I saw a comment somewhere on here from a fan suggesting it was a good thing that the Watford game was going to be postponed this weekend, because he thought we were knackered against the Saints on Wednesday night!!! Unbelievable!!! We have only played probably two or three mid-week games since the start of the season and over half our squad have remained behind when the three international breaks have occurred so far. The modern players are meant to be fitter than ever! their diets and nutrition are immaculate and have enough medical staff monitoring them daily. We got knocked out of the EFL Cup early doors, and are not in Europe. We also now play a 38 game season as opposed to the old 42 game seasons before 1995, plus FA Cup replays do not go on for ever until there is a result!! Most players either train for several hours during the week or play a match. Most of them would prefer to play. I'm sorry but it does not wash!!!

Agreed but they are also up against teams that are equally full of fit players, the big difference is that we don't have the same in depth quality that other (not all) teams have meaning that we PROBABlY have more players that are putting in more pitch yards than other teams. Twas ever thus.

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

Exactly that. One day extra at this busy time of year would make a big difference... especially as we named an almost unchanged side.

My son did sports science at Bath (a top Uni for that sort of thing) he said as we were walking to the game that he thought the Palace players would be 'running through treacle' and Southampton's extra day of recovery time would be a definite advantage.

I've been watching Palace since the 1960s and the game has changed out of all recognition since then in terms of the intensity of effort.

I also asked him about Zaha's loss of pace, his comments on that did not make for great hearing but belong on a different thread.

Probably the unexpected break will be helpful to the players, not so much for their fitness - as others have said, their regime is the best it can be for that - but to have time to get over all the little bruises and niggly strains that come with one game on top of another.

There's been a fair few of them taking, not just boots to the leg or ankle, but elbows to ribs and jaws, impact with the ground and so on, which must eventually build up over several games, even with all the modern healing treatments.

I still hate Saturday's with no footie though

A stairway to Heaven and a Highway to Hell give some indication of expected traffic numbers

They could end up having a longer break than us. If indeed any games are played on Boxing Day