I don't think anybody is suggesting we skint ourselves but let's take the right back position as an example... We have needed a new right back for I'd say the last 3 seasons... Ward and Clyne are not good enough at this level... And we'll never know if Ferguson will be as he's finished.

The fact we are offering the 3 right backs new contracts would suggest we are, yet again going to try and get through another season doing things on the cheap.

Buying a new right back isn't spending money for the sake of it. It's addressing an ongoing problem in our team.

Could they be thinking one or two of our young full backs may be coming into the picture? I don’t think the club have no ambition, just no money, bit similar to the situation most of us find ourselves in.
These players have limitations, quiet honestly all of our players ,even the more talented have, if put up against the very best, but if you consider the Premier league is clearly split evenly in two then Palace do well, in fact last season top of the lower half, and most seasons in the top four of the lower half. These players might not be good enough for top half but they have been good enough to keep us in the race.
The club ,the support all have ambition for getting closer to the mega wealthy, it’s an ambition shared by many other clubs, it’s ruined many other clubs, and we know how that feels. Parish might not be able to move us forward other than very slowly, but he has moved us forward. It is precarious, look at Leicester? But Parish, makes these decisions , knowing more than any of us exactly what’s at stake.
Someone will say what about, Brighton, Brentford, Fulham.? Brighton have been well financed, but have done a terrific job anyway, still only one goal gave them the majority points over us. Brentford needed a last minute goal twice just to draw . And Fulham made strides under a very good manager, yes they spanked us when something had gone very wrong for Viera, and we played them with nine men, but the result at Craven cottage was fair comparison of the two sides. We are not far off it at all , and Parish, deserves to be trusted to get it right.

For the money Palace has we have done very well since Parish turned up.

We have nothing to complain about as far as I'm concerned and indeed, I think we have had quite our share of luck compared to some.

The 'get your chequebook out' is a very common cry from the fanbase but unless you're in the top six you're competing on the step below for players....just as the Championship do against us. Unless a player is an improvement on what you have it's spending money for the sake of it.

Which smaller clubs have broken the usual club monopoly without a huge investor like Man City?

As it is realistically we play a league within a league.

Edited by Stirlingsays (16 Jun 2023 5.31pm)

Furguson, is a bit baffling , the older three not so much, for a start we don’t know what actual terms they are on, but beyond that it is important to try and keep some solid Palace character about the dressing room, training ground, and these three do that, amongst the increasing stream of new faces in the club, whilst still being able to do a stint when needed.
I would still like to see another defender ,capable of playing wide left side brought in ,maybe Dougie, would as well, there is plenty of time in this window.