01 Feb 2017 14:21:30
Now we sign a club record fee striker and people want to break the club wages policy to sign an unproven defender - one who can't really break into the Liverpool squad of average defenders.

Palace have their own reasons to overpay for a defender as Big Sam starts at the back in his survival strategies.

I am sure a defender or two will arrive after the summer - but give VVD is 70% off to a bigger club - then that is the time to invest.

1.) 01 Feb 2017
01 Feb 2017 16:13:56
If you refer to Sakho, he is not unproven and is worth 20 million IMO. However we can't and never could afford his wages as you mentioned, however the guy is class. The reasons he can't get into the Liverpool side are not based on abilities, ask any Liverpool fan.

2.) 01 Feb 2017
01 Feb 2017 16:41:00
Fu2 you're right, to pay 100k a week is well beyond our means. I'm a bit Pissed we didn't get someone else in on loan at the back as we do look extremely weak defensively at the moment. if/ when van dijk does go I think we need a bit of an overhaul. the club are giving Stephens and gardos a chance to step up and it's the right thing to do long term to see if they can.

but I think we will suffer short term. I just vvd is back for Wembley otherwise we could be taking a pasting : ( really gabbiadini to hit the ground running. interesting to see what he's like I don't know much about him but we need something different up front.

3.) 01 Feb 2017
01 Feb 2017 17:06:02
How's the free market ed? Any chance of a defender there?

{Ed002's Note - There won't be anyone else arriving now.}

4.) 02 Feb 2017
01 Feb 2017 23:05:38
I don't think we are too bad at the back - we had a couple of wobbly results - even with VVD playing - but look at the season and add one more goal to our results each game we drew or lost (rather than defend to let one less in) and we would have 17 more points - which would put us in 6th place in the league.

Our goals against is very respectable - but goals for is too low - so if Gabbiadini can get into his stride ready for next season then its all good especially if he scraps it out with Austin for the starting place.

Our wide play is great - esp as a 4.4.2 - we have a strong mid - just need to convert a few more in and around the box - OK a 24 year old Patrick Viera and an Eden Hazard of 3 years ago would be nice too but they are rare.

Be happy - we are in the Premier League -

5.) 03 Feb 2017
03 Feb 2017 08:28:48
We won't take a pasting - MANU are not prolific scorers this season and they could not score vs Hull this week - and they have all the pressure on them - we go to Wembley and have a go at winning - simple as that.

OK if we are off and they have a great day then that's different - but they will have to play Rooney and he is not the player he was 3 years ago - also we have some decent pace out wide so i think we will cause them issues on the wide pitch as a 4-4-2

We are the perfect team to beat MANU - just go for it on the day - be happy - we are in a final at Wembley.