Former Leeds United player Danny Mills criticized Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson for his conservative substitutions against Everton on Wednesday night, accusing the Eagles of being eliminated from the FA Cup with a ‘whimper’
The two Premier League sides rescheduled their third-round match at Goodison Park after drawing 0-0 at Selhurst Park earlier this month. Again, there was nothing to divide the two teams. A magnificent Andre Gomes free kick just before halftime was all that separated the two sides in a 1-0 Toffees win.
With 25 minutes remaining in the second half, Hodgson made the unusual move of replacing important player Eberechi Eze with Matheus França. The Eagles manager was booed by travelling supporters at Goodison Park, who yelled “you don’t know what you’re doing”.
Former defender Mills, who was commentating on talkSPORT, also criticized Hodgson. He stated, “I understand Roy Hodgson is conservative by nature, but you’re 1-0 down in a cup match with 25 minutes to go away from home. Just throw caution to the wind, right? You might as well lose 2-0 than lose 1-0 and leave with a whimper.”
As the game came to an end, the commentator went on to say, “They haven’t really changed style or tact. Palace do not appear to be a team chasing the game.
Mills, who previously played for Charlton Athletic and Manchester City, also criticized Hodgson for replacing Odsonne Édouard with Jean-Philippe Mateta rather than deploying both strikers at the same time.
Crystal Palace is failed to score this year, and only Burnley and Sheffield United have fewer goals than the Eagles’ 22. The London club has been linked with forwards in the January transfer window, including Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah, but the Gunners refuse to trade their star without a replacement.
Leave a Comment