Wilfried Zaha to face huge Crystal Palace fan backlash against transfer suitors Everton, predicts Roy Hodgson
ROY HODGSON told Wilfried Zaha to accept a fan backlash today.
The Crystal Palace forward, 26, handed in a transfer request to force through a move to Everton, but the deal never came off.
In a quirk of fate, the Toffees are the visitors to Selhurst Park.
Many Eagles supporters were angered by the Zaha summer transfer saga which also included a possible switch to Arsenal.
But boss Hodgson, who turned 72 yesterday, said: “You can’t control fans’ reactions. Fans will react in the way they feel they should react.
“Of course I hope they won’t get on Wilf’s back.
“I hope they’ll be sympathetic to him and will help him produce more good performances for the team.
“But whatever happens, Wilf will have to deal with that, just as he has had to deal with his disappointment over the last few days.
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“I trust him totally. This is a disappointment he knows he has to get over. I’m expecting him to be able to do those things.
“But it would be nice if our fans can draw a line under it and give him the support he needs to produce the performances I as a manager and we as a team really need from him.”
Zaha trained as normal yesterday, having only returned on Monday from extra time off following the Africa Cup of Nations.
That was in contrast to Thursday when he was allowed home by Hodgson amid talk of the deadline-day switch.
Hodgson has had to deal with similar situations before, citing the example of Javier Mascherano in 2010 during his brief spell at Liverpool.
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He added: “He went on strike and it didn’t do us any good at all. We had very strong Liverpool players at the time, not least Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, and for them that was an ultimate crime, to refuse to play for Liverpool.”
Hodgson was boosted yesterday when inspirational skipper Luka Milivojevic, 28, signed a new four-year deal.
Chairman Steve Parish said: “Luka has been a fantastic player and leader for the club for 2½ years. His contribution really has been immense.”