Tony Cascarino has been writing about Crystal Palace and Roy Hodgson in his column for The Times, and it’s tough to disagree with his thoughts.
The former Celtic, Chelsea and Marseille player wrote about how he thinks the Eagles will just about survive under the England international, although added that he thinks there isn’t much for the Selhurst Park faithful to shout about right now.
Crystal Palace have won just three of their last 19 games in all competitions, scoring the fewest goals in the Premier League this term having found the back of the net just 23 times in 26 outings.
What did he say?
Cascarino wrote: “I have a strong sense that there is something going on among Crystal Palace fans and the defeat away to Everton certainly won’t help.
“They have seen only ten Premier League goals in their 13 home games so far, comfortably the lowest in the division, there is a lack of adventure in their playing style — and a real lack of investment from their board. This all makes for one unhappy fanbase. Since early December they have had only one win in ten Premier League outings, a run that has emphasised their vulnerability. My instinct is that they will survive thanks to Roy Hodgson, but they will grind their way over the line.”
Hits the nail on the head
Cascarino couldn’t be much more correct with his comments on the Eagles’ situation.
Regardless of whether or not Hodgson keeps the south Londoners in the Premier League, the fanbase have plenty to be unhappy about.
Their side have the oldest manager in Premier League history, and recently named their oldest ever Premier League starting XI against Everton – that lineup had an average age of 30 years and 101 days.
There is a very distinct lack of direction at the club, and it very much feels as if the Eagles are just trying to keep their heads above water year after year rather than laying the building blocks in place for a successful future.
Someone’s got to own them: Who do these incredibly unwanted PL records belong to?
Also, the silence from the club’s American investors Josh Harris and David Blitzer is deafening – Bloomberg reported that they were keen to sell their share in the Eagles back in 2019, and an alarming lack of investment since then has added weight to that report. Palace spent less than £5m in the summer, and made just one loan addition in the recent January window.
Cascarino is right – the Crystal Palace fanbase certainly have reason to be unhappy.
In other news, this Crystal Palace target may have left Dougie Freedman drooling with his latest performance…