‘Wasted Potential’ – Crystal Palace supporters fires angrily

In the final moments of their defeat against Arsenal, Crystal Palace supporters displayed a sizable banner expressing dissatisfaction with the team’s current situation.

The message conveyed their frustration, citing “Wasted potential on and off the pitch, weak decisions taking us backwards.”

A defeat for a side in the bottom half of the table at title-chasing Arsenal is not, in isolation, a poor result.

But for the Eagles’ supporters it was the latest in a bad run of form that has them sliding closer towards relegation trouble – they are 14th, five points above the drop but 18th-placed Luton have a game in hand.

“It is a struggle,” Palace boss Roy Hodgson said.

“There’s no doubt we have to keep looking over our shoulder and we are in a relegation battle, no question about that.

“I believe the team and club, and the group of players we have, are more than good enough to get us away from the relegation zone.”

Hodgson believes, but the fans are clearly losing patience.

Merely seven months ago, 76-year-old Hodgson received praise as a savior for steering Palace away from a precarious situation in the previous season.

Returning to the club in March amid a 12-game winless streak, he made an instant impact, securing three consecutive victories.

With just two losses in his last 10 matches of the season, Palace comfortably avoided relegation, fostering optimism among fans for a promising performance in the current season.

That has failed to happen and while long-term injuries to some key players has undoubtedly not helped, there are some who feel Hodgson should be doing better with the tools at his disposal.

“Roy Hodgson has been brilliant for Crystal Palace, but it comes to a point eventually where you think, ‘When do I stop?’,” former Arsenal striker Theo Walcott said on BBC Radio 5 Live.

“If you are thinking of the team and the club itself and the next generation of managers coming through, who individualise the players they coach, you think maybe it is time for a change.”

Watching on in the stands at Arsenal was former Brighton boss Graham Potter, who has been out of work since he was sacked by Chelsea in April last year.

“He could be a good option if Roy does leave,” Walcott added.

“I think this result and the way Palace have ended the game has been pretty poor.”