After the Eagles dismal display against Burnley on matchday 24, speculation continues to circulate around the future of Roy Hodgson at Crystal Palace.
The veteran boss was taking charge of the 350th Premier League game of his career, a huge milestone for the 73-year-old.
However, the 0-3 victory for Burnley meant there was no celebration for Hodgson, with Palace’s performance leaving fans frustrated again.
Palace have struggled for consistency this season, an issue which sums up the issues during Hodgson’s tenure.
Pundits and fans alike agree that Hodgson has done an incredible job in stabilising the South London club.
He joined the club in 2017 with Palace sat on 0 points and 0 goals after 7 games. With most people dooming Palace to relegation, Hodgson came in and secured an 11th place finish for the Eagles.
Since then, Palace have always steered away from trouble and done enough to secure a Premier League place comfortably every season.
Now though, fans are wary that Palace need to step up to the next level, and Hodgson may not be the man to do that.
The inconsistent performances and over reliance on star man Zaha have left Palace fans discouraged.
With the managers contract due to expire this summer, just before his 74th birthday, it is looking increasingly likely Palace will look for a replacement.
The question is, which direction will Steve Parish and the Palace hierarchy go in recruiting a new manager.
Here are three potential replacements Crystal Palace could look at in the summer:
Eddie Howe
The 43-year-old Englishmen is still out of a job after spending over a decade with AFC Bournemouth.
Howe’s achievements at the south coast club were nothing short of remarkable.
He was instrumental in taking Bournemouth from the 4th tier all the way to becoming an established Premier League team.
The ending to his reign was disappointing however after Bournemouth’s relegation last season, but his reputation remains high.
Howe would give Palace a fresh start and fits the youthful rebuild Palace are due to embark on.
His Bournemouth team worked on a strict budget and were known for their free-flowing football, something that Palace fans are crying out for.
The only question mark surrounding Howe is after his relegation, does this really prove he is the man to take Palace to the next stage.
There is no doubt he would bring exciting football and stability, but would he be able to push the Eagles past mid table mediocrity they find themselves in.
Frank Lampard
Chelsea legend Lampard has had a turbulent first few years of his managerial career.
His rise at Derby led to an appointment as Chelsea boss which many saw as rushed and out of his depth.
The 18-months spent at the club were a rollercoaster to say the least.
His first season was seen as impressive due to the transfer ban, whereas this season with all the money spent he was not able to perform.
It seems to many that his dream job came too soon, and he clearly needs to garner more experience elsewhere.
This is where Palace could be the perfect next stage.
Again, Lampard’s age and history of promoting youth again fits in with Palace’s timeline going forward.
The South London club pride themselves in their academy prospects and Lampard has shown he is willing to use homegrown talent.
For Lampard himself it would give him a new challenge, away from the limelight of a huge club like Chelsea.
The only question mark being his huge spending at Chelsea ultimately led to his demise, something which could play in the minds of the Palace hierarchy when choosing a new boss.
Marco Silva
The Portuguese native is still out of a job, having last managed Everton back in 2019.
Silva is a man many predicted to go far as a manager after his first spells in England with Hull City and Watford.
In fact, Palace were linked with the 43-year-old back in 2017 when Hodgson was appointed.
Palace opted for Hodgson and Silva then took the step up to Everton.
Again, it seems to be an example of a big job coming too quickly for a manager. The expectations at Everton were high and ultimately weren’t met.
A job like Crystal Palace could give Silva another opportunity to flourish.
His teams are known for their tactical nous, and progressive style of play, making him a strong candidate for what the Eagles are looking for.
The main worry Palace fans have will be the fact that Silva has experienced relegation before.
The painful memories from Frank De Boer’s reign are also sure to play on fans minds.
Will Parish and co be cautious of bringing in a foreign manager again after the calamity of De Boer, or are they now more prepared for the changes it would bring.
With Palace facing their fierce rivals Brighton in their next match, a negative result will only increase managerial speculation.
Howe, Lampard and Silva are sure to be just three of many names thrown into the mix regarding Hodgson’s replacement.
For now, however, it seems the veteran Palace boss will be in charge until the summer, giving the Palace bosses and fans alike plenty of time to stew over the future of the football club.
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