Slade certainly writing FA Cup off

**Lawnmower** · 09-01-16, 07:50

I pretty much agree with Bob.
My take is that the season is far from over and it's ludicrous to suggest it is when we are 4 points off 6th.

I'd be unhappy if any key players were risked.

We be got plenty of fringe players who should have a point to prove , and apart from centre half we have lots of options.
In another thread a few of us named good sides without risking our core

**Tandy** · 09-01-16, 10:09

Originally Posted by the other bob wilson wrote on Sat, 09 January 2016 05:56

I'm very interested in what the team looks like on Sunday and will be more upset if we see a team little changed from last Saturday than I would be with one that sees a few squad players included.

What that tells me is FA cup attendances at home are not a true reflection of our home support.

**the other bob wilson** · 09-01-16, 10:54

Originally Posted by Tandy wrote on Sat, 09 January 2016 10:09

I'm very interested in what the team looks like on Sunday and will be more upset if we see a team little changed from last Saturday than I would be with one that sees a few squad players included.

Originally Posted by the other bob wilson wrote on Sat, 09 January 2016 05:56

While I believe Russell Slade will have to show a flair and an expertise in the transfer market which he has not even remotely suggested he possesses up to now if we are to finish in the top six, I find it ludicrous that people should say that we cannot finish in a Play Off place when there are still so many points up for grabs. I can remember Palace being promoted in 03/04 when they were in the same sort of position going into the new year that, say, MK Dons are in now.

I honestly don't know where you get that figure of 15,000 diehard fans from - it makes no allowance for away fans and, anyway our average attendance this season is below that at 14,337. If you really believe our league crowds can't get any lower than they now, then all I can say is you haven't been supporting us that long - no matter how you want to define the term, there's no way we have 15,000 "diehard fans".

09-01-16, 11:12

It's almost as if die hard is a superfluous word that isn't worth having its definition debated.

**Lawnmower** · 09-01-16, 11:35

That's a hell of a record Bob.
I don't think anyone could argue against you being a die hard 👍

**Tandy** · 09-01-16, 11:41

Originally Posted by the other bob wilson wrote on Sat, 09 January 2016 10:54

I'm very interested in what the team looks like on Sunday and will be more upset if we see a team little changed from last Saturday than I would be with one that sees a few squad players included.

Originally Posted by Tandy wrote on Sat, 09 January 2016 10:09

While I believe Russell Slade will have to show a flair and an expertise in the transfer market which he has not even remotely suggested he possesses up to now if we are to finish in the top six, I find it ludicrous that people should say that we cannot finish in a Play Off place when there are still so many points up for grabs. I can remember Palace being promoted in 03/04 when they were in the same sort of position going into the new year that, say, MK Dons are in now.

Originally Posted by the other bob wilson wrote on Sat, 09 January 2016 05:56

What I do not want to see is someone like Marshall, Connolly, Manga, Ralls, Gunnarsson or Watt picking up a long term injury on Sunday in a tournament that we are not going to win - can't help thinking that at least the two centrebacks will start though.

The point I am making which you seemed to overlook Is the fact that the 3rd round of the FA cup does not attract a big crowd no matter what our league attendance is. I won't be there on Sunday either make of that what you like.

**the other bob wilson** · 09-01-16, 13:43

Originally Posted by Tandy wrote on Sat, 09 January 2016 11:41

I'm very interested in what the team looks like on Sunday and will be more upset if we see a team little changed from last Saturday than I would be with one that sees a few squad players included.

Originally Posted by the other bob wilson wrote on Sat, 09 January 2016 10:54

While I believe Russell Slade will have to show a flair and an expertise in the transfer market which he has not even remotely suggested he possesses up to now if we are to finish in the top six, I find it ludicrous that people should say that we cannot finish in a Play Off place when there are still so many points up for grabs. I can remember Palace being promoted in 03/04 when they were in the same sort of position going into the new year that, say, MK Dons are in now.

Originally Posted by Tandy wrote on Sat, 09 January 2016 10:09

What I do not want to see is someone like Marshall, Connolly, Manga, Ralls, Gunnarsson or Watt picking up a long term injury on Sunday in a tournament that we are not going to win - can't help thinking that at least the two centrebacks will start though.

Originally Posted by the other bob wilson wrote on Sat, 09 January 2016 05:56

Finally, how can we have 15,000 diehard fans when we'll do well to get a third of that on Sunday? To say we have 15,000 diehards is to believe that our drop in attendances has bottomed out - if we drift off into mid table mediocrity in the second half of the season, then there'll be fewer again the ground in 16/17.

In the past, FA Cup Third Round attendances have been below average league gates pretty often, but I'd say they have been above them almost as often. There was a non footballing excuse for the low crowd against Colchester last season, but, if tomorrow's crowd is as low as it promises to be, then we've had pretty pathetic gates for our home Third Round FA Cup matches in the last two years - attendances which compare very poorly with those of the last half a century or so for similar matches.

**Tandy** · 09-01-16, 15:30

Originally Posted by the other bob wilson wrote on Sat, 09 January 2016 13:43