Closer to home Cabaye was not exactly a giant, but I think he managed to leave his mark in many ways.

Edited by trapperjohn (30 Aug 2020 1.04pm)

I got vision, and the rest of the world wears bifocals.

I've never really understood the point of a transfer request. Can anyone explain exactly how it helps force through a transfer? I mean presumably you'd have already told the manager and chairman that you want to leave so what does submitting it formally as a letter achieve?

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold...

In this day and age a transfer request does very little. It used to mean the player wasn’t entitled to a loyalty bonus. A loyalty bonus was something a player would be entitled to if they were sold within the agreed contract period.

Now imagine smaller fees from yesteryear and you can see how a transfer request made it more attractive for the selling club...but fees are big these days and the difference is much smaller.

That’s my understanding at least. It would be fair to say individual clubs will have different contract setups.

Also just to add to the topic, I said early on his height could be a problem. I don’t think it means he can’t achieve being a prem quality player by any means. Just that if there was an obvious area for consideration it may be his physical presence.

How you can compare a league one centre mid who’s 5ft 8” to world class strikers of the same height...well I’m baffled by it.

I would also urge caution when you bring yellow cards into the debate. They are not a good side of anyone’s game...quite the opposite in the prem where we could be up against world class free kick takers each week.

They are only £2m apart, so to me it does look like a deal will be done over the next ...I was going to say days but we know how long it takes Palace to do these things! My impression is that Palace are trying to strengthen their under 23 squad, where I think he would be a great addition? Obviously he would then in due course progress to the first team, possibly next season when Gallagher returns to Chelsea?

My Mrs is only 5’6 but she’s great with balls

"It feels much better than it ever did, much more sensitive." John Wayne Bobbit