A talk with the manager who says - fight for your place, your in my plans, show me your good enough, all good stuff, then comes the reality, first game of the season he can see 3 if not 4 players ahead of him for a place in the midfield, he gets 2 minutes at the end of the game-for him to succeed at CFC he really needs a bit of luck, dominate a couple of games in the cup, a few players leaving, some injuries / suspensions to those ahead of him in the queue etc -

CFC (Since money arrived) have preferred to buy big names for the first team rather than risk youngsters & that is because they see themselves as the biggest club in London, they want to be challenging for the league title, winning the cups & doing well in the champions league, all situations where a manager under pressure to deliver success if given the choice will choose big name high value players who have performed on the worlds biggest stages.

The only time CFC have blooded youngsters in recent years is during the embargo, which if they had been more patient, stayed on that course, been realistic in future ambitions could have been the best thing that ever happened to that club, they could have grown the club from the academy - they probably would have had to settle for mid table couple years, then eventually top 6, then Europe etc but the club would have been on solid ground built from home grown talent -

Unfortunately that wasn't the route they chose to stay on.

There's no doubt in my mind that Gallagher's career and performance would have been boosted had he stayed here.

It was awful to see him looking fed up and disinterested on Chelsea's bench yesterday. For Tuchel to bring him on with just a couple of minutes game time left was a clear statement, to me anyway, that he'll not get to start many, if any, games for Chelsea.

Sorry Conor, I know you're a lifelong Chelsea fan, but you'd have had more games, more fun and a real chance to play again for England if you were at Selhurst.

Dad and I watched games standing on the muddy slope of the Holmesdale Road end. He cheered and I rattled.

Didn’t most of us expect he’d be too far down the pecking order to get a look in? Hopefully this pattern will continue and his frustration will grow - maybe then the penny will drop for CG!

If he wants to play every game needs to leave Chelsea.

I think we are playing the waiting game with Conor. It was sad to see such a vibrant and cheerful guy looking a bit forlorn on the Chelsea bench yesterday. He will probably start Carabao Cup games but league starts could be rare especially if they sign De Jong. Its important for a footballer to be where he is happy and is adored by the fans. He had both of that here last season. Hoping we can get another loan but this time with an option to buy

…..and come back to south London and be proud to play for Palace.

I doubt he would come back here, if the was to move, it would be to a club with a realistic possibility of qualifying for the Champions League.
It deluded to think that he is in love with playing for Palace, he isnt or he would of pushed for a move, when his loan ended. Dean Henderson did it at Utd.