Why the Time Is Right for Roy Hodgson to Leave Crystal Palace
It has been a difficult couple of months for south London-based Premier League outfit, Crystal Palace.
The Eagles have primarily been a mid-table top-flight side in recent years, so for fans to witness their team plummeting worryingly towards the relegation zone has been a justifiable cause for concern.
As the Premier League season approaches the final third of the campaign, this is when the attention turns rapidly to the betting markets concerning both ends of the table.
Palace are currently priced at +500 with Betano to finish in the bottom three, with only five teams having lower odds for relegation than them.
Betano is one of the leading platforms to bet on sporting event markets like the English Premier League.
Hodgson steadied the ship but has the time come for a long-term plan at Palace?
Roy Hodgson’s second spell in charge at Selhurst Park has been something of a roller-coaster.
Last March, Hodgson was headhunted by Palace owner, Steve Parish, to steady the ship after the sacking of his predecessor, Patrick Vieira.
Hodgson helped end a 13-game winless run in the Premier League with a victory over Leicester City in early April.
In total, the Eagles registered 18 points from Hodgson’s ten games in charge, steering Palace back into the relative comfort of 11th place.
The 76-year-old agreed to sign a new one-year contract for the 2023/24 season only, with a view to retiring indefinitely in the summer of 2024.
Hodgson and Palace have failed to maintain last season’s momentum.
They’ve been hovering around the top end of the bottom half for most of the season.
However, crucial injuries to Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise – the latter of which could rule him out for the season – have starved Palace of star quality in the final third.
During Hodgson’s 200th game in charge of the Eagles in early February, Palace let in two late goals against Chelsea, with the Blues running out 3-1 eventual winners.
The defeat left Palace just five points above the drop zone, with ten defeats in their previous 16 games.
In the aftermath of this defeat, Palace owner Parish was said to have resigned himself to sacking Hodgson before the end of the season to breathe new life into their campaign.
Hodgson can leave Palace – and football management – with his head held high
With Hodgson already confirmed to be leaving in June, it could be argued that many of the players were unsure of their futures given that the identity of Hodgson’s replacement was unknown.
Supporters have also grown increasingly frustrated at the club’s short-term approach.
For Hodgson’s sake, the last thing he needs at 76 years of age is to worry about the fans turning against him. This is a football manager who has achieved almost all there is to do in the game.
He’s also one of the most respected managers in the sport. A decision to part ways by mutual consent could be the best for all concerned.
The emotional turmoil may well have taken its toll on Hodgson’s health too. The former Liverpool and England boss was worryingly taken ill at first team training in the lead up to Palace’s crunch six-pointer at Everton.
Hodgson’s hospital admission could result in him opting to stand down and allow the Eagles to appoint his long-term successor.
Former Eintracht Frankfurt boss, Oliver Glasner, has been in discussions with Parish and co. over an initial two-year contract.
Glasner is famed for his touchline antics and his preference for high-octane football, something which should endear himself with the Selhurst Park faithful.
Prior to negotiations with Glasner, Parish was said to have tried unsuccessfully to lure Ipswich Town boss, Kieran McKenna, from Suffolk to south London.
However, the former Manchester United assistant is in a Championship promotion battle and was reportedly unprepared to leave the Tractor Boys mid-season – hence the move for Glasner.
Hodgson’s time at Palace will still be looked upon fondly by fans in time. He’s led the club through challenging moments in the Premier League which may not even be the club’s natural level.
The Eagles’ history suggests they have been more like a top-level Championship club on average through the decades.
