Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has said that he has the ambition of guiding the Eagles to European football following mid-table finishes in the past few seasons. The south London side have managed to stay clear of the drop zone under the guidance of Hodgson and he is now keen to take the next step and push for European football.
“I don’t think anybody really starts not seriously hoping and believing that we can climb the table and get closer to European places. It would be a mistake not to have that. We also have to have a realistic attitude towards that. Probably one of the things that one will have to come to terms with – for teams that aren’t already there – is that it is probably going to involve a certain degree of investment.”
The Eagles had a relatively quiet summer transfer window and they spent just six £6m on new arrivals. Nonetheless, the same has proved effective with the likes of Gary Cahill, James McCarthy and Victor Camarasa adding quality within the ranks and they have already secured a shock victory over Manchester United on the road.
For the weekend, Palace have an away game against West Ham United and they can expect a tough game with the Hammers in good scoring form. Hodgson’s side are currently just one point behind fifth-placed West Ham on the table but there are concerns whether they can find the net, having managed just six goals from the opening seven matches.