Ex-Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson left the club in the summer of 2021 after four years in charge; Palace have also spoken to a number of candidates, including ex-Borussia Monchengladbach boss Adi Hutter
20:02, UK, Friday 17 March 2023
Roy Hodgson is in talks to return as Crystal Palace manager following Patrick Vieira’s sacking.
Hodgson, 75, left Palace in the summer of 2021 after four years in charge and is now the clear front-runner to take over Vieira, who was sacked on Friday morning after 18 months in the job.
Palace have spoken to a number of candidates, including Adi Hutter, who was most recently head coach at German side Borussia Mönchengladbach.
But Hodgson is the clear frontrunner to take over Vieira.
Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish talks exclusively to Sky Sports News about why the club made the decision to sack Patrick Vieira
Palace have already confirmed that U21 head coach Paddy McCarthy will take charge of the Eagles’ next game at Arsenal on Sunday, supported by assistant Darren Powell and goalkeeping coach Dean Kiely.
Palace President Steve Parish has said this exclusively Sky Sports news that he will not rush to appoint Vieira’s successor.
Parish said: “Football is a strange game because things can go wrong very quickly. If you feel like you can’t get out of a rut then unfortunately you have to make a change.
“Maybe things have changed [for the better] anyway but i couldn’t be sure so i made the call i have and we’ll go from here.
Sky Sports News reporter Michael Bridge takes a closer look at the numbers behind Crystal Palace’s slump this season and where things went wrong for Vieira at Selhurst Park
“Everyone loved Patrick, he never lost the players. They were still running for him, but nothing happened. We just hope now that there is a new impulse, some other ideas.”
“Maybe we can surprise the opponent by doing something different, because we have good players and a good team. They followed Patrick and now they will follow Paddy.” [McCarthy] and Darren [Powell] to do the best for the football club.
“The mood is never bad and everyone is positive and believes we can win games. Everyone is still positive for the game against Arsenal on Sunday. We don’t look beyond Sunday. We don’t interview managers while we have the current set-up .” because that would be disrespectful.
“We want to give Paddy and Darren a clear chance on Sunday. We have our own list and things like that, but our focus is on facing Arsenal.”
“Firing Vieira was a mistake – Zaha will be disappointed”
Clinton Morrison believes Patrick Vieira’s dismissal from Crystal Palace is the wrong decision and believes Vieira bought togetherness to the side
Former Crystal Palace striker Clinton Morrison speaking to Sky Sports News:
“For me it’s not the right decision – I don’t think he should have been sacked. I know the run they’ve been on is terrible – without winning since the new year. But I speak to a lot of people at Palace, around the place there has been a lot of togetherness and that is thanks to Patrick.
“I know it’s a results-based industry, but the run of games they’ve played is ridiculous. After Arsenal, the next five or six games are all winable. I would have stayed with him. I don’t know what other manager can come.” in and turn it over.
“It’s a tough job and I don’t know who’s out there. Someone like a Jesse Marsch? What Palace are used to under Patrick Vieira may be different to what a new manager comes in and implements.”
Former Crystal Palace player Darren Ambrose believes decision to sack Vieira was the right one to avoid relegation
“So it will take time and Palace don’t have time. They’re in a relegation battle, you need confidence and you need someone to come in and take the team to the next level. There will be someone because you don’t have time.” making hasty decisions like firing Vieira without anyone standing in line.
“I think the investment in January was not good enough, Vieira needed help strengthening other areas.
“The biggest problem at Palace is scoring goals. They are too dependent on Wilfried Zaha and he has been a bit injured lately. Other players need to step up, there are two players in Ebere Eze and Michael Olise that I I think they go to the very top, I think Palace will hold up because they have talented players in the team.
“There are many players who love Vieira, the harmony there is. Zaha and Vieira had a brilliant relationship. I can’t speak for him, but he could be disappointed.”
Crystal Palace’s next matches
When Palace regroup after the March international break, their next six games against teams will be below them in the table.
The last time the Eagles played a team below them in the league was against Bournemouth on New Year’s Eve in 2022, which was Vieira’s last win in charge.
March 19 – Arsenal (a)
April 1st – Leicester (h)
April 8 -Leeds (a)
15 of April – Southampton (one)
April 22nd – Everton (h)
April 25 – Wolves (a)
April 29 -West Ham (h)