There is a risk. :Crystal Palace boss explains why he’s reluctant to play Eze replacement
Crystal Palace boss explains why he’s reluctant to play Eze replacement v West Ham
Crystal Palace travel to West Ham today in what promises to be a difficult test, and the task is a lot harder given that Eberechi Eze is now absent.
The midfielder is set to miss the next few weeks after picking up an ankle injury in last week’s defeat to Luton Town, and with Cheick Doucoure also out, Roy Hodgson’s midfield has been decimated.
He does have two lesser-seen young options he can turn to in Naouirou Ahamada and Matheus Franca, but it now appears unlikely that he will trust them to replace Eze just yet.
Hodgson explains reluctance to use Matheus Franca
Hodgson has now opened up on why he is hesitant on throwing Franca into the action just yet, despite his limited options.
“The only problem with Ahamada and Franca is that the two of them are talents, and they’re certainly works in progress,” he stated.
“Whether or not they really are ready to step up and take on the mantle of an Eze or Olise, that’s questionable and it would put an awful lot of pressure on them.
“One would like to introduce them like we have introduced Ahamada a couple of times recently.
“I would like to do the same thing with Franca sometime, without him having to go into a game where the points are very much at stake and we’re playing against a strong and experienced team – there is a risk that you’re putting them in to fail.
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“I don’t want to put these boys in to fail – I want to put them in to succeed.
“Franca is doing well in training now – he’s growing on us all the time. He just wants that chance to come his way – as does Ahamada.”
Hodgson’s previous error over Matheus Franca
Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images
Franca arrived for a fairly hefty fee in the summer transfer window, but the 19-year-old is yet to start a game, and has made just two substitute appearances in the Premier League.
Hodgson’s previous reluctance to use Franca, which saw him spend the last three games on the bench as an unused substitute, has now come back to bite him.
When Eze was fit, Franca could have been eased in whilst playing alongside Palace’s best players to help him thrive and take pressure off him. Now Hodgson has an untested, not-match-fit player who may suddenly have the burden of replacing Eze placed upon him, ahead of a tough fixture schedule.
Ahamada has been given more opportunities, and is surely in line for a start today, but his comments have made it clear that a surprise inclusion of Franca looks unlikely now.
