Good that we kept our best players. Bad that we can’t sign a half decent striker . Even weaker that we spent on a goal keeper and another defender. Our immediate problem is goals so we sign defensive players. I think are strategy is if we can’t afford a striker or else for that matter that shoots at a goal then all we can do is have a strong defence and hope for the best are attack that we do have will one day catch on the idea of football is to score goals which ultimately means taking shots at goal. Do enough to plod along in the premiership as it’s a viable business and they make a steady income from the club. Just boring.

Anybody else watching Sheffield Utd v Everton?
Can’t help thinking we missed a trick not getting Archer.
Quick, aggressive and with a very good shot.
This is not a reaction to one good game.
He impressed in Middlesbrough’s promotion push last year and offers different attributes to our current strikers

He’s got several gears that Sturmey Archer.

I’m not a betting man, but I would bet Everton won’t go down.
A really competitive and experienced midfield in Doucoure, Gueye and Onana, a rejuvenated attack with your favourite Danjuma, the pacy and powerful Beto and the skilful McNeil with Calvert Lewin to come back if he can stay fit.
England’s goalkeeper in Pickford and one of the Premier League’s most reliable centre halves in Tarkowski.
They do have a weakness at full back, but thereagain so do we.

I think the league may be a bit more competitive at lower and middle levels than some anticipate.
We know how Brentford, Fulham and Brighton have improved , and amongst their halter skelter approach Forest and Bournemouth have acquired some quality.
I do see Sheffield Utd, Luton and Burnley struggling but otherwise it looks fairly open.

Good post Mate and the most sensible and balanced review/summary I have read..!!

Some other posts bordering on the hysterical..!!

Look we all know/knew we were operating on a tight and limited budget - so I really don’t get why people were expecting us to spend tens of £Ms - was clearly never going to happen..!!!

This coupled with over inflated prices bought about by the Saudi teams and the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal.

With taken into account I think we’ve done as well in the window as could have reasonably be expected - in fact IMO we’ve had a pretty decent window, because;

Clearly the strategy/aim was to retain all the core of the team and star assets - this has been achieved. A core of players as in Johnstone, Andersen, Guehi, Doucoure, Eze and Olise - all of these walk into any side outside the top 6…!!! If that’s not true why were so many of the top 6 offering tens of £M’s all through the window..??!!

Probably further validated by all 3 English players in that list in the current England squad..!!

On Olise signing him to/on a new contract, with Chelsea desperate to sign him to the point of, if you believe some of the reporting, resulting to underhand and illegal tactics to do so. Was nothing short of remarkable - IMO one of the best deals of the entire window- well done Steve and Dougie..!!

Then Lerma - a few performances have already demonstrated that he is/should be included in the list of star assets mentioned above. Bournemouth paid £25M for him in 2018 and he was their POTS last season - and we got him on a free..!! Given the premium paid for CDM’s in the window - under contract what would he have cost - £40/50/60M - who knows??

Would that have quenched the thirst of/for those so eager for us to spend £M’s - sometimes it’s not about the financial value of the deal - it’s about the opportunity, timing and quality..!! Again probably one of the best deals of the window- and again well done Steve and Dougie..!!

Then IMO - the best and most exciting and best signing from a Palace supporters perspective..!!! From everything I’ve seen and read this boy looks the real deal..!! I simply can’t wait to see him start alongside Eze and Olise - could/should be absolutely awesome and terrifying for the opposition..!!

Henderson - just too good an opportunity/deal to turn down..!! Think someone’s already mentioned that he’s value probably already doubled by simply signing him to a long term contract. Every chance he will end up being Englands number 1. Meantime we have Englands number 3 keeper as our Number 1..!!

Once Henderson is fit/integrated into the squad/team I see him becoming our Number 1 - at which time Johnstone may want to move on, we got him on a free- so any associated fee would be pure profit.!!

Meantime two England keepers in our squad vying to be Number 1 for Palace, no one else in that position - so what’s not to like..!!

Holding - agreed not the most exciting signing- but a big upgrade on Tomkins, who is way past his best. Could be deployed at right back - but IMO Richards deserves a run at right back.

Strikers - yes if we had of signed Ekitike - would have been the icing on the cake for the window. But as for the others we were allegedly linked with so Iheanacho, Adams etc.. Are they really an upgrade on what we currently have - for me the jury would be out…!!

Look everyone is looking out for a reliable/genuine goalscorer - but they are as rare as rocking horse sh@t and twice as expensive…!! So sometimes you’ve got to work with what you have. I believe there are goals in/to come from Edouard and Mateta - especially backed up by Eze, Olise and Franca.

Point in question - see Mateta’s hat trick against Plymouth - forget it was against Plymouth- they were proper finishes..!! Someone mentioned it took AJ 16 games to score for us - scored a hat trick and the rest is history..!! Sometimes all it takes is a spark to light the fire..!!

Before anyone says it I haven’t forgotten that Zaha has left - IMO becoming a side show and distraction. He was always going to leave and relieved all the hype and speculation gone..!! Arguably past his best anyway.

So the acid test of any transfer window is have you come out stronger the other side..?? Given the above my answer is a resounding yes - despite as I said difficult market circumstances..!!

Them is my thoughts..!!

COYP

10th

“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