Being the sentimentalist that I am I got an emotional thought during the recent QPR game when one of the commentators mentioned the fact that Warnock brought Derry and Hill with him from the Palace. Almost immediately,I wondered what might have been different if Warnock had not abandoned us a year ago after telling us we were the best bunch of fans in British football and that he loved us. At the time he made this affectionate statement I believed he would never leave us but as the age old adage says,"You always hurt the one you love" and sure enough Warnock was soon off to grab the pot of gold at QPR. In order to stay, Warnock would have had to make a series of monumental self-sacrifices which few people would have been prepared to consider so I think I can understand his decision but had I been in Warnock's boots at that point in time and at his age ,I think I would have stayed and said"Let the future take care of its self". I know things were different for Warnock than for myself. I had had a passionate relationship of some 66years with Palace as an ardent fan where as Warnock's relationship was a tenuous connection being just another relatively short term employment opportunity for him.Had he stayed I think the rebuilding of the Club after administration would have been so much easier and I doubt we would now be fighting off a relegation threat. As things have turned out ,my only profound gripe against Warnock relates to his efforts to poach our players which I think he could have refrained from knowing our dire situation but his actions really revealed him to be the man that he is and not the man who supposedly loved us .It was all BS and I fell for it.! I guess we must not dwell on What Might Have Been because most situations evolve and turn out for the best in the end but one often wonders.

I agree what a great post from longtime & also a decent one from ROTEagle. I'm sure most of us did not think that the loss of Derry & Hill would leave the gaping hole that it did.
Down the years we have all seen/experienced huge highs & lows while following Palace and have often dwelled on 'what if'.
We all agree there is only one Palace (no matter what).

I don't think Burley even considered replacing Hill and Derry, judging by his signings.

"One Nation Under God, has turned into One Nation Under the Influence of One Drug"
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