Crystal Palace: Roy Hodgson close to finalising Selhurst Park return to replace Patrick Vieira until end of season | Football News

Roy Hodgson is close to completing a deal to take over as Crystal Palace manager until the end of the season.

The 75-year-old will replace Patrick Vieira, who was fired on March 17 after less than two years.

Former England boss Hodgson will return for a second spell at Selhurst Park, having managed the Eagles between September 2017 and May 2021.

He is scheduled to be appointed despite saying last May, when he will end a short spell in charge of Watford: “I don’t think we will advance the name again for further stories in the world of Premier League football.”

The club’s U21 head coach Paddy McCarthy oversaw Sunday’s 4-1 defeat by Arsenal, supported by assistant Darren Powell and goalkeeping coach Dean Kiely.

Istana have retained 12th place since the turn of the year, but their poor run of form – 13 games in all competitions without a win and just six goals scored – has left them three points above the relegation zone with 10 games to go.

Premier League Standings

Here’s how the current relegation battle is shaping up:

Next game Crystal Palace

When Palace regroup after the March international break, the next six games are against the bottom teams in the table.

The last time the Eagles played a team below the league was against Bournemouth on New Year’s Eve in 2022, which was Vieira’s last win in charge.

Leicester (H) – Saturday, April 1 at 3 p.m

Leeds (A) – Sunday, April 9 at 2:00 p.m

Southampton (A) – Saturday, April 15 at 3 p.m

Everton (H) – Saturday, April 22 at 3 p.m

wolf (A) – Tuesday 25 April, 19.30

West Ham (H) – Saturday 29 April, 12.30pm

‘Sacking Vieira is a mistake – Zaha will be disappointed’

Former Crystal Palace striker Clinton Morrison spoke to Sky Sports News on Friday:

“For me, it’s not the right call – I don’t think he should be fired. I know the race he’s had is terrible – without a win since the New Year. But I spoke to a lot of people at the Palace. down to Patrick.

“I know this is an industry based on results, but the games they are playing are absurd. After Arsenal, the next five or six games are all winnable. I will always stay with him. I don’t know another manager who can come in and turn it around it’s around.

“It’s a difficult task and I don’t know who is out there. Someone like Jesse Marsch? What palace is used in Patrick Vieira may be different with the new manager who comes in and implements it.

“So it will take time and Palace don’t have time. They are in a relegation battle, you need confidence and you need people who will come in and lift the team. There will be people, like those who don’t. make a hasty decision like sacking Vieira without people in line.

“I believe the investment was not good enough in January, Vieira needs help to strengthen other areas.

“The biggest problem with Palace is scoring goals. They are very dependent on Wilfried Zaha and he has been injured for a while. Other players have to step up, there are two players in Ebere Eze and Michael Olise who I think will go to the top. I think Palace will stay up because they have talented players in their team.

“There are many players who like Vieira, the harmony is there together. Zaha and Vieira have a good relationship. I can’t speak for him but he might be disappointed.”