‘ROY HELPED ME’
NICK SZCZEPANIK
CRYSTAL PALACE boss Patrick Vieira has praised predecessor Roy Hodgson for laying the foundations of his squad.
But the Frenchman admitted ahead of Hodgson’s return to Selhurst Park with Watford today that he had to add a new and younger dimension to the group that he inherited last summer.
“We knew each other when I was in Italy and he is always somebody that I loved and always respected for what he had been doing in the game,” said Vieira.
“He built the kind of stability that you need to be a Premier League team.
“So I came and found these players who have a good understanding of the Premier League.
“When you have that solid foundation, it allows a manager to come in with his new ideas and work well.”
Vieira and Hodgson will share a glass of wine after the game and the former England manager may offer his thoughts on the changes his Eagles successor has made.
They include a new central defence of Marc Guehi and Joachim Andersen, plus the spark of Conor Gallagher, on loan from Chelsea, in midfield.
Vieira (right) added: “We wanted to have more energy in the squad and to have more energy we needed younger players. But when you look at Joel Ward, Nathaniel Clyne and Vince Guaita in goal, the balance is right between the experienced players who played under Roy and the new ones that we brought.
“In the back five there are just two changes and that is not a lot, I believe.
“As well as Conor
James Mcarthur experience of playing under Roy in the
Premier League and Jeff
Schlupp has been playing a lot and has been fantastic for us as well.
“It was important to keep that kind of stability.
That mix of players allowed us to perform at times and go through those difficult periods.”