This article is part of Football FanCast’s Off the Bench series, which places in-game managerial decisions and squad selections under FFC’s microscope.
Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace aren’t a free-flowing, imaginative outfit to say the least.
It’s almost as if the 72-year-old isn’t aware that there are three points on offer at times – a mere onlooker wouldn’t be chastised for thinking that the former England manager believes that there is only one point available and he must set his side up to defend it.
The Eagles are a side of monstrous conservatism under the Premier League’s oldest ever manager – while he may well keep the south Londoners in the division, it won’t be much fun to watch.
Snapshot
Last time out against Chelsea, the above sentiments were echoed for all to see.
Palace only had one shot on target throughout the entire 90 minutes, and failed to have a shot on goal in the first-half for the first time since March 2014.
The Eagles were a side stuck in a rigid system with nobody in white even trying to do anything adventurous against Frank Lampard’s side.
Incidentally, there was one moment that summed Hodgson’s mindset up to a tee.
82nd minute decision – what was the point?
With the south Londoners 2-0 down heading into the last ten minutes, surely any manager would’ve thrown Christian Benteke – Palace’s only attacker on the bench – into the mix to see if the Belgian striker could conjure anything up, right?
The former Liverpool man probably wouldn’t have been able to do anything, seeing as he has scored four goals in his last 61 appearances, but it’s the thought that counts.
But no. What did Hodgson do?
Instead of bringing his only attacker on, the 72-year-old decided to introduce James McCarthy for Cheikhou Kouyate in the 82nd minute, for reasons that only Hodgson himself will know.
Was it for damage limitation purposes? Did Hodgson think McCarthy – a man with 28 goals in almost 400 career appearances – would be the one to turn the game around?
It just reeked of the former West Brom and Fulham boss having absolutely no intention to even trouble the Chelsea backline, and that he was more than happy to get out of Stamford Bridge having conceded just twice.
Palace are the second-lowest scorers in the Premier League with just ten goals in 12 games, and no decision will epitomise Hodgson more than his 82nd minute substitution against Chelsea.
