Stone

This time last year our signings throughout the summer window were being heralded as great business... there was talk of pushing for a Europa League spot on here from some. On the face of it we have made some good signings this summer and have a solid squad capable of being promoted. We''ve started well, but if we''ve learnt anything from last season it''s that utilising them effectively and building some cohesion among them for what will be a long arduous season is where the challenge really lies.

The midfield trio of Johnson, Tettey and Hoolahan have been excellent over the last couple of games. I certainly wouldn''t break it up in an attempt to accommodate Howson. He''ll have to wait his turn, which will inevitably come along sooner or later.

Yes, it''s all history now (thank heavens!) but having sat through so much one paced, turgid, unimaginative dirge it''s nice to consider last nights game and think ''that''s not us anymore''. Hughton would have made sure we dug in and kept it at only 1-0 because we were playing against a side he considered to be ''top top class''. In the second half he would make sure we attack at walking pace only and take Wes off with about 10 mins left (still at 1-0 down, obviously) and then make another couple of subs in injury time. In the post match interview he would then tell us about the small margins by which games are won or lost and how we were unfortunate to be on the receiving end today because it had been a very good performance against a very dangerous first class team.

''''Im sorry but anyone who thinks that Jerome in and RVW out is good business is crazy, yes we got good money for Ricky but to sell a Dutch International and sign a journeyman cart horse is a sign of where we are progressing'''' Whilst this potential transfer would excite no-one I''d say Jerome does have qualities to cope with the Championship more effectively than Ricky and its is another target man we require. He also scored twice as many premier league goals as Ricky last season, in about the same no. of games!

Apologies as this may be deemed off topic, although seeing as Pulis'' name is being mentioned heavily on here this morning perhaps not... Pulis left Palace due to a lack of transfer funds and further disputes with the board about transfer strategy etc, but where do you stand on the situation? Was Parish right to stick to his guns and impose a strict budget? Is Pulis right to walk away less than 48hrs before the season starts from what he believes to be an untenable situation? Personally I''m with the Parish on this. Pulis did a brilliant job last season but he spent big at Stoke just to achieve a yearly mid-table finish, which is the glass ceiling for about two thirds of EPL teams. It''s practically impossible for Palace to have abetter season than last time out. So why should the club waste the money to achieve only what they achieved last year without spending much? Especially as the club have a history of financial mismanagement hand have been in administration twice in recent(ish) years.

[quote user="Brightside"]IMO Pulis is a very good manager. He did wonders at Stoke and is very astute in the transfer market. The playing style may not be pretty but it got Stoke an FA Cup final and European football out of it plus they''ve been in the Premiership now for five years. I would love him here but we''ve already got a manager and I don''t think he''ll be going anywhere for a while based on what happened with Hughton.[/quote] I disagree that Pulis is ''astute'' in the transfer market. Stoke became big spenders during his tenure and were generally left with players of little resale value. Effectively spending a fortune to stay clear of relegation and produce dire football.

[quote user="Voice of Monkey Island"]Some of the guff spouted about Wolf and his potential to come good beggars belief. Those who think we have seen the departure of a football genius have either never seen the guy play or know nothing about football. One (on hindsight probably lucky) header, countless fluffed sitters infirm grannies could have buried, lightweight (that attribute would be handy in the a Championship wouldn''t it apologists), no pace, no awareness of where team mates are or are looking to move to. You will see more accomplished footballers at Eaton Park any given Sunday. Disasterous signing which went a long way to costing the club its Premiership status from the point of view that no goals means nailed on relegation. He''s gone. Thank goodness. Move on.[/quote] Despite willing him to succeed and trying to see the potential in his game for several months I''m afraid I come to the same conclusion! How people think he''d cope in a gruelling 46 game season in a very physical and fast paced Championship league is beyond me!

There is a clear emphasis on producing an attacking free scoring side after enduring the past two seasons of quite tortuous turgid football under Hughton. If this is realised it will be a positive step regardless. As for the league position... Ask me on September 2nd.

Perhaps the management have looked at the situation were in, considered RVW''s attributes and decided that despite possessing some talent for various reasons he''s been unable to show it in the Premier League and a season in the physical and sometimes arduous Championship (46 games per season, compared to 32 in Portugal) isn''t the best place for him to realise it. If he were to stay he wouldn''t be a first choice striker and, from the board''s point of view I imagine Ricky''s wages represent something of a burden. I think its better for all parties that he moves on.

Talksport are reporting this morning that he''s ''set to sign'' for us. As others have said, not exactly exciting but if he''s here to add a little experienced cover and nous, then on a free, it''s a decent signing. If he''s supposed to be replacing Fer then I consider it far less positively!

[quote user="Darth Catbeard"]Can''t help but laugh at some peoples reactions to what would be a great signing. We appear to be going back to the Lambert-esqe policy of signing younger, quicker, hungrier players who see us as a step up and who are still yet to achieve their career goals that''s always served us well. So what? You want us to carry on with Hughtons ageing mercenary policy? It''s like when we went up in 2011 and everyone here was so jealous of QPR''s signings while bemoaning our lower league signing while I laughed in despair. The old names>quality mentality, sod if he compliments us or is actually any good, he''s famous and has a WAG in OK every week sign him up, that''s ambition! This is exactly the type of player we should be looking at, I seriously hope we get him! I also agree it looks like Adams is gonna try 4-3-3, Wilson and Grabban either side of the attacking trio is an exciting thought![/quote] I totally agree with this. Alongside a change in playing style Adams is trying to change the ethos and mentality around the club. I think Becchio, Hooper and RVW could all be off. Their attitude towards pre-season and 2014/15 will be of huge importance and determine if we even try to tempt them to stay such is Adams desire to change things following Hughtons arduous reign. Hooper strikes me as the one who could flourish for us in the Championship given the chance. He''s played at this level and scored freely whilst not having his confidence totally shattered last season like RVW and Becchio.

I wouldn''t be without reservations regarding Zola being appointed but I think he''s being quite harshly dismissed here. At West Ham he arrived just as the Icelandic owners were withdrawing their backing, high profile players had left and he relied on blooding several youth team players in his time. Yes, they flirted with relegation but did enough to avoid it still producing a decent footballing side, all in quite tricky circumstances. He was replaced by Avram Grant, and we all know how that ended. He inherited an unremarkable Watford side with the job of blending a huge number of loan players into a competitive outfit. They only just missed out on automatic promotion in his first season, again whilst playing a decent brand of football. After another huge turnaround in players (losing several key payers) in the summer last season they struggled to ever get going and he did a most rare and dignified thing in resigning. Whilst it''s not a CV littered with one success after another I think he''s proven he can put together a good footballing side that will play with flair and be competitive, even in less than ideal circumstances. If nothing else I would be intrigued to see how he got us playing but if promotion is the be all and end all then he''s among the riskier options.

Personally I just want to see some DYNAMIC football! High energy, high intensity play. I don''t expect us to be playing tika taka but similarly don''t want to be watching long ball ''percentage based'' football. For this reason I think Zola or Garcia would be interesting options for the job. Both have had relative success in the championship playing pressing, possession based football.

It would be great to think we could have a raucous deafening crowd at home matches regardless of the game, but Hughton''s side managed to suck the life out of players and fans alike!

The above comment is from a natural end - a bell end.

Also a lot of emphasis from all being placed on the style of football we need to play. All agreed they found us dire to watch under Hughton.

MWJ made a good point that after the Sunderland game ay home we looked quite comfortable and most would have thought we had a very good chance of survival.

Unfunny, yes. Uninformed, yes. Racist, no.

FA Cup, every time!

Definitely worthy of consideration IMO. Young, ambitious and relatively successful. Apparently disappointed by having Barnes and Bridcutt sold and not adequately replaced. Plays good possession based attacking football and has a year of championship experience too. We should have far greater resources than Brighton and is welcome some decent football at Carrow Rd!

I wouldn''t be without reservations regarding Zola being appointed but I think he''s being quite harshly dismissed here. At West Ham he arrived just as the Icelandic owners were withdrawing their backing, high profile players had left and he relied on blooding several youth team players in his time. Yes, they flirted with relegation but did enough to avoid it still producing a decent footballing side, all in quite tricky circumstances. He was replaced by Avram Grant, and we all know how that ended. He inherited an unremarkable Watford side with the job of blending a huge number of loan players into a competitive outfit. They only just missed out on automatic promotion in his first season, again whilst playing a decent brand of football. After losing some key payers in the summer last season they struggled to ever get going and he did a most rare and dignified thing in resigning. Whilst it''s not a CV littered with one success after another I think he''s proven he can put together a good footballing side that will play with flair and be competitive, even in less than ideal circumstances. If nothing else I would be intrigued to see how he got us playing but if promotion is the be all and end all then he''s among the riskier options.

More Saturday 3pm kick offs!

I can''t see Fer or RVW being here due to their presumably high wages and them both retaining some kind of decent reputation overseas. Snoddy and Ruddy will probably (and deservedly) have interest form the Premier League. If they go, good luck to them. They''ve both maintained a level of commitment and performance above that of their peers. Of course much will also depend on the manager that comes in and whether he will attempt to retain much of the squad or prefer to bring in players of his own.

We absolutely deserve to be relegated. We can''t defend, can''t score and lack any kind of character within the squad. It would almost feel like an injustice if we stayed up!

Whatever it is, lap of honour / thanks to the fans I wont be sticking around to see it! I''ve already had enough of watching our players amble around the pitch this season thank you.