With Eze coming in and looks like others to follow;

• Fraser
• One of Mateta, Edoard or Watkins
• Kotchap
• Then a couple of loanees

There must be a balancing of the books, need to move a few players on and nudge them out of “the nest”.
So who is going to/might be on their way..??

• Meyer – I like Max as a player, but he’s had chances and never quite nailed it – maybe a little lightweight for the at this point for the Prem – but I fear could come back and bite us.
• Riedewald – Ditto Meyer.
• Sakho – Again I like Sakho, but always concerned there is a mistake just around the corner. Probably now 3rd choice centre half if everyone is fit after Tomkins and Cahill, maybe even 4th if Roy persists with trying Kouyate at centre half. Then you have the potential of Kotchap coming in.
• Dann – has been great for us but sadly think his time might be done but not sure we would get much interest.
• Townsend – Didn’t play a lot last season, I was half expecting him to be a “makeweight” in the Eze deal.
• Schlupp – can’t see it Roy seems to like him – and when fit always performs well, good bench player and gives us cover all down the left and in central midfield.
• Ayew – no double player of the year last season, although think his opportunities maybe a little more limited next season.
• Benteke – again with Benteke I think it’s there, but his confidence seems shot – maybe a move would suit all parties.
• Zaha – the big one..!! I’m becoming less sure about Zaha leaving by the day – at the end of the season it was a definite yes for me, he’s off, was showing no interest and looked for all the world like a player who wanted to be moving on. Now he’s being pictured happily smiling in the new kit, playing and scoring in friendlies. On from that Eze’s comments about our plans, playing with great players etc.. Beyond that no real bids or suitors coming out of the “woodwork”. Time will tell..!!
Just some thoughts, obviously not all of them will go – but will be interesting..!!

On leavers I would like us to “ship out” Hennessey and bring in Butland – it’s just a personal view but think that would be a great move.

COYP

Moving on some of these is going to very difficult.

1. We need to find a club that wants them.
2. Some are on very high wages they wont get elsewhere
3. We might need them because of injuries.

Just looked at premier league injuries website, all of these have no scheduled return date.

Gary Cahill, James Tomkins, Mamadou Sakho, Christian Benteke, Patrick Van Annaholt.

So currently we only have Dann and Kelly fit for CB. That list also includes 2 of our biggest earners.

For me Wickham and Sakho need to move on. Both are injury prone ( rather stating the obvious with CW).

Also, Benteke. He's now gone 3 seasons only scoring a handful of goals. The question is do we wait until we find a replacement before offloading him?

It's a shame that Max hasn't found his niche in the side. I think we all had high hopes of him, but unless Roy can employ him gainfully, and indeed Max can show himself to be worthy of a starting place, then I can't see much future for him.

As for Wilf I think he needs fresh pastures. Unless he is willing to knuckle down and give his all for Palace then I see no point in keeping him.

There are probably one or two others who are borderline cases but it will depend on who else might come in and possibly render them surplus to requirements.

Yes, forgot about Wickham, another definite one to move on...even before any other CF’s come in. He quite simply isn’t good enough, reliable enough or fit enough.

Trabsonspor may be in need of a new striker if the rumours turn out to be true!

Crystal Clear made three very relevant points.....that just seem to have been ignored.

1. We need to find a club that wants them.
2. Some are on very high wages they wont get elsewhere
3. We might need them because of injuries.

Each of these players needs to be judged within that context. When I look at what's realistic it limits what's likely to happen.

• Meyer – I also like Max as a player, good technical players are not legion outside of the top six. He can play in a variety of positions and is on high wages. I don't see him leaving because of that and I think he has a utility part to play for us.
• Riedewald – He's similar to Meyer but more defensive. I think he's a good squad player to have but if I was a promoted side coming up from the championship I would be looking to nap him.
• Sakho – He's on a hundred grand a week and is thirty plus is prone to the odd mistake. Don't get me wrong he's a quality centre half with good distribution but centre half is a strong area for us and selling Sakho now would be the better move in my view.
• Dann – he's a great back up centre half for us and should end his career much as Delaney did.
• Townsend – I'm half way about Townsend. He is a player with selling potential who is a bit hot and cold. I think if we get Fraser it's possible he could be off if a strong bid comes in...but it's more likely he's staying.
• Schlupp – a player valued within the set up....can't see him going anywhere.
• Ayew – going nowhere, I'd be highly surprosed.
• Benteke – just recently signed a new contract. I think he's seen as a back up striker now. He's only be sold if a bid comes in that matches the valuation, which isn't likely....but who knows, maybe if Villa get a bit desperate.
• Zaha – if he doesn't go soon then the nearer we get to transfer end line the more attractive he'll appear to those big clubs anxious that they haven't signed anyone significant. I will be highly surprised if he's still here and playing games for us come the start of the season.
• Sorloth– I think the one thing we can be sure of is he won't be playing in a Palace shirt again.
• Wickham– if he's sold, with his injury history, it'll be for pennies....with his contract going till June 2021 it's more likely he'll be loaned and then released.

Edited by Stirlingsays (28 Aug 2020 11.26pm)

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