It was definitely easier to hear the fans calling the players and the ref a c*nt

Everton last night looked even more toothless than us. Dyche always played 442 at Burnley and now he doesn't even have one fit striker that fits his style of play. Tarkowski was a lucky boy as he misplaced at least three passes in very dangerous positions. Their midfield looks full of fight, but I struggle to see where their goals are going to come from until DCL is fit (if ever).

It's going to be interesting to see who Saints and Leeds manage to sign as neither seemingly had someone lined up. Apparently Marsch is the favourite for the Saints job which is interesting, seeing as he couldn't get an arguably better squad to perform. Meanwhile Leeds are seemingly running out of options with Gerrard now one of the favourites. Again, someone who couldn't get a tune out of an arguably better squad. I find it baffling that at this stage of the season you would sack your manager without someone lined up (I understand Southampton's predicament a bit more as Jones was off his trolley).

Only the real fans left, easier to park, less queues, always a silver lining

Opta has us with a 1.7% chance of finishing in 18th, and even lower odds for 19th or 20th: [Link]

Data analytics seem to have us nailed on for finishing where we nearly always finish: 11-15th. I'm not a maths man, but it does seem like there's limited likelihood we'll drop.

The results highlighted were from the mid/late 70s.
I reach the ripe age of 71 this year and have supported the club since the 60s in all weathers often soaked to the skin as one was exposed to the elements.
The linings of my attire were not silver but sodden.
I was subjected to some grim experiences in the lower divisions.

I certainly do not have any desire to return to the days when their were less than 10,000 at Selhurst Park.

Edited by Willo (14 Feb 2023 9.40am)

I'd be very surprised if we went down this year. The 'games-played' figure keeps ticking away without the league position changing much. That's partly down to us, and partly down to others. We are playing poorly but picking up points along the way. One or two of the teams beneath us are getting their act together, but one or two are a mess, and not capable of the points-per-game ratio required to overtake us.

In the end, at some point or another, we will of course go down. We are not gravity-proof, and I don't understand the mindset that we should be 'kicking on' having 'established ourselves' in this league. We have a much bigger budget than most championship clubs but have never been, and never will be, big fish in the premier league pond.

Our income from the stadium is obviously fixed at a relatively low level in comparison to most of the clubs we compete with. Even the new stand will only bring us closer to our immediate financial rivals, rather than overtaking anyone.

In terms of prize money, the higher up the table we finish the more money we get, but that just means that every year at least half (usually two-thirds) of the clubs we compete with get more than us to spend next time-around. Basic maths tells you that it gets harder every year.

The financial figures are published openly. The FFP rules are complex but the gist is clear. I sometimes wonder if anyone even reads that stuff when I see so many comments moaning about 'investment' and the clubs being tight-fisted etc.

We are absolutely at the glass ceiling as a club. The academy and new stand are all about trying to find ways to stay where we are, but nobody can swim upstream forever.

When we do one day bite the bullet and go down, we should be a far, far healthier club than we were before, and far more likely to exist for future generations. Nobody running the club is incompetent, greedy, or lazy. Anyone with any knowledge of the club's history and the financial context knows that this is, unarguably, Palace at its very best. That is never going to be enough to consistently occupy the next level (European football). There are just too many bigger fish.

Relegation is an inevitable part of the life of every football club bar a very select few. A properly run club is one that can accommodate that reality, and it seems to me that ours can.

Edited by TheBigToePunt (14 Feb 2023 12.37pm)

Excellent post.

I will always support the 'dreaming for more' and lofty aspirations fans may have, plus defend the right to moan about footballing matters, however I agree with sentiments if not facts posted here.

I think it fair to say that yes, as things stand, I will always want more for us however will pursue this dream through a footballing lens. Reality is however I quite genuinely did not expect, and struggled to imagine/envisage, that we would be a decade+ PL side at any point in the preceding decades. We of course at times looked as though we may not be a club at all.

The way things are going currently the best hope is for an Oligarch, Emirate, lunatic billionaire or similar to take over. Beyond that only so much is possible and even then unlikely to be sustainable.

Now Zaha's got a bit of green grass ahead of him here... and finds Ambrose... not a bad effort!!!!