MX23RW : Thursday, December 19 00:32:00| >> :120:7832:7832:
[monks data]
Attendance: 25,151
Crystal Palace logo
Premier League | Gameweek 1
Aug 10, 2019 at 3pm UK
 
Everton logo

0-0

FT

Roy Hodgson urges Crystal Palace fans to back wantaway Wilfried Zaha

Roy Hodgson urges Crystal Palace fans to back Wilfried Zaha
© Reuters
The Palace boss said he hoped fans would support the 26-year-old after he pushed for a move away from Selhurst Park.

Roy Hodgson urged Crystal Palace fans to be "sympathetic" to Wilfried Zaha ahead of their first Premier League game of the season against Everton on Saturday.

The former England manager hopes the fans will support the 26-year-old who reportedly submitted a transfer request ahead of Thursday's deadline.

Having already sold Aaron-Wan Bissaka to Manchester United, Palace were able to hold on to their key forward despite him being linked with Everton and Arsenal.

"You can't control fans' reactions. Fans will react in the way they feel they should react," said Hodgson.

"Of course I hope that they won't get on Wilf's back. I hope they'll be sympathetic to him and will help him produce more good performances for the team.

"But whatever happens, Wilf will have to deal with that, just as he has had to deal with his disappointment over the last few days in the transfer window.

"I'm expecting him to be able to do those things. But it would be nice if our fans can draw a line under it and give him the support he needs to produce the performances that I as a manager and we as a team really need from him."

The Palace boss said he expected Zaha to perform as he had before, despite his desire to move but admitted that if players refuse to play it can harm the team.

Hodgson was Liverpool manager when Javier Mascherano refused to play after the first game of the season and acknowledged it did not do the team any good.

On whether he expected any similar behaviour from Zaha, he said: "No, I trust him totally.

"I'm expecting Wilf to go out and do on the training pitches and in matches what he has done during the two years that I have been here.

"Because there is no question that he has any disrespect for myself, the staff, the players and the coaches, not at all."

Hodgson has made a number of additions to his squad, with James McCarthy, Jordan Ayew, Gary Cahill, Victor Camarasa and Stephen Henderson all arriving at Selhurst Park.

Hodgson hopes Cahill can provide some experience in the defence after the former England and Chelsea defender joined Palace on a two-year deal.

When asked about the 33-year-old, Hodgson said: "He's in good shape. A lot of his summer's been spent working out where he's going to be playing his football in the coming season.

"But I've been really surprised. I don't think if you'd looked at our training sessions you'd have been able to see that this player is behind the others.

"I will make my decision tomorrow as to whether he starts or is on the bench."

ID:367637: cacheID:367637:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4043:
Written by
P A
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Crystal Palace attacker Wilfried Zaha celebrates scoring against West Ham on February 9, 2019
Read Next:
Hodgson: 'Wilfried Zaha still committed to Palace'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool15113131131836
2Chelsea16104237191834
3Arsenal1686229151430
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest168442119228
5Manchester CityMan City168352823527
6Bournemouth167452421325
7Aston Villa167452425-125
8Fulham166642422224
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton166642625124
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1672736191723
11Brentford167273230223
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle166552321223
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd166462119222
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham165472129-819
15Crystal Palace163761721-416
16Everton153661421-715
17Leicester CityLeicester163582134-1314
18Ipswich TownIpswich162681628-1212
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1623112440-169
20Southampton1612131136-255


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!