In not to many words that makes some very relevant points. The young players , are they up to the job? Most people in the game would say no, and Hodgson has handled players of all age groups in his long career , I’m one glad to agree with him.
It is almost laughable that all managers have to give extended interviews week in week out with no one apparently wanting to hear the truth on everything relevant to a teams performances. He didn’t say they lost us the game , he said in so many words they are not good enough to be his subs. By referring to them as kids, people are talking about the young players involved as if they are children, they are young men, already earning exceptional money, and based on ability the potential to earn a whole lot more.
We know it’s been the trend for some time to not hurt the feelings of the young, but come on, they are not 17 years old on National Service are they, getting told a few home truths most days. Being told you are not doing well enough is always going to happen in football, you move on positively. Eze, didn’t get to us unscathed.
Added to that JRS, in. Particular , whom I have time for , is finding it very hard to cope with big international quality full backs , they just overwhelm him , mature man against young man. He can develop ,but to much of this will hurt his confidence far more than Roy saying your not ready, you need more time, public or otherwise.

Edited by Putitout (31 Oct 2023 2.46pm)

I don’t think Hodgson expected them to improve the situation , let alone win the game.
I think the point everyone seems to miss is. He hasn’t just found out they are not good enough. What you saw is all he has, and he hopes you know it ,
As ever in these games players had run themselves out, and needed subbing , so he had to get someone on, the lads are on the bench because there is no one else. People have questioned the line up and how it was used anyway , I would like to know who these improvements he could have changed the game with are? Personally I agree with Hodgson , for me JRS, was bullied out of the game,, Franca, was erratic , and a mistake away from disaster, and the French guy didn’t let us know he was there.

Last night I watched West Brom v Coventry whilst watching Pal@ce U21 v West Brom u21. The difference in physical presence, work rates and game awareness between the West Brom U21 team and their first team players was stark. It is exactly the same at Palace even the best of the youngsters fail to exhibit the physical presence, work rate and game awareness. We cannot afford to have youngsters in our side that show promise but contribute little more than one at a time if we want to survive. These lads will come through under Roy’s tutoring but to play three in the side at the same time against the Premier League leaders will very definitely weaken our side compared to playing our experienced professionals. Roy can only work with what he has been given and to me he is doing a pretty good job. He introduced the youngsters and it confirmed they are not yet ready to influence games.COYP

IMHO - Roy’s comments were unnecessarily negative - especially in a media environment..!!

What he should have said is something like “the premier league is tough, especially when you are playing a team at the top the of table and our younger players will learn from today’s experience” - same connotation - but without the negativity..!!

I get he may be frustrated with injuries and lack of investment - but there’s a time and a place to make those feelings known - and the full glare of the media wasn’t either the time or the place..!!

Conversely - this is the same Roy that has consistently ignored/discounted younger talent over his “favourite” under performing elder “more experienced” players - prime example - why was Riedewald in Fridays squad over Ozoh..??

Beyond that he has now got to pick these players up and motivate them…!!

In summary inappropriate comments at the wrong time to the wrong audience - not something you would expect from a Manager of Roy’s experience..!!

COYP

The debate is not so much should he criticise the young players ,as should it be public.
Not sure Sala, or DeBruyne, were criticised in public.but as with all young players criticism would have been part of their day to day. The fact is managers are not going to hang their future on being nice to players that don’t satisfy., no matter their age, yes there are ways to do it, and one might not be to do it in public.
I think Roy has crossed a line of sorts, but this has the appearance of something already being played out in house, if not it is now.
This situation has been sacking territory so why not now? Well indeed, why not? because Roy is an intelligent man fully aware of the sacking factors , it looks like a please your self to me, due to the provocation of the club not forming a more experienced squad for him to work with, .It’s just a case of Will the club bite?
If they did what sort of football genius is lurking out there to pick up the reigns?

The one thing Hodgson definitely is, is intelligent , which would indicate he doesn’t get bitten twice without a reaction. He has made it very clear on a number of occasions what he needed, what he wanted, because of that it’s hardly likely he wasn’t given to believe he would get what he wanted, needed. There is a thread elsewhere bemoaning the lack of the very numbers Hodgson said he wanted , once again ,more than once, and totally in line with the obvious.
Yes he knows this season is it for him, so break the habit of a lifetime not much to lose, go public just enough to let it be known thie situation he in is not his idea. We have to disagree.on what he already knew , you could say he should have known that’s all . Most people work on trust Hodgson , probably does.