SAKA, ANTONY AND 10 PREMIER LEAGUE STARS HEADING TO THEIR FIRST WORLD CUP
To answer the question straight away – no.
On the basis of the first eight Premier League games this season, Crystal Palace aren’t making progress under Roy Hodgson.
At this stage of the competition last term, the Eagles had 14 points to their name following a last-gasp 2-1 win away to West Ham.
After eight games of the current campaign, the south Londoners have 13 points to their name, and also boast a goal difference of zero as they did last season.
However, that isn’t to say that there aren’t things to be positive about.
Hodgson has overseen the rise of Jairo Riedewald. The Netherlands international is finally being given chances at Selhurst Park, and has managed to net his first Palace goal in his six Premier League appearances this term.
The former England manager is also finding ways to get more from Wilfried Zaha.
After scoring just four goals in 38 Premier League outings last season, the Ivory Coast international has already netted five after Hodgson moved him into a centre-forward role, with Eberechi Eze coming in from the left.
Additionally, in terms of the club’s league standing, fine margins come into play.
For example, if Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister didn’t score his 90th minute equaliser at Selhurst Park, Palace would have a point more than they did after eight games last season.
Hodgson is doing well this season, and it certainly feels like there’s more to come from the likes of Eze, Zaha and Michy Batshuayi.
