Former Crystal Palace boss Ian Holloway has hailed Roy Hodgson’s management at Selhurst Park, per Football.London.
What’s he said?
Palace currently lie mid-table in the Premier League, claiming the scalp of Manchester United at Old Trafford and also earning a 2-2 draw away to Arsenal.
And Holloway has been impressed with the way Hodgson has implemented a fresh style in south London as Palace look to push on and potentially earn a top-10 finish this term.
He said: “I think he and Ray Lewington deserve a medal, you know.
“What they have done is change the style. I was asked to change the style, Alan Pardew was asked and Frank de Boer was asked.
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“But when you are playing in the Premier League it is tough to change the style. Quietly behind the scenes, Roy has done that with the help of Ray Lewington. I think it is sensational.
“There is speculation all the time and he rides right over it. If he was 40, what would people say about him? Does his age mean he is not capable anymore? It doesn’t, there is some ageism at play here.
“The more knowledge you gain the better you become in your life. Roy deserves massive credit, I’m delighted in what Palace are doing.”
Rarely credited
Holloway is right in that Hodgson sometimes misses out on the credit he deserves.
Palace are established as a proper Premier League club now and have been solidly finishing clear of the relegation zone since 2013/14.
A lot of that is down to Hodgson, who was appointed in 2017.
He helped them to an 11th-placed finish in 2017/18 after a dismal start and also eventually took them clear of the relegation zone last season.
Did he really play for us?! No Palace fan has managed to name all of these obscure Eagles signings….
This is a manager who is probably punching above his weight with Palace and, while there is a question as to whether they can take the next step, Hodgson deserves immense credit for the job he has done at the club.
Whether he will get it or not is quite another matter.
Meanwhile, Palace have been linked with a former Premier League striker.
