Since, to the best of my knowledge, Tony Pulis doesn't post on HOL couldn't you say exactly the same thing about every, single thread here? The board exists so we can post opinions about things over which we have no control. If you think that's a pointless exercise it rather begs the question of why on earth you are involved?

Sydenham by birth. Selhurst by the Grace of God.

Got a feeling from the odd comments Pulis has made regarding Gayle, that he likes the fella. Just too inexperienced to start games in a cut throat relegation battle.

Can see him trying to mould Gayle into Jerome's role, with the added bonus of goals.

'Better stop dreaming of the quiet life 'cos it's the one we'll never know'

Out of fairness I feel obliged to correct you on his price, as I have for the ones who overestimate it It is £4.25m

Gayle definitely has an eye for goal which is something the very best strikers have and not something you can easily teach. Physically I don't think he is quite up to speed with the Premiership yet but after a decent pre-season with a strength coach there is nothing to say he won't bulk up ready for next season.

Wilf was very lightweight in his first season (No wonder due to him being so young) but he was obviously put on a weight and strength plan for the pre-season and came back twice the player as he could hold his own.

I have every faith in Gayle stepping up and scoring lots of goals for us but he does need to play in the right system and he does need to bulk up too. If both of those things happen then we could well end up laughing at how much we actually paid for him. Whatever the outcome, he is a decent footballer and those that don't rate him at all, well.

"They got his own song 'He's just too good for you', it's quite unbelievable but when you see it and he's facing up someone - I actually feel sorry for them, 'Cos he actually is" - Ian Holloway

No, but Gayle has in every league he has played in so far which is why he currently is. We shall see next season.

"They got his own song 'He's just too good for you', it's quite unbelievable but when you see it and he's facing up someone - I actually feel sorry for them, 'Cos he actually is" - Ian Holloway

In the end, the speculation is pointless because there are so many variables none of us can predict. Gayle may be here next season or he may not. I suspect that we have three or four players who are flat out "not for sale at any price" (and Gayle is assuredly not one of them) and the rest could be had for the right fee. Bottom line is that if Pulis wants to expand the size of whatever transfer kitty Parrish gives him and he gets an offer for Gayle that he thinks is reasonable, he will sell. But in the meantime, it makes sense to talk up all our players a). to make them feel valued, and b). to ensure we get the best possible price if there are interested buyers out there.

My guess is that there a fair number of Championship clubs who've seen the damage Gayle did at that level in the past and who are thinking "given how it's worked out in the Premiership, we might be able to get him out of Palace for a price and he could do a job for us in a promotion run." To, say, a Leeds or a Nottingham Forest (random examples), he would represent a far more attractive asset than he would to us, particularly now that we are genuinely aspiring to be a mid-table Premiership team. And if we want someone like Wickham (another random example) and we can raise a few million of his fee by selling Gayle, therefore leaving a chunk of our budget over for a left back (or whatever) then keeping Gayle would make no sense.

I think we're saying the right things. I have read nothing to change my initial view which is that I'd be shocked if Gayle was still with us when the August transfer window closes.

Sydenham by birth. Selhurst by the Grace of God.