Roy Hodgson questions whether some unsettled Crystal Palace stars will ‘die for the cause’

BY ANDREW McSTEEN

Roy Hodgson has admitted that it is not easy keeping all his players happy, claiming that many are unsettled due to their uncertain futures.

The Eagles have 13 players whose contracts expire this summer.

Hodgson was able to name one of his strongest-ever Crystal Palace squads in Tuesday’s 3-1 defeat against Southampton, with eight of the nine substitutes either current or former senior internationals.

But despite the plethora of experience available to him, the Palace boss revealed that it is not easy keeping all his players happy and it will not be helped after Monday’s defeat.

“There was some experience on there,” Hodgson said about his options on the bench, who included Jack Butland, Andros Townsend, Gary Cahill, Martin Kelly, James McCarthy, Jeff Schlupp, Patrick van Aanholt and Michy Batshuayi.

Each of those have played for their countries at the top level. The other sub, Jean-Philippe Mateta, has represented France U21s.

“But, of course, it’s also a question sometimes now, and we can’t deny the fact that there are players on the bench who are unsettled, so in actual fact they might be experienced, but of course there is a question mark as to how much they’re going to be prepared to die for the cause because, you know, we can only expect them to behave as human beings.

“We want the best from them, we expect them to see and respect their contracts, and we respect them always, of course, to go and give what they can give every time they step on the field, but they are also human beings. So in actual fact, I’m not sure at the moment that we are in as happy position as Southampton with their bench.”