MY ACCOUNT
Roy Hodgson has silenced his doubters with three wins from three since returning to the Crystal Palace dugout.
The ex-England boss, 75, came out of retirement last month to try and help steer his boyhood club clear of relegation following Patrick Vieira’s sacking.
Despite plenty questioning his appointment, Hodgson has quickly revitalised a team who were winless in 13 and sliding towards the Championship prior to his arrival.
We take a closer look at the wily coach’s impressive impact.
Build from the back
Saturday’s 2-0 win at Southampton was only the third time this season Palace had combined a Premier League victory with a clean sheet.
Though Eberechi Eze’s second-half brace stole the headlines, the Saints started on the front foot and Hodgson’s backline had to weather an early storm.
Their dogged defending — combined with some woeful finishing from the hosts — allowed the Eagles to grow into the contest and eventually show a ruthless cutting edge.
Hodgson explained: “I thought Southampton were good in the first half. They played with a lot of energy and intensity and made runs behind us which stretched our defending capacity to the hilt.
“We got through that, largely down to a back four that did a really good job under that pressure.”
Eze excelling
One player who has starred under Hodgson’s watch is creative midfielder Eze.
Remarkably, the ex-QPR ace had managed only four goals in 28 top-flight appearances under Vieira this term, but already has three in three under Hodgson.
The 24-year-old’s technical ability has never been in doubt, with England manager Gareth Southgate previously name-checking Eze as a player firmly in his thoughts.
Hodgson, who coached the Three Lions between 2012 and 2016, thinks his fellow Londoner has what it takes to star on the international stage.
He said: “If you are talking about a player’s ambition, as young as he is, there’s a massive possibility for him to keep improving and doing well with every Premier League game he plays.
“If I was him, I would be saying: ‘I’m so good, that I’m going to make that [England] my ambition’.”
Confidence is king
While statistics are one way of measuring a team’s improvement, confidence is an equally important factor to consider.
Since gaining a crucial late victory over Leicester, Palace’s players are now playing with a level of freedom not seen for some time.
And when the Eagles took a whopping 31 shots in that clash, it was clear that Hodgson had briefed his men to shake off the fear that had shackled them during Vieira’s final days.
Prior to seeing off the Foxes, the tactician said: “Our main task, as I see it, having taken over a group which is clearly stronger technically than the one we left behind two years ago, is to make sure those players don’t lose faith or start thinking we aren’t capable.
“It’s so easy to lose confidence and make you doubt all the things you think you’re good at doing.”
Inspired choice
Palace took plenty of stick for disposing of Vieira, who had endured a tough run of fixtures prior to his sacking.
But regardless of whether the Frenchman would have turned things around, Hodgson’s temporary return has proven an inspired choice from the Eagles hierarchy.
Should his remarkable winning run continue, speculation may start relating to an extension of his contract — though all sides are still said to view the venture as a short-term exercise.
If this is indeed Hodgson’s managerial swansong, it is proving a fitting farewell for one of football’s most versatile and underrated coaches.
