Crystal Palace predictions: Eagles can thrive under Hodgson
- Crystal Palace have spent 10 consecutive seasons in the top flight
- Roy Hodgson is back in full-time charge of the Eagles
- Recommended bet: Crystal Palace Top-10 Finish
Crystal Palace have been a picture of consistency in the Premier League in recent seasons and, following the return of Roy Hodgson last term, they managed to secure another mid-table finish.
The summer has been focused on player retention rather than big-money signings but they could surprise a few in the 2023-24 campaign.
Last season
A miserable start to 2023 left Palace at risk of relegation and, following a 12-game winless run, Patrick Vieira was dismissed in March.
Former boss Hodgson was then drafted in as the Frenchman's replacement and he got the Eagles back on track, steering them to an 11th-placed finish.
In the process, Palace also put in a number of entertaining performances, thrashing Leeds 5-1 and edging West Ham 4-3 on their way to securing survival.
From Eberechi Eze to Michael Olise, last season also saw a number of Palace's younger players take their game to the next level.
The manager
Hodgson's return was not met by cheers from all corners of the Palace fan base last season but the 75-year-old showed he can still mix it at the top level by guiding the club to survival for the fifth time in his career.
When appointing Vieira, Palace were evidently after a more enterprising head coach but the best attacking performances last season came under Hodgson's watch and he is still a reliable head coach to have in charge at Selhurst Park.
Transfers
Recruitment has been modest in Croydon this summer with defensive midfielder Jefferson Lerma arriving from Bournemouth on a free.
Beyond that, Palace have been quiet and the focus has been on keeping key players at the club.
One player they could not retain, however, was star forward Wilfried Zaha, who moved to Galatasaray on a free transfer after his contract expired.
Strengths and weaknesses
Home was where the heart was for Palace last season with seven of their 11 Premier League victories coming at Selhurst Park and results on their own patch should once again be crucial to their cause.
Defensively there can also not be too many complaints with their 49 goals conceded only two more than Chelsea and the partnership of Joachim Andersen and Marc Guehi at the back goes from strength to strength.
Eze and Olise also offer a decent creative threat but it is in the final third where Palace faltered last season, failing to score in 16 of their league fixtures – only Bournemouth (18) failed to find the net in more matches.
More is needed from striker Odsonne Edouard in particular if Palace are to improve this campaign.
Best outright bet
Palace have played 10 consecutive seasons in the top flight – a record for the club – and in that time they have not finished lower than 15th or higher than 10th.
They are one of the Premier League's more consistent clubs and it would be no surprise if they improved on last season's 11th-placed finish.
Zaha may have departed but the likes of Eze and Olise look ready to step up to the plate.
Their younger crop are a year older and will have Hodgson guiding them from the very start this season, so Palace have what it takes to break into the top half.
