Pundit backs Palace to stick with Paddy McCarthy

Former player Kenny Cunningham believes Crystal Palace should stick with interim coach Paddy McCarthy despite their humbling loss yesterday.

The Lowdown: Sacking Vieira looking more bizarre

Steve Parish and Crystal Palace made the shock decision to relieve Patrick Vieira of his duties despite having not faced anyone below them in the Premier League table this calendar year and it has thus far failed to yield a positive turnaround.

Despite Palace’s shocking run of form that’s seen them fail to win a game in the whole of 2023, they were still very solid and difficult to beat having not conceded more than two goals in a single match since January 4th.

This record was thrown out of the window immediately following Vieira’s sacking as they shipped four away to league leaders Arsenal, but despite this thrashing, former Republic of Ireland international Cunningham has backed McCarthy.

The Latest: McCarthy should be handed the chance to keep Palace up

While speaking on the Off The Ball YouTube channel, Cunningham has backed Palace to keep McCarthy in the hot seat for the remainder of the season.

He said: (7:55) “I can understand the clammer for Hodgson, a steady hand at the till, but I’ve got to be honest with you, if I was Steve Parish looking at that kind of performance, forget about the result, the performance today [Sunday] I’d be slightly encouraged in terms of thinking Paddy McCarthy is the man.

“If he’s got the kind of personality and he’s got a good response from the players using the week on the training ground and in the dressing room, somebody coming in with a new personality and has actually lifted the dressing room, perhaps there’s an argument for Paddy keeping it on from now until the end of the season.”

The Verdict: Parish would be taking an almighty risk by sticking by McCarthy

If Parish’s grand plan was to sack Vieira – an experienced coach at first-team level – only to then leave a very inexperienced McCarthy in charge would be wild thinking and also extremely irresponsible from a chairman of the football club.

While Cunningham believes Parish should be encouraged by what he saw at the Emirates, the facts are they worsened their goal difference by three and that has certainly helped the teams fighting relegation below them.

This certainly shouldn’t be rewarded and while going back to Roy Hodgson wouldn’t be the best way to show signs of a club moving forward, the retirees would surely be a better option than sticking with McCarthy.