good post

“That’s a joke son, I say, that’s a joke.” “Nice boy, but he’s sharp as a throw pillow.” “He’s so dumb he thinks a Mexican border pays rent” “ “Son… I say, son, some people are so narrow minded they can look through a keyhole with both eyes.”__ Forhorn Leghorn

Is it just my imagination or are we having a lot more friendlies this year ? (9)
I dont remember us having that many in previous years.

Liverpool took 37 players on tour but a lot of the names in the team that lost 4 - 0 to Manure are unfamiliar. Manure played a first team , which in my view reflects how much they need to improve from last term. Leeds might well follow suit. Palace are in a position to field competitive teams whilst at the same time getting long looks at some exciting prospects. For one of those to come dramatically good is less, probably, from the theatre of dreams than our best team beating Liverpool's just at the moment. These games would be too soon for Doucoure and it makes a lot of sense for him to be working in a small group with key team mates in a significantly revamped midfield. I can only sympathise with fans with a rare game in travelling range finding out that pretty much all the players you'd most want to see are missing. I don't think it follows that there is no chance of an exciting and memorable game.

I don’t disagree with some of the logic on disruption of the team but Palace signed up for this. It is literally a once in a lifetime opportunity for fans down here. These aren’t just preseason friendlies they are exhibition matches and teams are expected to put on a decent show. The MCG match will likely be the largest crowd to ever watch Palace.

Back in the day a club could tell everyone involved, this group of players will be travelling for 2 weeks, flying here, staying here, playing here etc etc & unless you had a really good reason you had to do what you were told -

Its not like that anymore -medical people involved, sports scientists, marketing, players, agents, management +++

The prospect of starting the real Premier League season badly is so unwelcome that some people in the CP Management team will inevitably have to make some decisions that are unpopular to others -

If you go to the palace website there is an interview on getting players to adjust to travelling across 9 time zones & being ready to play during the trip, of course its just a small aspect of the bigger picture but it gives a flavour of some of the insight involved -