We signed Damien for a free 4 years ago, he in my view has been the best defensive player in the premiere league as a free signing ever. Friday night he was unfortunate with the free kick given away and yet produced a great header in response which should have won us the game. People keep suggesting Tomkins should take over but his presence in the heart of our defence is immense, I hope he stays fit and keeps going until he's forty, wears his heart on his sleeve, one of a kind.

OK, I'll take a deep breath here and get ready for the inevitable barage......

First off I doubt anyone would disagree that Damo has been a brilliant servant to the club. Incredible to think it looked like his career was effectively over when we got him from Ipswich. Over the last few years he has led by example on the pitch and we have lost count he number of times he has thrown himself in front of a shot to block it.

However IMHO his time is coming to the end as being at the heart of our defense. He is getting slower and to compensate for this he has to `charge in` and attempt to win the ball first time as soon as an opposition attacker gets it. He isn't quick enough on the turn anymore. This means because he has to `charge in` to win it first time he is often giving away free kicks in dangerous positions. We have to steadily progress and he is not getting any younger and is getting slower, time to integrate Tomkins into the team to be the partnership alongside Dann.

He's never been the quickest defender but reads the game fantastically well, puts his life on the line when it counts, john terry is exactly the same. James looks very decent, but I don't think he should be on the team sheet before Damien yet.

Delaney generally has a period every season where he makes some mistakes and dives in with challenges but on each occasion so far he has managed to refocus himself and get back to his best.

I'm hoping you mean Palace free signings? Not the whole of the premier league. Sol Campbell among others might have something to say about it otherwise.

i was thinking similar after Friday's game.

People are too quick to write the guy off. Still makes a massive contribution to the club and will be big shoes to fill when the time comes.

Whilst he's not quick he has adapted his game and rarely has a bad 90 minutes.

Also the leader on the pitch, organises and encourages. For all Dann's qualities (and now Tomkins) it is still Damo who is the talker at the back.

Finally the other great benefit of Dmo is he's left footed - gives the back4 more natural balance with a left and right footed centre back pairing.

Incidentally as Sol Campbell got 100k a week including a 40k a week loyalty bonus he wasn't really a free transfer - as Parish repeatedly says it's the overall cost of the player that counts - transfer fee and wages combined.