Club legend to save Crystal Palace at 75, fans not impressed

Last year, at the age of 74, he unsuccessfully rescued Watford from among England’s elite, and this year the same task awaits him with his beloved Crystal Palace. London club legend Roy Hodgson returns to the Seagulls bench, but the fans are not too happy.

Patrick Vieira has been removed as head coach of the A-team ahead of this weekend’s game against Arsenal. The management lost patience after the Seagulls failed to win 12 games in a row and failed to score for four games in a row.

Paddy McCarthy temporarily led the team in the London derby with the Gunners. It was his first game in the Premier League as a head coach, ironically he also made only one appearance among the English elite in the role of a player.

Now McCarthy will be assistant to 75-year-old Roy Hodgson. He has managed the England national team in the past, but most importantly he has coached 162 games for Palace and has become a club legend. He also spent part of his playing career here.

Still, fans are not happy about Hodgson’s return. Despite all his experience, he stamped out an unfashionable 4-4-2 formation at the end of his time at Palace, plus he played considerably less handsome football than Vieira.

That’s what fan Sean thinks. “Given that most of our remaining games will be against teams below and around us, we should have stuck with Vieira. Bad decision again, no support from above. Expecting miracles from managers instead of supporting them and giving them time,” was the most liked comment on Palace’s Facebook page announcing Hodgson’s arrival.

Supporter Brett believes Hodgson, also disapproves of Vieira’s write-off. “Should we have kept Vieira? Probably, but the problem is all the crybabies who complain non-stop. Roy deserves a chance. He’s a legend and he can do it again. Either way, just remember how far we’ve come. 10 years in the Premier League, I would never have believed it.”

And the Seagulls don’t really need to panic. They have the easiest lot of the league, they will still play Southampton, Bournemouth, Nottingham, Woves, Leeds, Leicester, Everton, West Ham and Fulham, with only Tottenham challenging the tougher ones.

Source: Crystal Palace, Facebook