Its also a risk no proven striker will take, that they'll be sitting on the bench all season, unless you can sufficiently compensate them for doing so (arguably by either paying them far more than they'd get anywhere else - one way or another).

"One Nation Under God, has turned into One Nation Under the Influence of One Drug"
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Most importantly we've sold no one and added 2 decent additions off the back of spending 40 odd million in January so no, I'd actually say we are better prepared this season. this transfer window after the January spending was always going to be frugal, if you want the best out of deals you have to leave it fairly late and with our budget that's what we have had to do. We are Crystal Palace ffs and about to start our 5th season in the premier league.

We have almost a full team of defensive midfielders but only one possible attacking midfielder in Cabaye.
Puncheon can't hold the ball and should be dispensed with (captain or not)
So I think we need in order of importance
1. A holding midfielder (a Fabrigas type)
2. a new striker to complement Benteke

There is no point in passing the ball around to the back and to the side ad-infinitum until we buy someone who has the skill to take the ball forward, giving time for forwards to get into position. There is too much 'one touch' stuff which gets intercepted easily.

Still plenty of time to buy but not enough to blend the newcomers. I forsee some unwelcome results especially at home where we seem to have developed a jinx against lower teams which needs sorting urgently.

Yes, we all have a right to moan. And we all have a responsibility to moan with good reason.

All the while there are no competitive matches, there is no reason to moan.

Start the moaning when our league position is a cause for concern.

Until then give us all a break.

Thank you.

I think we need to be realistic about bringing in cover for Benteke.

We can't spend big money on a striker and then not start them...can't see many top players wanting to bench warm for CPFC

So then you have to look at the next option..cheaper and probably not prolific but someone that at least plays regularly in that position and would look upon Palace as an opportunity.

Waiting for Wickham to get back to where he was pre injury is a huge gamble that I'm sure the club don't want to take, but finding the player I just described, if that is the solution, is not easy.

Old, Ungifted and White

Concur. But wasn't that player Frazier Campbell?

Can he score goals? No. But he would have tried his hardest in between the hypothetical Benteke injury and the return of Wickham.

He ran his knackers of against Liverpool and I believe Tottenham at home last season (could be wrong). He was vital in holding up the ball when Tomkins went off injured at Anfield.

If Benteke gets injured I'd rather play Campbell who knows the position and tell him to just stand there, be a nuisance, feed Wilf, Townsend and Cabaye for the goals over say playing Zaha or Puncheon as a striker etc. Or having faith Ladapo is actually going to try as hard.