Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has sparked debate amongst the fanbase by claiming that supporters should be happy with the club’s current ambitions.
Since promotion in 2013, Crystal Palace have not been embroiled in any close relegation calls, but they have not qualified for Europe either, keeping a fairly steady pace around mid-table.
This season, results have reflected what Crystal Palace have been doing in recent years, with the club currently in 13th place, 10 points ahead of the bottom three and six points behind sixth place after 12 games.
However, fans can hardly be blamed for wanting the club to hold loftier ambitions than constant mid-table finishes, and Hodgson has just contradicted what chairman Steve Parish has said in the past.
Roy Hodgson’s comments on Crystal Palace ambition
Speaking via The Athletic, Hodgson hit out at fans who are critical over the club’s perceived malaise in mid-table, highlighting how Charlton saw the negative effects of trying to punch above their weight.
“Those of us in the Premier League have to accept we are in a very privileged position to play in this league and offer our fans the quality of football they can see at home every week,” Hodgson stated.
“We hope every year we will do a bit better. That’s a clear ambition but so many factors are going to play a part.
“I’m tired of hearing people talk about moving to the next level because moving to the next level reminds me of Charlton.”
Hodgson has contradicted Steve Parish
Parish has made comments in the past on multiple occasions about how he wants to see Palace move up another level, in direct contrast to Hodgson’s insistence that Palace should not aim higher than they currently are.
“If you want sustainable long-term success then you’ve got to improve the infrastructure, and for me at least you feel like you’re moving forward,” Parish stated on The Overlap in May.
“I mean what’s the point of just being here for 10 years, just to cling on the status of being in the division and the odd cup final? I mean that’s great and it’s a lot of joy for fans and it’s not worthless, but it doesn’t leave anything for anybody does it, it doesn’t make the club any better in the long term.”
Parish has told fans time and time again that they can expect the club to move forward to reach “the next level,” but the current manager does not seem to think it will be possible any time soon.
Hodgson’s contract runs out at the end of the season, and a lot of fans would like a change of direction with a long-term plan to start pushing up the table a bit, or to play a more entertaining style of football, as right now there appears to be no hope that the club will break their current monotonous cycle.
