Roy Hodgson is aiming to provide a “little bit more cheer” for disgruntled Crystal Palace fans over the second half of the season.
The 76-year-old has come in for criticism from sections of the Palace support in recent weeks and they again showed their dissatisfaction during the FA Cup defeat at Everton in midweek when Hodgson withdrew Eberechi Eze with the Eagles 1-0 down.
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Hodgson is confident, though, that better times are ahead. Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Arsenal, he said: “The fans have been with the club a long time, they’ve seen the trials and the tribulations.
“I’m certain they dream one day that there will be no more trials and tribulations but they’re used to helping the team get through these periods of time.
“I think we’re going to give them a little bit more cheer in the second half of the season, if we get players back and we start playing in a way we know we can play.
“I know they’ll stick with us and will be cheering the team on and pushing us forward, but it’s up to us to give them something to cheer about.”
Hear from the manager ahead of our trip to the Emirates tomorrow ????️
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) January 19, 2024
Hodgson believes better performances will arrive when he is able to field his strongest side. Palace have struggled with injuries this season, most notably to star duo Eze and Michael Olise, who remains sidelined with a hamstring problem.
He added: “Unfortunately the way things have gone, it’s become a bit harder for us.
“But when people like Michael and Eberechi start playing together, which to be frank they haven’t done very often, when and if we can keep that group together, we will start to the climb the table, that’s for sure.
“But there’s a lot of work to do on the training field and with the players because it’s so easy to say the things I’m saying but it’s all about what you do on the field of play – that’s where the proof of the pudding will be.
“But I believe that we’ve got players who will help us climb the table and then we’ll see how high we can get.”
Palace are 14th in the Premier League, five points above the relegation zone.
