Roy Hodgson is back at Selhurst Park on a permanent basis after saving Crystal Palace from relegation last season. But can the 75-year-old manager achieve anything other than yet another mid-table finish?
• Manager: Roy Hodgson
• Stadium: Selhurst Park
• Last Season: 11th
Between 2017-18 and 2020-21, Hodgson led Crystal Palace to four consecutive finishes between 11th and 14th.
Patrick Vieira tried – and failed – to take the club to the next level, with Hodgson returning to rescue the Eagles last term.
Special. What a goal, @EbereEze10. pic.twitter.com/TSC5vTSU7e— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) July 31, 2023
Special. What a goal, @EbereEze10. pic.twitter.com/TSC5vTSU7e
Crystal Palace made a solid start to the previous campaign, losing just four of their opening 13 matches. However, a 12-game winless run between January and March ultimately spelled the end for Vieira.
Hodgson came in as interim manager and swiftly turned things around, overseeing five wins, three draws and two losses while guiding the Eagles to 11th – 11 points clear of the relegation zone.
Palace started and finished the 2022-23 campaign in impressive fashion, but their mid-season slump hampered their chances of a top-half finish. That said, the team’s performances under Hodgson were markedly better.
As things stand, Wilfried Zaha is a free agent after leaving Crystal Palace at the end of last season, although Hodgson is hopeful of recapturing the tricky winger, who has bagged 90 goals and 76 assists in 458 appearances for the Eagles.
Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise came to the fore last term, with the former notching 10 goals and four assists and the latter registering two goals and 11 assists.
Both of those players look set to enjoy a successful 2023-24 campaign.
Meanwhile, Palace signed Jefferson Lerma on a free transfer earlier this summer.
The former Bournemouth midfielder is expected to forge a formidable partnership with Cheik Doucoure in the engine room.
There is no denying that the permanent appointment of Hodgson has divided opinion within the Crystal Palace fanbase.
While the experienced manager offers stability, there is a sense that he won’t be able to take the club to the next level.
Having finished between 10th and 15th since gaining promotion to the Premier League back in 2013-14, Palace will aim for a top-half finish this time around.
However, with the strength of the Premier League continuing to grow, Hodgson’s Eagles could struggle to improve on last term’s efforts.
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