What a turnaround. After a dreadful start, Freedman is manager of the month and is being courted by Bolton.
Zaha is finally coming good after two seasons of arrogance and ill discipline threatening to overcome his raw talent. As a result of his increasing maturity (yesterday's yellow card excepted) he is now scoring goals and winning penalties. The Doog's post match interviewer suggested that it was being said that he was worth as much as 20 million. If he plays a season in the top division and is able to terrorise Premiership defences in the same way as the average Championship back four, this figure may not be as outlandish as it sounds.
Seems to me that although it is very tight at the top, we are one of about ten teams who have a genuine shot at promotion. On that basis any odds outside 3-1 are worth a bet. The cash that comes with Premiership status, if the lessons of the past have been learned, should guarantee Palace's future for years to come. However, we can forget all about that if we have lost the Doog and Zaha by January.
It really depends upon how healthy our finances are. I reckon we could get 10 million for Zaha in January, and a healthy compensation deal for the Doog which would allow us to spend enough to secure Championship survival and would be a shot in the arm for our financial stability.
However, for me it would be like three steps forward, two steps back. I also see no prejudice to playing this long (if you will pardon the pun) as Zaha is on a long contract and his value is only going to increase even if we miss out on promotion this year.
So is keeping him and the Doog really a gamble? Only if we are in immediate financial peril. When the other clubs smell blood, we lose our stars for peanuts (remember we only got 1.5million for Moses!).
So my verdict is- if our present balance sheets are sustainable for a minimum of this season and next, we hold on to them at least until the end of the season. If not, we sell in January.
Thoughts?
Gambling on promotion
posted on 21/10/12
Well, first of all - to strip away the core of the team at the end of the season, let alone in January would be ridiculous! Especially given that is around the time Supporters think about renewing they’re Season Tickets. This’ll also, give us an idea of Our Ambition, and judgment of the 2010 Owners.
The Moses deal has to be written off due to being back in Admin at that time.
I’ve heard Steve Parish a few times on Talksport – for example, and he’s mentioned a number of times we are financially stable.
The 20k price tag on Zaha might hold water, but IMO – I just think it’s to put others off, so Wilf can keep his head down and perform for us. If anything, least this’ll bring the attendance up to see what all the fuss is about. Up The Palace!
posted on 22/10/12
Have you seen the Ron Noades interview? He said he would sell Zaha and build a new Main Stand.
I would keep the squad together for as long as possible. On one of the many, many PL talk shows on sky they said next year is the best season to get into the PL because of the money. If we got promoted we can expect to get something like £100m from TV alone! Even if we got relegated the parachute payments are much bigger as well
posted on 22/10/12
In my opinion any of 14 teams can claim promotion from the championship with it being so unpredictable, therefore we need to keep Dougie & Zaha until the end of the season and go from there. If we are not near the play-offs then i think Zaha would be sold as his agent would probably push for him to move.
As i am writing this i have read Bolton now have permission to talk to Dougie which is worrying, if Dougie gets a new contract presented to him by CPFC2010 then i think he will stay, but will they?
posted on 22/10/12
Cost to the board if Doog moves:
New manager plus his team and "redundancy" costs of Doogs team £2 - £4m
New players for the new manager and bedding in of new squad £2m
Failure to gain prmotion this season £100m
Loss of players such as Moritz £1 - £2m
Just estimates of course but IF it comes down to money then maybe the board might be prepared to open their wallets a bit deeper.
Hopefully and not just for the above I hope he stays as I am beginning to enjoy being a Palace fan again.
posted on 23/10/12
Is this the Ron Noades interview you were talking about, Mon? http://www.thisiscroydontoday.co.uk/EXCLUSIVE-Ron-Noades-reveals-Friday-s-Croydon/story-17116491-detail/story.html
Derren- I understand your post, but to me, why sign a 5 year deal, if your only filling the first year? :s
With all due respect, I can only see Freedman moving to Boreton, similar to when Darren Ferguson jumped to Preston North End. :/