Every mid-table Premier League side faces the same questions: Do they look to stay up every year or push on to try and challenge for Europe? Do they rotate for cup competitions or play strong sides to go on a cup run? For Crystal Palace, it is the former for both.
Since being promoted back to the top-flight in 2013, the south London side have finished as high as 10th with 15th their lowest position. Under the careful stewardship of Steve Parish and a fearsome support, Palace have become a stable side but Parish now finds the club in transition.
Manager Roy Hodgson, 73, is out of contract in June along with 15 first-team players. Some are back-ups like Stephen Henderson or Connor Wickham but there is also Jeffrey Schlupp and Andros Townsend, two who play frequently. The average age of the squad is 29.5 and signings such as Eberechi Eze and Nathan Ferguson have seen a regeneration in some areas. With an overhaul happening in the summer, Hodgson may not be the right person to oversee that.
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| Roy Hodgson as England manager in the Euro 2012 quarter-final against Italy Photo by Олег Дубинa |
Palace did look to take a different direction before Hodgson's arrival when Frank de Boer was appointed ahead of the 2017-18 season. Schooled in Dutch football, he tried to implement his Cruyffian values, therefore a more attacking style, but it was an awful outcome. The players at his disposal were not suited to the 3-4-3 formation and after four matches and no goals scored, he was dismissed. Hodgson came in, ended the fire and moved from bottom to 11th.
The Englishman has a different outlook to de Boer. It is about defensive organisation, keeping a rigid shape and counter-attacking. Finishing 12th and 14th in the following seasons was key to further stabilising Palace but firing de Boer so early underlined a sense of panic at the club. He looked to progress but at the first sign of trouble, Hodgson was brought in and has become Mr. Reliable.
Hodgson is a likeable figure but his football relies on the results to do the talking. Palace are 13th, 11 points above relegation, but have conceded 52 goals in 31 matches, scoring just 33. The basis of Hodgson's sides comes from a strong defence but one that has conceded seven once, four and three the same amount of times is the antithesis of that.
Through age and style of football, Hodgson is not the manager that could take Palace forward. As with the squad increasingly having a younger feel, the man in the dugout may go down the same road. Paulo Fonseca, Frank Lampard and Patrick Vieira, all 40 something-years-old, have all been mentioned as Hodgson's successor.
With a whole starting line-up out of contract, choosing to replace Hodgson could backfire on Parish. It would be a tough job for a manager with no knowledge of how the club works to get the recruitment right as they transition to targeting younger players. That may be playing of Parish's mind. The results and performances are, too.
Chelsea would be expected to beat Crystal Palace but the manner of the 4-1 defeat was concerning. Thomas Tuchel's side attacked at ease and the Palace defence of old wouldn't be as feeble. Kai Havertz was given all the space he wanted in the false nine position. He was the best player of on the pitch because Palace let him be. The 4-4-2 is not as effective anymore. Fresh ideas are needed.
Off the pitch, improvements have been made at the academy. In July 2020, Palace were approved Category One status, the highest possible level that places them alongside Liverpool and Manchester United. South London is a hotbed for young talent and the quality of players coming through will only improve.
Hodgson is at odds with Palace's new strategy, shown by who he picks at left-back. Tyrick Mitchell, 21 and an academy graduate, started the season as first-choice and impressed. Towards the end of January, Patrick van Aanholt, 30 and out of contract, regained his place. He displays a lack of defensive understanding and is often caught out of position. It sends a negative message to young players when Hodgson picks an older player when he could potentially develop someone younger.
Starting 45 years ago, Hodgson's managerial career has been remarkable. He has travelled around the world, revolutionising Swedish football, managing Inter Milan twice and infamously Liverpool. His legacy in English football will always be that desperate night against Iceland but to still be going strong at his age is a sign of Hodgson's immense love of the game and he deserves everybody's respect.
There is a time, though, when it has to end. One day will be the last time the terrible twosome of Hodgson and Ray Lewington bark orders at their winger or goalkeeper. With his football now stale and Crystal Palace looking to go in a direction Hodgson seems incompatible with, these last months may be his last.
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