Watching that game today, the one Watford failed to turn up to until late into extra time, when they managed to give it to the other team by way of a penalty...
It struck me that all those players in blue and red must feel like turkeys at christmas, they busted a gut all season and with a limited squad managed to reach the promised land of the PL, only now the owners are likely to release a lot of those players as they will have to get in a lot of premier league class players to try to stay up!
Any thoughts?
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Also I thnk that most footballers (even at our level) are thick enough, arrogant enough, and sufficiently surrounded by sickofants that it just wouldn't occur to them that they could ever be released!
For sure, there will be some players released, but they may have been out the door anyway. But for the majority, they'll have their nice bonus as noted by others. And on top of that, they'll be hoping for a chance to prove themselves a level up, with a 'who knows' mindset. Steve Gritt, Steve Brown, Anthony Barness (for Bolton), Bradley Pritchard etc all might have thought that promotion was a double-edged sword, but all got a good few games in at a level that may have looked beyond them...
These days, teams change players far more when promoted or relegated than in the old days, hence the number of players making 200 plus appearances for a club is greatly reduced outside the very top clubs and players.
I noticed a lot of of their players aren't exactly youngsters so they might have the experience but the pace/quality required?
They'll really miss Zaha and Murray ofcourse (feel a bit for him on a personal level - scored all those goals and is now out for the season) and whilst Phillips is great they cannot rely on him.
I think Hull might do the best - just reckon Bruce has that Premier league know how and probably some good contacts.
He has also retired now.
I think Palace's annoyingly decent owners will add a couple of players on reasonable wages, and use the rest of the money to shore the club up. Results will be seen as irrelevant by all but a small minority their fans ( the ones who suddenly turn up next August ), they will be relegated, and then with a much improved ground and bank account, go again with a realistic chance of staying up next time.
I still see that as progress, even though I know others don't.
Where would you rather be today, looking forward to roller coaster ride in the Prem next season with a full bank account and no debt, or hoping we can hold on to our best players and maybe squeeze into the play offs ourselves next season?
Palace will definitely get more than 11 points. Holloway got 39 points with Blackpool and i wouldn't say their squad was that much better than Palace's now.
Even an awful side nowadays should get at least 18-20 points
Logic says that the price would be bigger than 11/4 and by some margin.