You've got to be a troll because the reasons this is an unbelievably dim-witted post are about ten miles long starting with the fact that most contributors to this thread also contribute to hundreds of other threads too so they are hardly and picking on Gayle as the only thing worth talking about and secondly because -- (you seem unaware of this so let me allow you into a really big secret )-- this is the Internet and it actually exists as a forum for people to air their opinions about subjects like Gayle.

Like I said, troll.

Sydenham by birth. Selhurst by the Grace of God.

As if anyone had any doubts as to where I stand, I'll go on record with you guys, he won't be sold in the closed season either.

One thing that's interesting is just how divisive Gayle is in terms of opinions. We have a few players whose popularity is somewhat "mixed" but with most of them -- KG for example -- many of us can see both sides of the coin. But where Gayle is concerned, most of us are firmly in one camp or the other (he'll develop or no, he won't). Not much point repeating what I've already said about my own view though I admire the faith of the pro-Gayle camp because there is certainly no real physical evidence to support the belief that he will become a Premiership striker at this point in time. Anyway, the summer will be revealing; I am genuinely fascinated to see whether we stick or twist.

Sydenham by birth. Selhurst by the Grace of God.

And on 20k per week, how long do you continue to hold out for a players potential?

If he was a local lad thru the youth team on 5k pw then great, keep him at the club as back up and to provide a but of pace off the bench.

But given we have already paid 4.5m last Summer, and 1.5m this jan (got this on v good authority), plus approximately 1m in wages, it really does look like a shocking bit of business.p

"How can I remember to keep it all together when half the moon is taken away?"

I truly believe he'll come good. Based on Parish's interview, it certainly seems like Gayle has potentially a significant role next season. Look at how quickly Pulis shipped out players that he didn't fancy for one reason or another: Kebe, Garvan, Hunt, Phillips, Campana, not to mention the ones that can't even get on the bench.

I think it's safe to say that TP sees something very special in Gayle. And that's good enough for me.

Leaving Gayle aside, I think the players you ship out is as much a matter of what offers you have and whether you think they're worth accepting as it is what you'd actually like to do in a more abstract sense. If there is a lot of interest in Gayle or any other player and that interest is expressed in, let's say, "generous" bids, then it makes it more likely that player will be sold even if that is not the initial plan or intention. I would imagine we do have maybe two or three "not for sale at (almost) any cost" players (Jedinak, Ward, and Dann would likely be on this list) but I seriously doubt Gayle is on it. Furthermore, managers see players in the context of what the money their sale raises could be used for. TP may like Gayle but if he is offered a sum that he could re-invest in another player he likes more (and who is more Premiership-proven) then you tell me what he will probably do? My only point here is that there are moving parts in the equation that none of us really understand but imaging a player could have a potentially significant role next season really doesn't mean much in the scheme of things when next season is three month's away. I would say the only certainty is that next season's team may look more different from this season's side than many of us think.

Sydenham by birth. Selhurst by the Grace of God.