As things stand,I for one am certainly not complacent at all.

As your rightly asserted we have problems in scoring and unless sufficient funds are made available in January, which might be through the sale of Zaha, we could well find ourselves plummeting down the table and in danger of the dreaded drop.

I have been accused on HOL over the years of being negative about our prospects and many have clearly viewed me as a glumbucket and doomster in this respect and maybe I will attract similar sentiments as a result of my comments above!

Edited by Willo (24 Dec 2019 10.20am)

Rather than asking if we are headed for doom, I'm more interested to know what it would take to get on a good path.

Because we are not on a good one.

Which clubs are examples to us?

If you want to live in a world full of kindness, respect and love, try to show these qualities.

Leicester has to be the blueprint. They had an exceptional scouting team which is where I feel we completely and utterly lack in.

They have unearthed the likes of Kante & Mahrez and sold for huge profits. They have taken smart risks on players like Maguire and Maddison, one they have sold for huge money and one they could sell for 5 times what they bought him for.

They continue to replace big sales with players more than capable of filling their shoes for a fraction of the price, Maguire sold for £80, Soyuncu bought for £18.

We need to be willing to take calulated risks on incoming transfers instead of signing Benteke or Sakho on £100k plus a week.

They were signings that were needed at the time and also seemed like great deals at the time. I think Sakho has justified his price tag.

Until we can get in a scouting system and DOF that can unearth some gems and buy players that fit with what our on pitch philosophy is, we won't go up a level.

We are always on a knife edge from being the next Stoke, WBA or this season Watford.

You're not wrong, but it seems unlikely he'll let go the reins; he likes the limelight too much it would seem. Someone, probably earlier in this thread, postulated whether he would be prepared to sell his shares for a salaried CEO position; all the glory without the financial commitment, and it would get us out from between the rock and a hard place we're in at the moment?

Bexley Dave

Can you hear the Brighton sing? I can't hear a ******* thing!

"The most arrogant, obnoxious bunch of deluded little sun tanned, loafer wearing mummy's boys I've ever had the misfortune of having to listen to" (Burnley forum)

This isn't strictly true...we have a number of talented players who can make the jump up given the chance and time...but there's the real issue...we have a manager who'd rather stay with a proven formula then give them the chance.

Having said that, we would have seen Tyreck Mitchell on Saturday if he hadn't got injured

The Voice of Reason In An Otherwise Mediocre World

And the wage does not include sponsorship deals, or company benefits.

You would also be surprised at how little tax footballers pay. Their accountants set up off-shore companies, into which their wages are paid. They then receive regular tax-free dividends.

Back on topic. SJ said there are many ways to run a football club. You can run on a shoe-string and hope the gamble pays off. Else you can spunk the cash, and if it goes belly-up, everyone goes bankrupt.

If Palace stay up, then their is more profit with the shoestring model.
What I would be concerned about is the potentially crippling wage bill, with players with diminishing transfer returns.

Edited by Forest Hillbilly (24 Dec 2019 2.18pm)

I disengage, I turn the page.