Back to Palace where team last produced...

our best footballing display of the season by a mile - https://youtu.be/7bbIXIVzB2k?si=adpuWY77DVZldzNw
https://video.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/1740338187971538944/pu/vid/avc1/576x1024/b6SZceA4bnIe1ZgH.mp4?tag=12, two conspicuous omissions from that starting lineup.
Incidentally these common dominators didn't start in the quality showing against Villa either, in which the synergy was at its highest.
Eye-opening theme.

Goes to show that bringing the (average) age right down isn't a bad idea (the ideal course of action to my mind) for the team progression going forward.

I maintain younger generation of footballers find it exceedingly easier adapting (molding) to coaching methodology demands and rigours of the league at this club, than senior players...clocked-up tonnes of mileage on their bodies and legs, stuck & set in their ways.
You know the old adage "can't teach an old dog new tricks", that notably applies in modern day football (and has manifested at this club for yonks to our detriment. The opposite in the case of depending on youth).

Don't like coaches / managers that fail to look at bigger picture and glaring solutions presented within (benefitting team in short and longrun), would rather invest big on their own experienced middling players that ultimately amount to nothing (could understand reservations about using youth, if the club didn't generate the best academy products and structure to a certain extent). Exasperating.

One creates a core (environment) made-up of standout young players with exponential scope for improvement and upside, particularly cobham educated players that possess talent, mental edge, high footballing IQ and versatility in spades, they'll take to it like duck to water.

The evidence, case study, track record of that in recent times (see large scale integration of homegrown talent seamless transition into adult football and rewards reaped, going down that route few years ago)
to support my statement is irrefutable.
They are the present and future, wouldn't have it any other way.