I try and avoid friendlies to save money for the season, but then we put on a game like that which is very tempting. It's not fair.

There's reports linking us with Sevilla 20 year old, Jose Campaña - talented midfielder, Spain U20 captain. Sounds too good to be true, there must be something wrong with him...!

You tend to get some big clubs across Europe coming over to play English sides at any level almost.

We've had Inter Milan and Real Zaragoza in the past.

Shrewsbury had Galatasaray!

Probably because most of the Premier league sides bugger off across the world...only to then complain about tiredness so you cannot get a big friendly against them unless its a testimonial game.

Sorry I know your Premier league yourself before anyone picks me up on it!

There's reports linking us with Sevilla 20 year old, Jose Campaña - talented midfielder, Spain U20 captain. Sounds too good to be true, there must be something wrong with him...![/quote]

Very interesting , update on BBC site . A agreement has been agreed between Crystal Palace with a fee of 2m Euros ( £1.75m) plus add- ons & a percentage of a future transfer.

Exciting if it turns into reality , could be a future Fabregas , come to England early in career & become a top player .

I'll be really pleased with that signing. He's certainly talented!

Palace Complete Campaña Deal

I'm pretty pleased with the signings so far.

good signing... things are coming along nicely... another striker and a couple of defenders and i will be well pleased.

Super Kev has signed a one-year contract.

Link.

Delighted he's staying for one more season.

pleased that Phillips is staying on.

pre-season result: Dagenham & Redbridge 1-2 Palace

Link

Carlton Cole on his way to Selhurst? Link.

Hmm, Cole would be the first deal I'm unsure about; not sure he'll get us the goals we need.

Although he has a lot of experience in the Premier League, so there's got to be something about him.

i couldn't be more underwhelmed with cole if i tried... never rated him, but at least it's a free and only for a year... one thing is for sure, we haven't signed him for his goal-getting so maybe he will be a decent foil for gayle until murray is fit again? (that's if we do sign him of course...)

I think that will be the idea.

Pre-season result: Gillingham 0-3 Palace - Link.

this is from richard cawley on twitter yesterday:

Richard Cawley ‏@RichCawleySLP 40m
Carlton Cole to #cpfc doesn't appear to be as close to happening as people think. Quite a way apart on personal terms.

Richard Cawley ‏@RichCawleySLP 39m
Cole still thinks a club will pay him what he is looking for. But with only a month to go, would that offer not have come already?

and from sky sports:

"negotiations are ongoing between the club and Cole's representatives. talks have been very positive but there is a hold up. It is to do with personal terms. However, Cole's camp remain confident a compromise can be reached."

Looks like the Cole deal is off.

Link.

Really not bothered by that at all.

Seems like the Gosling deal is off too, and the big, bearded bloke we had on trial has gone to Sheff Wed.

Not too bothered by any of them tbh, but obviously not been a great week transfer wise.

Gosling is a bit of an injury risk and did Wednesday maybe offer more playing time...or wages?

The thing I'd be worried about is making rash signings like we did on past it players like Chris Powell and Matt Jackson...

Better to play it safe and get ones in who really want to play or could be deemed as part of the team for a while like Thomas and Gayle...

No doubt there will be somebody ringing 606 or the like after 3 games demanding changes/millions to be spent though.

Remember a Southampton fan did that last season because they lost to those average sides like Man City/United and Arsenal.

The former 2 by one goal late on.

Have to say we were pretty awful today against Crawley. No excuses, the better team won this afternoon.

Friendly results obviously don't matter, but it's hard to avoid a bit of worry after a match like that.


Haha, yeah the forums will be places to avoid at times this season!

Holloway's comments after today's 3-0 defeat.


we really really need to get in another striker. if we have to pay a bit over the odds then so be it.

You are so right. Paying too much comes with the territory when you're in the top league.

I have noticed Cardiff and Hull have been spending big - which considering the latter almost went into administration for doing that before is risky.

But then they have extra revenue and well as said above its almost demanded to be competitive.

I certainly wouldn't buy expensive players on long term contracts which I think QPR did....

At least there ought to be no pressure on you unlike with the other 2...

Chamakh?!!!!! This had better be a load of rubbish. Can't think of a worse signing for us to be honest.

first cole, now chamakh... seems to me that holloway and parish seem intent on doing their shopping here lately...

Chamakh actually wouldn't be that bad imo, if we got him playing like he did at Bordeaux.

Having said that, like most of the players the papers have linked us with, it's probably bollocks anyway.

We were 'close' to Odemwingie for weeks and it turned out we didn't even bid!