Why Crystal Palace offering Hodgson a new deal would be wise
According to a Daily Mail report, Roy Hodgson is set to sign a new contract with South London club Crystal Palace.
After signing for the Eagles in September 2017, and with his current contract due to expire at the end of the season, the former England boss is on the verge of extending his tenure at Selhurst Park.
Hodgson, 72, created a new record this February when he surpassed Sir Bobby Robson’s record as the oldest serving boss in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace have kick-started their league campaign on a good note, winning 4 of their opening 11 matches.
With 15 points on board, they trail fifth-placed Arsenal by two points and are ahead of fallen giants Manchester United.
Earlier, Palace chairman Steve Parish had confirmed that a new deal was on the table and that talks had begun.
For Hodgson, age is clearly just a number. Nevertheless, let’s analyze if the new deal would be in the best interests of the club and its fans.
Hodgson – A true saviour
Palace were a sinking ship when Hodgson took over the reins from his predecessor Frank de Boer.
Four successive defeats at the beginning of the 2017-18 season led to a rocky time for the former manager.
However, Hodgson faced a bumpy ride ahead. Unable to register a single goal and with three defeats after his arrival, the situation was clearly unwelcoming.
Hodgson and Palace finally managed to break the deadlock with a win over Chelsea in a London derby in October, thereby ending a 731-minute dry spell without a league goal.
Improved show
From a club hovering in the relegation zone to an 11th place finish by the end of the season, Hodgson won hearts at Palace.
A mid-table finish (12th) in the 2018-19 campaign followed, signalling a new era of football under the Croydon-born man.
Hodgson’s success illustrated the fact that a club need not shell out millions to taste glory. Before his tenure as Crystal Palace’s manager, the Eagles were one of the lower-placed clubs often fighting to avoid relegation.
In 2016-17, they were placed 14th while in the season before, they had finished a lowly 15th.
Passion and man-management
Hodgson’s arrival ushered a new sense of life into a Palace squad that looked doomed.
Known for his simplistic ways, Hodgson has been a part of numerous great things for the Eagles – a clear indication of his fine-man management skills.
For instance, Gary Neville, who worked alongside Hodgson as his assistant during their time with the England national side (2012-16), spoke of his memories of the 72-year old’s never-dying passion for the game.
Read More Crystal Palace News
- Crystal Palace signing this proven Chelsea hitman would boost their goalscoring prowess
- Crystal Palace would secure a top-seven finish if Hodgson makes these 3 key changes at the earliest – Agreed?
- Who is this 18-year-old Scottish prodigy being chased by Crystal Palace? – Here’s all you need to know
By all means, Roy’s arrival at Palace was a ray of hope while they were reeling at the bottom. And hence, the Eagles should keep him if they want to soar higher and achieve greater things.
