the team lose its best player and top goalscorer, the club lost its heart. That group of players had been on a mission together, to go from being rejects and lower-league pros to being successful top-flight players and internationals. Selling Wright sent a clear message to the rest of the players: Despite everything we've done, we still have our place in the pecking order. All the momentum was lost. Very quickly the other key players saw that they had taken Palace as far as it could ever go, and in turn, been taken as far as Palace could take them. They all quickly moved on to 'bigger' clubs too.

Football is different now. The big boys are unreachable, and if they want a player from a smaller club then the transfer is inevitable. Players, who never stay anywhere for long anyway, are not surprised to see their best teammate leave for a big club. Olise and Eze will have considered Palace a stepping stone from day one, and Zaha moving on will not affect their career planning. When Wilf goes the shockwave will not be the same for Palace as it was when Wright did.

Even so, Wilf is not only (despite slowing down a bit, and the various faults he may have) an utterly irreplaceable player, he is a big personality. He's an emotional guy who isn't shy in telling his teammates if they aren't doing well enough. That's pretty rare these days. Who else will do it? Jimmy Mac is for the knackers yard, Ward doesn't have the same clout.

Every time we struggle to score over the next year or two, every pundit in the land will cite Wilf's absence as the reason. The players will have to live with that perception (that Wilf had been carrying them) as much as with the reality of losing such an effective player and big personality. Are they up to it? Not sure.

I think we will miss the person as much as the player, and miss the person more than we realise.

Great post, completely agree.

Rightly or wrongly, Wilf is the face of Palace to most non-Palace fans and easily the most recognisable thing about our club over the last decade. Every TV commercial or pre-match promo for us is centred around Wilf.

We'll need to build a new identity without him.


 

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View Stirlingsays's Profile Stirlingsays Flag 21 Dec 22 1.14pm Send a Private Message to Stirlingsays Holmesdale Online Elite Member Add Stirlingsays as a friend

Oh for crying out loud!

 


'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

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View thechaddyboy's Profile thechaddyboy Flag Peterborough 21 Dec 22 3.03pm Send a Private Message to thechaddyboy Add thechaddyboy as a friend

I'd sign him on a further 3 years, given his recent form & the average across the years he's worth it. Another 12 months & at least we'd probably get more for him with 2 years left on the contract than we stand to net now. Add to which he'd know he's nigh on a guaranteed start with us, elsewhere & he'll probably be on a bench in a far bigger pond, would that really satisfy him ? doubt it.

 


Red & Blue since 73'

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View Lanzo-Ad's Profile Lanzo-Ad Flag Lanzarote 21 Dec 22 3.28pm Send a Private Message to Lanzo-Ad Add Lanzo-Ad as a friend

Originally posted by thechaddyboy

I'd sign him on a further 3 years, given his recent form & the average across the years he's worth it. Another 12 months & at least we'd probably get more for him with 2 years left on the contract than we stand to net now. Add to which he'd know he's nigh on a guaranteed start with us, elsewhere & he'll probably be on a bench in a far bigger pond, would that really satisfy him ? doubt it.

What if he dosent want to

 


“That’s a joke son, I say, that’s a joke.” “Nice boy, but he’s sharp as a throw pillow.” “He’s so dumb he thinks a Mexican border pays rent” “ “Son… I say, son, some people are so narrow minded they can look through a keyhole with both eyes.”__ Forhorn Leghorn

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View Croydon-Trucker's Profile Croydon-Trucker Flag 21 Dec 22 3.37pm Send a Private Message to Croydon-Trucker Add Croydon-Trucker as a friend

Which is obvious he doesnt want to . He never retracted his transfer request and has reportedly turned down multiple offers to stay .

 

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View Lanzo-Ad's Profile Lanzo-Ad Flag Lanzarote 21 Dec 22 5.19pm Send a Private Message to Lanzo-Ad Add Lanzo-Ad as a friend

Originally posted by Croydon-Trucker

Which is obvious he doesnt want to . He never retracted his transfer request and has reportedly turned down multiple offers to stay .

Spot on, the only thing we dont know is if he goes in Jan, or at the end of the season.

 


“That’s a joke son, I say, that’s a joke.” “Nice boy, but he’s sharp as a throw pillow.” “He’s so dumb he thinks a Mexican border pays rent” “ “Son… I say, son, some people are so narrow minded they can look through a keyhole with both eyes.”__ Forhorn Leghorn

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View crystal-purley's Profile crystal-purley Flag Purley 21 Dec 22 7.25pm Send a Private Message to crystal-purley Add crystal-purley as a friend

I think he will be showing off a new haircut at the start of a new season at Selhurst

 


Enjoying getting up later and not having someone who knows better than me (apart from the missus of course).

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footythoughts Flag Beckenham 21 Dec 22 11.20pm

Originally posted by EverybodyDannsNow

Great post, completely agree.

Rightly or wrongly, Wilf is the face of Palace to most non-Palace fans and easily the most recognisable thing about our club over the last decade. Every TV commercial or pre-match promo for us is centred around Wilf.

We'll need to build a new identity without him.


True.. I'm past even getting involved in these Wilf questions as it's the same year in, year out. Best to adopt a whtever will be will be approach, to someone who's brought a lot to the club but doesn't come without baggage and temperament issues.

Edited by footythoughts (21 Dec 2022 11.20pm)

 

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View Dubai Eagle's Profile Dubai Eagle Flag 22 Dec 22 8.01am Send a Private Message to Dubai Eagle Add Dubai Eagle as a friend

I hope its whilst wearing Palace colours & not just because we are the first away game of the season for his new club

Originally posted by crystal-purley

I think he will be showing off a new haircut at the start of a new season at Selhurst

 

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View dreamwaverider's Profile dreamwaverider Flag London 22 Dec 22 11.18am Send a Private Message to dreamwaverider Add dreamwaverider as a friend

Originally posted by Dubai Eagle

I hope its whilst wearing Palace colours & not just because we are the first away game of the season for his new club

Doubt he will be on the pitch if he is at a new club. On the bench like Gallagher. Wilfs left it too late to go top side. Should have gone a few years back.

 

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View dreamwaverider's Profile dreamwaverider Flag London 22 Dec 22 11.45am Send a Private Message to dreamwaverider Add dreamwaverider as a friend

Mandy at Chelsea 30 same age as Wilf has turned down 6 year contract at £100,000 /year. Must be bonkers.
Wilf should carefully consider his age. And so should our club.

 

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View gazNgiz's Profile gazNgiz Flag 22 Dec 22 11.26pm Send a Private Message to gazNgiz Add gazNgiz as a friend

Yes

(Simples)

 


I'm a little bit backwards

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