If you'd have told the average football fan that the first managerial sacking of the season would take place after just four games he'd most likely have laughed in your face. He'd be in hysterics when you then said Roy Hodgson would manage in the Premier League again. And he'd down right call you a liar when you then suggested that after the first 6 games the side at the bottom of the league would have zero points and zero goals. Now imagine the reaction when you tell him all of the pre-mentioned points happened to the same club. Come on in, Crystal Palace.
Crystal Palace. Just how has it gone so wrong so quickly? As the 2016/2017 season drew to a close, The Eagle's finished in a very respectable 14th position. With Benteke firing in the goals, Zaha causing havoc down the flanks, and Sahko looking solid at the back, it appeared that Palace where on the up. Well you asked and you shall receive, May 23rd 2017, Big Sam quits. The former England manager (very briefly yes, but still former England manager) had taken over at Selhurst Park and, despite some early turmoil, got his side playing the 'Big Sam way' in time for the Palace faithful to be able to watch another season of Premier League football this time around. The reason for Allardyce's departure appeared to be his desire to retire from management, stating he 'has no ambition to take another managerial position'. This was HUGE for Palace as Sam Allardyce's tactics had been what kept them up, and it had taken time to drill those tactics into the side. Now it was back to square one, and who was the man for the job?
Frank De Boer. The legendary Dutch centre back was tasked with carrying on from where Big Sam had left off. And what did he do? The exact opposite. Now, modern day football is much more tuned to the style of football De Boer wanted to play, a style similar to that of the Ajax side he was a part of for a decade. The Ajax side that managed to win five league titles, two domestic cups, and one Champions League title as well as one UEFA Cup. An Ajax side with the likes of Patrick Kluivert, Jari Litmanen, Frank Rjjkaard, Edgar Davids and Marc Overmars just to name a handful. One of the great sides in European history, playing one of the most attractive styles of football we've seen, and De Boer tried to translate a similar style to Crystal Palace. It doesn't take a genius to see how poor of a decision this was from De Boer, but when you look back at his former managerial roles you have to wonder, why did the club hire him in the first place? When Steve Parish sat down with the board of directors, and ironed out the deal to appoint Frank De Boer, did anyone in the room ask "Why are we hiring him?" A club that had clung onto Premier League survival with a manager famed for keeping poor teams up with an ugly, long ball and hard tackling style of play, wanted to hire a man who had only ever managed sides who, for one, were HUGE sides in their domestic leagues, and two, played fast paced, slick, attacking football. If this HAD been asked maybe Parry would have responded with "Yes but look at his success at Ajax!" Which would be a fair argument, De Boer did win four league titles in his first four years at Ajax... but then failed to win the Eredivisie in either of his final two seasons before leaving for Inter Milan. What happened at Inter you ask? I'm glad you brought it up! After spending big in the summer, the new manager was fired after just 88 days in charge. So, this was the man Palace we're hiring, not the legendary Dutch defender, not the all-conquering Ajax manager, but a man who's track record over the last three years could rival any as the worst in management. In all fairness to De Boer however, after a slow start, and by slow start I mean four defeats from four with ZERO goals, his side did appear to be slowly but surely, adapting to his style of play. But just like that, it appeared Steve Parish did some research into his new manager, and showed the Dutchman the door in record time. 4 games, 4 defeats, no goals, and now no manager. How could it possibly go worse?
Crystal Palace had managed to appoint their second former England manager in less than one calendar year. Take that however you like but the appointment of the 70 year old made him the oldest appointment in Premier League history. I'd pay to be a fly on the wall of any Palace fan for the moment they discovered the man who failed to manage England to a victory over Iceland, was now the captain of their rapidly sinking ship. In fairness to Roy, when in charge of 'smaller' sides he famously does quite well. He lead Fulham to a Europa League final, and over achieved with West Brom. But you have to ask yourself, is there ANY appointment in football history which has drawn less enthusiasm then this? Actually yes. When Hodgson was given the England job over Harry Redknapp! (But we won't go into that.) So, what has Roy done since being given the job? Has he registered Palace's first points of the season? No, two defeats, including a 5-0 hammering by Manchester City. Well surely they've scored a league goal by now? Again no, that makes it 6 games without a goal for Crystal Palace. And as if things couldn't get any worse, their top goalscorer and record signing from last season Christan Benteke is said to be out for up to 6 weeks with injury. This news means that, going into an extremely tough away trip to Manchester United, Palace have ZERO fit strikers. THIS is the chance for Roy to prove he isn't past it! This is the chance for him to earn the trust of the Palace fans! Solve this crisis, get some goals on the board, and prove the doubters wrong. Wait... he's after Carlton Cole to replace Benteke? FREE AGENT Carlton Cole? The man who hasn't scored a single goal for his last three clubs? Not a bright upstart from the academy, not a youngster on the fridges of the side, Carlton Cole. What was that I said about unenthusiastic?
Do you know what this reminds me off? Cast your mind back to 2008, Derby County, mid way through their first season back in the top flight of English football. They were rock bottom of the league and looked destined for relegation, and what did they do? They signed Robbie Savage and gave him the captain's armband. The rest is history as Derby ended with a historically low 11 points, which included just one win. Could Palace be on for a similar season? The signs are all there.
Crystal Palace had managed to appoint their second former England manager in less than one calendar year. Take that however you like but the appointment of the 70 year old made him the oldest appointment in Premier League history. I'd pay to be a fly on the wall of any Palace fan for the moment they discovered the man who failed to manage England to a victory over Iceland, was now the captain of their rapidly sinking ship. In fairness to Roy, when in charge of 'smaller' sides he famously does quite well. He lead Fulham to a Europa League final, and over achieved with West Brom. But you have to ask yourself, is there ANY appointment in football history which has drawn less enthusiasm then this? Actually yes. When Hodgson was given the England job over Harry Redknapp! (But we won't go into that.) So, what has Roy done since being given the job? Has he registered Palace's first points of the season? No, two defeats, including a 5-0 hammering by Manchester City. Well surely they've scored a league goal by now? Again no, that makes it 6 games without a goal for Crystal Palace. And as if things couldn't get any worse, their top goalscorer and record signing from last season Christan Benteke is said to be out for up to 6 weeks with injury. This news means that, going into an extremely tough away trip to Manchester United, Palace have ZERO fit strikers. THIS is the chance for Roy to prove he isn't past it! This is the chance for him to earn the trust of the Palace fans! Solve this crisis, get some goals on the board, and prove the doubters wrong. Wait... he's after Carlton Cole to replace Benteke? FREE AGENT Carlton Cole? The man who hasn't scored a single goal for his last three clubs? Not a bright upstart from the academy, not a youngster on the fridges of the side, Carlton Cole. What was that I said about unenthusiastic? 
Do you know what this reminds me off? Cast your mind back to 2008, Derby County, mid way through their first season back in the top flight of English football. They were rock bottom of the league and looked destined for relegation, and what did they do? They signed Robbie Savage and gave him the captain's armband. The rest is history as Derby ended with a historically low 11 points, which included just one win. Could Palace be on for a similar season? The signs are all there. 
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