Managers can never please everyone with their team selections, but Roy Hodgson left Crystal Palace fans bemused this afternoon.
When the team news was announced at 2pm for Palace’s match against West Brom, the starting line up seemed to be business as usual with the exception of James Tomkins and Yohan Cabaye being absent through injury.
Then fans clocked that only 6 substitutes were named on the bench. Palace suffer from a lack of squad depth and remain without Connor Wickham and Pape Souare, who are recovering from long-term injuries, but this left the fans in a state of utter confusion.
Only 6 subs?
— Antonio Di Natale (@CPFC_Tony) December 2, 2017
Why only six subs? Why Kelly over Fosu? You’ve got some confused fans here in West Brom palace!
— R (@BigRickH) December 2, 2017
Then to make matters worse, Wayne Hennessey was injured in the warm up, forcing Hodgson into starting Julian Speroni and going into the match with only 5 substitutes, none of whom are goalkeepers. Some tried to see the funny side.
Who’s going in goal when Speroni gets injured?
— L.i.am (@GilesyL14) December 2, 2017
https://twitter.com/HT_CPFC/status/936970763244113920
Still rooted to the bottom of the table, Palace need the points and will be even more desperate to get a win against their former manager Alan Pardew, who filled the vacant managerial position at The Hawthorns this week.
Palace fans will be praying there are no additions to the casualty list this afternoon.
