It just proves how difficult it is to find a proven goalscorer in a difficult league. Spending loads of money isn't guaranteed e.g Benteke.

This constant moaning about SP since we've been in the Premier League has to be exhausting surely?! Every window apart from last years, i'm sure we have been pleased with our transfers and this years no exception.

Ayew was a shrewd transfer on loan with a view to permanent in Jan. Scored goals in the Prem in the past and a backup/replacement for Benteke.
Kouyate - another proven Prem player.
Meyer - Signing of the summer for a team like Palace. Just needs more game time and could be creative spark we need.
Guiata - Replacement for Hennessey, another good signing.

How can there be complaints, where else could we have improved?..

Edited by A89M (17 Oct 2018 2.04pm)

Shrewd or stroke of luck?

Ayew was supposed to be a purchase funded by the sale of Jaïro Riedewald whom we allegedly paid £8m for

The purchase of Ayew broke down as Riedewald refused to sign for Swansea so we just loaned Ayew as we couldn't afford to buy him outright

As I said, the answer to your question is up front.

Scoring goals and not conceding goals is important in this game.

Ayew did indeed score goals in the past, operating in completely different systems. Did you notice how Ayew hasnt even really had a decent effort on goal in multiple games in the league? Shrewd? He is not really a Benteke replacement, he is a totally different player?

You forgot to list Alex Sorloth, who wasn't good enough in the Dutch top flight. He is the supposed Benteke replacement, but lo and behold when Benteke goes down, we play Ayew. Shows you what the manager thinks about Sorloth.

Meanwhile we let Glenn Murray just walk away. Slightly galling isnt it?

Even Bakary Sako would be started now, but he walked also.

Our options up front are poor. Hence the lack of goals. Now I read Zaha is injured, we may aswell play PVA up front. The fact that this is a serious suggestion tells you exactly how we could have improved - signing a proper centre forward who can operate in our system. Maybe Parish is banking on Wickham. Given the last 2 years that is a pretty risky gamble.

Trump lost. Badly. Hahahahahahaha.

Of course it's important it's also the most difficult, how many clubs below the top 6 have a prolific goalscorer? They may have better than us but that's not really saying a lot.
My point is unless you're buying Premier League proven goalscorers who cost fortunes, it's a gamble on whoever you buy from outside the league. Ayew was a worthwhile gamble because he's at least scored and played in the Prem for a couple of years. In terms of replacement, we proved last season we could play good football without Benteke with smaller attackers up top so as I said back up/replacement. At the time it was a good signing.

Sorloth was apart of last years window which I agreed in my last post was not a great season for transfers apart from Sakho, who again at the time, was a great signing considering what he did for us under Allardyce.

Our Goalkeeper has his confidence back seemingly because of the push Guaita has given him. Our back line is fairly solid, midfield as well (defensively). All we're lacking in is creativity and hopefully Meyer is that player once he gets regular game time - this is not SP's fault.
All is not quite as bad as it seems.

Edited by A89M (17 Oct 2018 5.25pm)

Forget about the signings, just look at the players that are gone from last year's team: Cabaye, RLC, Sako.

Cabaye and RLC would be starting every game this year, and Sako would be starting most.

People were talking like Cabaye was crap and easily replaceable, but he has been our biggest loss in my opinion.

When Sako was healthy, which wasn't often, he was always a threat to score. We let him go in favor of Ayew? Sorloth?

When we have average Premier league quality players, we think they aren't good enough, then we let them walk and replace them with new players who are championship caliber at best.

I don't get it. Without Zaha, we are Cardiff.

2017 Feb. (Van Aanholt) Palace 1 - 0 Middlesboro
2018 Jan. (Sako) Palace 1 - 0 Burnley
2019 May (Batshuayi, Batshuayi, OG, Van Aanholt, Townsend) Palace 5 - 3 Bournemouth
2020 Feb. (Van Aanholt) Palace 1 - 0 Newcastle

I fully appreciate Cabaye's contribution for us but towards the end he was really in the twilight of his career and wasn't lasting the 90 mins and when one takes into consideration all the factors, including his wages, one can understand his departure.

Apropos Sako, he was available on a 'Free' in pre-season but I don't recall any great clamour for his services.After a trial he has recently signed for WBA but I don't think he has actually played for them.

With regard to Ayew, he hasn't been a prolific scorer in the PL but he did score 11 goals for Swansea last season, a team that got relegated, so one can understand why he was signed on a Loan deal.He is a totally different player to Benteke so we cannot play the same way with him up top.

RLC's departure was out of our control but should he be available on loan in January I suspect we might well make moves to try and lure him back.