The timeless Roy Hodgson just cannot get enough.
Crystal Palace have hired the 75-year-old on a one-season deal, two years after he signalled his intention to retire from management.
Since then, the former England boss has signed up to a doomed four-month spell at Watford, before returning to Palace and saving them from relegation last season.
Now, he has cast aside any intention of putting his feet up by signing up for more at Selhurst Park.
Stated ambition
Hodgson has little to lose from this one bonus campaign, perhaps explaining his bullish outlook heading into the new season.
Upon agreeing his new contract, the nomadic manager said: “I know what a fantastic squad we have here.
“As such, we have set ourselves the target of a top-half finish, which we believe is eminently achievable with such a fabulous group of players.”
Traditionally pragmatic, Hodgson’s new-found optimism could be a nice fit for Palace, who have finished 10th or lower in every top-flight season since promotion in 2013.
But it is Palace’s youngest players who he must connect with most in order to secure that top-10 ambition.
- Jordan Ayew extends his Crystal Palace deal for another year.
- Police and FA investigating after Crystal Palace boss Vieira was involved in an argument with a fan.
Eberechi Eze, 25, has established himself as the golden Eagle, while Marc Guehi (22), Cheick Doucoure (23) and Michael Olise (21) are also crucial members of his team.
Upon his first England call-up last month, Eze said: “I am very grateful to Roy for all he did in helping me regain form. He helped me massively with my mental state, too.
“He has insane wisdom.”
Read more: All the latest Premier League news
Departing talisman
One player it seems Hodgson may not be able to count upon is talisman Wilfried Zaha, who is out of contract and interesting many potential suitors.
Zaha is said to have offers from Lazio, Fenerbahce and Al-Ettifaq, as well as Palace, but would surely have signed by now were he convinced by his boyhood club’s proposal.
Instead, the South Londoners will likely have to find a way to replace a forward who has scored 68 goals in 291 top-flight matches for the Eagles.
Even despite the emergence of Eze and Olise, replacing Zaha’s nine goal contributions from 27 matches last season will be no simple task.
Read more: All the latest transfer news
Off the leash
Eberechi Eze was given the freedom to roam under Roy Hodgson last season
Eberechi Eze was given the freedom to roam under Roy Hodgson last season
While Hodgson has traditionally used Zaha as the difference-maker in a regimented system, he can recreate the Ivory Coast international’s output by encouraging more freedom from his other attackers.
There were positive signs in that regard towards the end of last season, particularly in the 5-1 win at Leeds in April achieved in Zaha’s absence.
Eze was the key at Elland Road, roaming left and right to create overloads with wingers Olise and Jordan Ayew, who made movements inside to score and assist.
The manner in which Eze was let off the leash was perhaps the most impressive element of Palace’s renaissance in the final weeks of the campaign and is the key to unlocking the team’s potential this time around.
SOURCE: livescore.com
