Christmas period always throws up a couple of unlikely results where you think where the feck did that come from .

We haven't had one of those for a while so am going 4-1 win for the Eagles !

I predict the ref/var or both will screw us over!

2-1 Palace win. Chelsea ain't much.

Yes, we haven't signed him yet.

Red and Blue Army!

Especially so, should Luton win at Sheffield U and we lose at Chelsea then the points difference will only be three points! Who says we are safe now?

It will be a tough game but every game is in the PL With our resources we cannot expect to roll teams over and those teams that have the resources still often fail to do so.

So predicting this or any other game is more like a lottery than a science. The way Roy sets us up levels the playing field enough to give us a chance in every game. It also probably gives those at the same level a better chance than if we adopted a more possession based game, although when we tried a couple of times this season we got found out.

We have a thin squad and injuries to key players hurt us. This is obvious but with our financial resources unable to just buy ourselves into a different situation it’s one that we have to accept. We are an established lower half team who inevitably at some point each season look relegation possibilities but have repeatedly avoided it. That takes some skill, whilst not providing routine exciting football. We must eventually fail, or have an injection of megabucks. If we fail we will though be in a strong place to resume our place.

Right now we are in an interesting place. We have recruited younger and talented players who will gradually be sold to finance the building of the new stand, allowing others we find, or develop ourselves from the investment in the academy, to replace them.

All the moaning about Roy and Steve tends to overlook that we aren’t Arsenal, Tottenham or Chelsea. We are Palace. The 3rd Division South team I watched from a muddy bank 65 years ago who have come comparatively much further than those bigger teams in those years. If we continue on the same trajectory we will be Champions League winners in another 65! I won’t see it but I have seen this rise. It’s been a great journey.

We will win at Chelsea. I expect us to win every game. That’s why I watch.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.