[May68]

I wish I could share your optimism Stairs but I think TP's transfer dealings will make us even more negative next season. I hope I'm wrong though.

[Worldclassalbion]

There is no doubt he is trying to get that magic 40 pts. He is nearly there and has worked wonders since arriving, 9 clean sheets and now on 37 pts.

Last season Palace were far from boring under TP and I think once he gets this season out of the way we will be playing better stuff with better players. I for one am very optimistic about next season IF WE CAN STAY UP THIS TERM. 

[talkSAFT]

9 clean sheets is great statistics, but it's a bit picky.
In between we also shipped 4 goals to Villa (who had only scored 4 League goals since early December); 4 goals to QPR (home), and 3 goals to Leicester (home).

I don't know about better players.
Inflation is going to play a big part in the Summer dealings. OK, there's a lot more TV money coming our way, but all that will do is to spiral the Transfer Fees and salaries upwards. So we'll only join the back of the queue to get the same standard players on the August last day Auction, and bring in players of roughly the same standard. But we must try harder next season to integrate them into the team - unlike Poco, Gamboa, Davisdon, Varelo, Samaras, Blanco, etc.

[drewks]

9 clean sheets is great statistics, but it's a bit picky.
In between we also shipped 4 goals to Villa (who had only scored 4 League goals since early December); 4 goals to QPR (home), and 3 goals to Leicester (home).

I don't know about better players.
Inflation is going to play a big part in the Summer dealings. OK, there's a lot more TV money coming our way, but all that will do is to spiral the Transfer Fees and salaries upwards.  So we'll only join the back of the queue to get the same standard players on the August last day Auction, and bring in players of roughly the same standard. But we must try harder next season to integrate them into the team - unlike Poco, Gamboa, Davisdon, Varelo, Samaras, Blanco, etc.

Agree re the main thrust there, talkSAFT, apart from that bit.....
IMO TP will attract a better standard of player as there is MUCH more of a secure feeling about the medium term prospects of his teams NOT being relegated - old fashioned 'job security' and all that 

[talkSAFT]

Sorry, Drewks, but I'd put Watford, Boro, Norwich (or whoever) ahead of us to stay up next Year.
And players' Agents will only allow them to sign for us if we drop clauses where Salaries are halved if we get relegated.
Whatever esteem there might have been for Pulis counts for nothing. Only money - and nitrous oxide - counts at the end of the day.

[BaggyBomber]

Sorry, Drewks, but I'd put Watford, Boro, Norwich (or whoever)  ahead of us to stay up next Year.

The logic of that being sides promoted to the Prem always do so well or just that you don't like TP?

[wba_1996]

Sorry, Drewks, but I'd put Watford, Boro, Norwich (or whoever)  ahead of us to stay up next Year.

It's pretty obvious that is due to a dislike of Pulis rather than any realistic football reasoning. We have a better squad already than every one of the Championship top 6 and we will be ahead of all of them in the eyes of players and agents trying to sign for a PL club (bar loanees from the Watford owners' other clubs). 

The increased TV money will have an impact as well, it puts us ahead European clubs of a similar size (and even larger ones) in terms of the fees and wages we can offer. Therefore we have the advantage over them for any players from abroad we might go in for (in before "TP only signs English players").

[talkSAFT]

Sorry, Drewks, but I'd put Watford, Boro, Norwich (or whoever)  ahead of us to stay up next Year.

It's pretty obvious that is due to a dislike of Pulis rather than any realistic football reasoning. We have a better squad already than every one of the Championship top 6 and we will be ahead of all of them in the eyes of players and agents trying to sign for a PL club (bar loanees from the Watford owners' other clubs). 

The increased TV money will have an impact as well, it puts us ahead European clubs of a similar size (and even larger ones) in terms of the fees and wages we can offer. Therefore we have the advantage over them for any players from abroad we might go in for (in before "TP only signs English players").

a) I don't "dislike Pulis". (I didn't dislike him before he came.) I did dislike his style of play, though, if that's what you mean.

b) You probably made the same points this time last year, and I would have expected to have the edge over the 3 promoted Clubs - but we're pretty well on a par. However, some key players have faded SINCE then, notably Yacob, Mulumbu, Brunt, Lescott and McCauley (of late), Gardner (c/w his Sunderland form), Anichebe. The Income has been pretty well squandered since 12 months ago, and the Recruitment Team don't come up with the gems they used to. And I'm not optimistic that Pulis knows a good player when he sees one if his recruitment record with Stoke was anything to go by. We're an ageing squad, and need to recruit some fresh legs if, indeed, we're not going to rely on 11 players shuffling around our half of the pitch, and relying on solo efforts from our Berahino replacement.

[tidy]

Pulis will get the benefit-of-the-doubt this year because he's 'keeping us up' and needs must.

Not sure how many times teams will get 'Pulis'd' next year without us getting rumbled.

Summer window will be facinating.

[BaggyBomber]

Sorry, Drewks, but I'd put Watford, Boro, Norwich (or whoever)  ahead of us to stay up next Year.

It's pretty obvious that is due to a dislike of Pulis rather than any realistic football reasoning. We have a better squad already than every one of the Championship top 6 and we will be ahead of all of them in the eyes of players and agents trying to sign for a PL club (bar loanees from the Watford owners' other clubs). 

The increased TV money will have an impact as well, it puts us ahead European clubs of a similar size (and even larger ones) in terms of the fees and wages we can offer. Therefore we have the advantage over them for any players from abroad we might go in for (in before "TP only signs English players").

a)  I don't "dislike Pulis". (I didn't dislike him before he came.) I did dislike his style of play, though, if that's what you mean.

b)  You probably made the same points this time last year, and I would have expected to have the edge over the 3 promoted Clubs - but we're pretty well on a par. However, some key players have faded SINCE then, notably Yacob, Mulumbu, Brunt, Lescott and McCauley (of late), Gardner (c/w his Sunderland form), Anichebe. The Income has been pretty well squandered since 12 months ago, and the Recruitment Team don't come up with the gems they used to. And I'm not optimistic that Pulis knows a good player when he sees one if his recruitment record with Stoke was anything to go by. We're an ageing squad, and need to recruit some fresh legs if, indeed, we're not going to rely on 11 players shuffling around our half of the pitch, and relying on solo efforts from our Berahino replacement.

a)  What is TP's style of play?

b).  There's no hope for us, apparently.  Glad I don't share your negativity.