The training ground emptied again as the international break swallowed the squad. The call-ups had grown since September sixteen players scattered across the globe. Neves to Portugal, where he was now a regular starter.
Sakho and Mandanda to France. Gnabry to Germany. Rodríguez to Colombia. Milivojević to Serbia. Digne to France. Navas to Spain. Benteke to Belgium. Hennessey to Wales. Tarkowski earned his first full England call-up not a standby, a call-up the reward for his performances stepping in for Konaté.
Wan-Bissaka, Kirby, Eze, and Blake went to the England U21s again, the Palace contingent in the youth setup now so large that the media had started calling it "the Crystal Palace wing of St George's Park."
I used the break differently this time. In September, I had been a man discovering his free time. Now I was a manager with a plan.
