So apparently Carl Jenkinson wants more than the 40k pw he pockets for doing nothing at Arsenal to actually play football for Palace, where he could develop his career and show what he can do. If this is true then thank the Lord this deal fell through, as it sums up exactly the trap we are falling into.

For the last five years we have been watching unheralded (and therefore hungry) players with a point to prove. Delaney, Ward, Jedinak, Zaha, Bolasie, Murray, McArthur etc. all understood that if they didn’t achieve something with Palace, they weren’t going to get many other chances. We could see it in every performance. They were not on massive wages, had no sense of entitlement, but were determined to grab the chance and make something of themselves. Fans react to this, and support it. The players feed off the support, and we all pull in the same direction.

Compare this to Cabeye, Townsend, Benteke (to a point) and even Allardyce. All on monstrous wages, all consider themselves to be proven premier league quality, and all likely to feel that they have stepped down to be at Palace compared to their last jobs. None will want relegation on their CV, but all will feel they will be in the top flight next year whether Palace are or not. Fans react to this, and find it hard to support. This reinforces the perception in the mind of the player that this is a place of work, not a place they have a strong bond with, and we all pull in different directions.

It’s easy to criticise them for being overpaid and underperforming, but it doesn’t matter how professional a player is, there is no way to get around the simple fact that you cannot artificially generate true hunger and desire in a human being. It is an emotional condition, not a contract requirement.

The club is making the chronic error of looking at a player and seeing only his level of quality. They are failing to consider what it means to a player to be at a club. We are signing players who represent too small an improvement in quality (Benteke aside) and too great a reduction in hunger compared to those they are replacing. Signing more like this will make it worse, not better.

We've been in the prem a while now.
There is no more driven and hungry.

Babs and Clean Willie were in love they said....

Or the ones you lambast were all just s***ly managed and lacking the necessary fitness levels/tactics to perform under Pardew.

Or maybe our profound failing at left back has been our undoing and we would have more points with Souare in the side. If performances had been identical but we had 9 more points today but identical performances then everyone would be happy.

And the daft thing is it wouldn't have taken much.

I have a hunch we'll manage injuries better with Allardyce, our fitness will improve, and -- if we fix left back -- will drift up the table. And these players, Townsend in particular, will pick up dramatically.

Edited by Ginger Pubic Wig (20 Jan 2017 6.50pm)

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

top post, makes me think I was looking at the trees but not the wood

I know most players,managers etc are vastly,and obscenely overpaid in the Premier League.
But in the context of the Premier League, players such as Cabaye and Townsend do put in a shift in a team that is devoid of confidence.
We have some good players who are not playing to their potential,it's the fear factor.
But somebody like Jenkinson is an example of a lot of Premier League footballers who have no interest in furthering their career and are happy not to play,and to just rake in as much cash as possible. I am very happy he never came to us I don't think he would be up for a relegation battle.

They've also got a dodgy spiv as manager.
It won't end well for them.

Babs and Clean Willie were in love they said....