Many Crystal Palace fans have had their say on Roy Hodgson’s excuses for playing two players out of position in the full-back positions last night as they bowed out of the Carabao Cup to Colchester United.
The Eagles crashed out of the competition to fourth-tier Colchester after they beat them 5-4 on penalties following a 0-0 draw at Selhurst Park.
During the game, Sam Woods and Jairo Riedewald were both forced to occupy the full-back positions – something that Roy Hodgson put down to lack of cover within the squad.
Centre-back Sam Woods made his full Palace debut at right-back, while Riedewald – a central midfielder – played at left-back for the Eagles.
Speaking to South London Press, Roy Hodgson said: “I felt sorry for Sam Woods and Jairo Riedewald – having to play as full-backs.
“Sam is an U23 centre-back and he had to play right-back in a fairly attacking formation in the second half when we had a lot of the ball.
“Jairo, who is a central midfielder, had to play at left-back because neither Patrick van Aanholt or Joel Ward were available.”
Crystal Palace were unable to reinforce either position this window despite only having two established options at either role.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka left the club to join Manchester United meaning that only Joel Ward and Martin Kelly can comfortably play right-back – the latter of which is having to play at centre-half at the moment due to injuries to Mamadou Sakho and James Tomkins.
On the left, Patrick van Aanholt and Jeff Schlupp are the only two who are established in that position – and even Schlupp is much more accustomed to left-midfield than full-back, as shown on Transfermarkt.
Palace fans had a mixed say on Twitter, with many pointing fingers at Roy, while others were backing him up saying it was purely the fault of Dougie Freedman – the sporting director – and the rest of Palace’s board. Others just begged that van Aanholt and Ward would be fit to play come Saturday versus Aston Villa.
Here are some of the responses below…
https://twitter.com/tharley1983/status/1166526199264202752?s=20
https://twitter.com/dougCPFC/status/1166474954579296257?s=20
We kept wilf it’s all that matters…in their eyes
— James Ryan (@MisterJRyan) August 27, 2019
Lack of players because of the lack of signings, I don’t see the point risking any of them for this cup. League is more important
— DM (@MRDMM89) August 27, 2019
https://twitter.com/TAKTIKT0E/status/1166482630998712321?s=20
https://twitter.com/chxpmxn44/status/1166484673167581189?s=20
Ok, please tell me they’ll be fit for the weekend.
— Crystal Palace Waco (@PalaceWaco) August 27, 2019
