We’ve lost 4 first team players in Milivojevic, McArthur, Zaha and our previous 2nd choice keeper Butland. We have 3 pre season injuries one of which is long term (Olise) and the other mostly permanent (Ferguson).

We have rumours circulating that we may lose Guaita, Mateta, Guehi, Doucoure, Andersen , Eze and Olise although it is unlikely that more than one of these will leave, (perhaps three including Guaita and Mateta).

We have brought in Lerma.

This to me is not so much a no spend transfer window but a negative spend window so far. We don’t even have a full squad at present and yet again we are going through a pre season without being able to bed new players in. It’s not an ideal situation and I can understand the total frustration of fans.

We need at least 3, probably 4 players through the door to just be treading water. Can we seriously see this happening given our previous?

Right then Lanzo tell me who we will sign that will see us finishing higher than last season. Zaha has gone Olise will go thats our best 2 players. We are replacing them with crap. This tells you me old son that we may struggle next season.

Do you understand Einstein!!

Great to see that. I find it really interesting. I’m quite proud of us also! Lol

I think something to add though, is that Palace have been roughly around 10th in terms of wage bills in the last 5 years. What that shows is that we are not exactly cheap skates. We pay our players well, and so they stay, hence we don’t sell often and we don’t buy often. We have kept a consistent squad together for a long time. I wonder if that’s how we’ve managed to stay up so long.

A useful comparison is Brighton.
They have just completed their SIXTH signing of the summer.
Not all of them may come off for them, but it shows planning and an extensive scouting network.
They knew they were losing McAllister and potentially Caceido and have planned accordingly (although I note they will extract every possible penny for the sale of Caceido).

In contrast we appear reactive as if unprepared for the loss of Zaha and surprised by the interest in our better players.
Freedman has been working on the Franca deal for months and spent time in Brazil laying the groundwork.
Now it may be the terms of the deal have changed at the last minute, in which case make a decision. Either move on to a new target or settle the deal.

We’ve signed Lerma and had agreed that deal weeks before the end of the season.
Ideally you’d want another couple in already with the squad in pre season.

I share the concerns outlined by Eaglecoops re the squad.
We may well bring in players before the transfer window but the question is will it be a weaker overall squad that has not sufficient time to bed in?
At present in the absence of Zaha and Olise our only genuine threat in the final third is Eze.
If he loses form or is injured we will be a very easy team to contain.
As a minimum we need a decent striker and new wide player.

In my view they have possibly the most extensive scouting network in the league encompassing Ecuador, Argentina. Japan in addition to the European markets.
They have discovered some real gems that are coveted by the elite clubs.

I've been pondering the striker situation. we have three, Ayew, Edouard, and Mateta, all distinctly average in PL terms. Is this because not enough chances are created for them to finish or is is because their conversion percentage is poor? Hodgson has a known manner of setting up his team, and without Zaha or Olise available I don't think we will create that many opportunities.