Yeah I've seen Bundesliga players dropping like flies due to lack of fitness. A lot of players in England are refusing to/apprehensive about playing again. 3 Charlton players including Lyle Taylor (rumoured by some to be a Palace target as he's out of contract in the summer) have said they don't want to play again this season due to fitness and covid issues. Troy Deeny an example at Watford. Very possible there could be some players like that at Palace.

Milkshakes Against Fascism

Is it right that only Scott Dann has his contract ending on 30th June (of the senior / regular players)?

Any thoughts on whether he will get an extension?

I'd say it should be beneficial for our aging squad.

Bringing on half a new team every game should really up the intensity.

But Roy won't make subs.

In theory we can still go down so for the first game against Bournemouth I would put out Roy's normal team bar any injuries and I expect him to do that.

If we were to beat Bournemouth then I would hope Roy would start introducing youngsters in some of the other games.

One more point

I have a Palace mate who regularly bets against us if he fancies the odds. I could never do that I don't even like betting on us in case I jinx it.

One day a Spurs mate spotted a deal in the bookies Andy Johnson to score first goal Palace to beat Birmingham 1-0 the odds were 100/1.

He practically had to force me to put £1 on (my normal bet would be £10). Well I won but I still hate betting on Palace.

One more point

I was watching the German league yesterday, the standard has definitely dipped.

Fitness is not there, but what really got me.... the fans, the passion, the energy.. playing in an empty stadium definitely has a negative effect.

You have that adrenaline rush when a crowd is sporting you, or on your back... you are on tenterhooks, screaming fans, man on, behind ya, pass it, shoot - now I am not saying the fans direct the play, but they help keep players focused - I could give so many examples but you get my point.

It's literally a twilight zone where it's glorified friendlies that have far more profound results.

Whatever you may say, the rest of the season to me, doesn't count as it's not in the same 'environment' as before. You go down, it's tough luck. You win a trophy... may have not usually... now, Liverpool and Norwich look to be the only the constants, but say if palace went down, you could easily argue it's because of the break and new conditions, however, it's sour grapes as we are all in this new environment.

It's like, as an another example - we could start the season behind closed doors and have a terrible time... once fans are let back in it could drastically alter the results.. so again, not the usual playing field.

This was once a quality forum....