Late season games involving teams who have either achieved their objectives, or no longer can, are different to ones with something riding on them.

Hence:

'Team A are on the beach already by the look of it'.
'Team B are playing lovely stuff now that there's no pressure on them'.
'Team C are (or should) give some youth players a chance now their results don't matter as much'.
'Team D are taking the opportunity to look at a new system for next season'.

etc.

The worlds media don't cover the 'heart-stopping race for 9th' do they?

For better or for worse, safe, mid table teams are not under the same pressure come April as they were in January.

In that context, I don't think that if Team B win at home in the sun against a disinterested opponent to move above Team C, who have lost but given five youth team graduates their debut, it scientifically proves that Team B are definitely, irrefutably better than Team C. Or that either would claim as much in any seriousness.

They are just two mid table sides, much of a muchness.

And if that all sounds a bit abstract, well, that's exactly what Palace did on the last day of Pardews first season, hence my point that whether Palace finish 9th, 10th, 11th or even 15th isn't the sole,or even the best, measure of progress.

Mid table is mid table.

Edited by TheBigToePunt (05 Feb 2021 6.40pm)

Eh?

He's trying very very hard to find a way of explaining that the end of year league position shouldn't be used as the ultimate measure of success in the league. It's the whole purpose of a league.

Of course when evaluating a league season you could also add in cup performance.... but that would just make Hodgson look worse.

Hodgson appologists are getting worse. Trying to distract from the fact that a major factor in the two recent wins was down to using a player that had been ignored for 3 seasons and allowing the front 4 to be more fluid. They'd never admit the Roy got anything wrong.

Maybe he's trying to justify the abysmal end to last season?

He comes up with a contrived argument, then when you point out the contradiction and flaws, he calls it fake news.

Because you're against him you need to find fault in order to feel vindicated It's the same for me and everyone else who feels he is doing a fine job with the tools at his disposal, it's a human thing and I understand where you're coming from.

Understood, and fair enough, but let me ask you this (genuine) question:

If we are 12th come the final game or two, and only a point or two behind the two or three teams above us, would you rather Hodgson picks our strongest side and priorities finishing 10th, or that he gives starts to the best youth team players we have, and accepts that it might cost us the points?

You're being a little pedantic with this.