Given we go not have a contracted senior right back in our squad I would be amazed if Ward doesn’t sign a new contract. As for the other 2 yes I would offer them contracts. You may get half a season out of Cahill and with Eze’s injury Townsend would get plenty of game time

Shame, I would like him to stay, for that goal of the season at city if nothing else,(although the motd pundits bottled it). What about PVA, has he gone?

I’d definitely keep Cahill for his experience and influence but according to this report he’s already gone

[Link]

Andros over 90 minutes isn’t the player he was but is probably as good an option, depending on signings, as we’re going to get within our budget.

Ward unfortunately doesn’t have the pace so we’ve probably got to say goodbye, albeit reluctantly because he’s been a good servant to the club.

I can understand any debate about Ward, but I would be even more amazed if we don’t sign at least two right fullbacks , Ward could reduce that to one, but we definitely need an upgrade in that position. On the other side ,if VA, goes we need someone to push Mitchell along. Could be we are going to let someone else through from development, that seems a bit of a risk to me.

I think all 3 have merits to be given a 1 year contract as experienced squad players for us as we bleed in some youth into the balance.

Cahill is a premier league, champions league, fa Cup (to name but a few) winner with 60+ England caps, and when fit, has been tremendous for us particularly his first season. He's also a leader and I wouldn't be surprised if he wanted to go into coaching once he hangs up his boots, so I'd like to think Palace could initiate that transition if after 1 final playing season with us

Townsend has frustrated me many times last season but the one thing I give him credit for is that when he comes on, he does give a shift defensively and pressing, and his willingness to cross the ball (unlike Ayew and Zaha who would rather over dribble instead)... Most notably for the Benteke smash and grab volley winner against Brighton earlier this year. Again not my cup of tea for starting XI even last season, but I don't doubt his short term usefulness to the squad

Ward is similar to Townsend in some respects with the frustration, however when we signed Ferguson last year, I had hoped that would relegate Ward to backup. Injuries happened, Clyne came back for the interim (who also got injured/ill a few occasions) and we are where we are now. Ferguson is still not back and there are doubts by some if he will ever play for us again. But in the meantime we really don't have any right back options. Ward has been with the club for so long and a very loyal servant. At 9 years service, giving him a final 10th and ability of a testimonial (he was part of the promotion team of 2013 too), would be a classier way to let him depart as he deserves better than exiting through the back door as his contract ran out. If he wasn't staying for 21/22 season, then it should have been handled better and could have got some recognition the same time as Hodgson. In any case if he doesn't extend then does that mean Clyne will be off the back of waiting to see if Ferguson comes back? IMHO that's still risky and would prefer offering Ward the year at least (he'd probably even take a paycut to stay too), just to give ferguson both time to overcome his fitness issues and get used to Prem footie hopefully for the start of the 2nd half of the season. In other words, if we're not keeping Ward then it means we're either signing someone new (is it long term or cover?) or bringing someone from the academy. I'm not opposed to the latter but like I said in the beginning we still need experienced players around our youth to further aid their development.

It's not like we're signing Mbappe, Haaland, Sancho etc. All considered "youth" but they actually have the experience behind them whereas Eze, Olise and anyone from our academy do not

Edited by Mojo87 (11 Jul 2021 3.06pm)

Pretty much this mate.

Plus when Ward goes, it would be nice to give him a bit of a send off. He’s been a good servant.

Edited by Tom-the-eagle (11 Jul 2021 3.28pm)

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