Crystal Palace season review: Roy Hodgson to the rescue in campaign of two halves
Patrick Vieira was sacked in mid-March with Palace three points above the drop and winless in 2023.
The Eagles turned over a new lead following the return of Roy Hodgson and comfortably stayed up.
Here, Standard Sport assesses the 2022-23 season at Selhurst Park…
Season in one word: Varied.
Star of the show: Eberechi Eze. Struggled under Patrick Vieira but has been reborn under Roy Hodgson and earned his first England call-up from Gareth Southgate yesterday.
Biggest letdown: Jean-Philippe Mateta. Two goals in 31 appearances is not a great record for a striker and Palace are likely to upgrade with a new frontman in this summer’s transfer window.
Most improved player: Michael Olise. The winger was already a star last season but he has taken his game to another level and, already a France Under-21 international, is being targeted by Paris Saint-Germain.
Game to remember: A 5-1 win over Leeds in Hodgson’s second game in charge was one of the standout results of the season as they turned a corner in their battle to stay up.
Game to forget: Palace failed to score in 19 shots in a 4-0 home defeat by Tottenham, exposing their inefficiency under Vieira, and were blown away by four second-half goals.
Rising star: Cheick Doucoure. Only West Ham’s Declan Rice has made more interceptions in the Premier League this season than the £21m signing from Lens.
Manager verdict: Whether his sacking was harsh or not, Palace were drained of confidence under Vieira. Bringing back 75-year-old Hodgson has proved a masterstroke.
Fans’ mood: Optimistic, but so much depends on whether Wilfried Zaha, Marc Guehi and Hodgson stay on next season.
Grade: B
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