Roy Hodgson has been speaking to the media ahead of Crystal Palace’s clash with Leeds tomorrow.
The former England manager discussed why he hasn’t been playing Eberechi Eze much, and mentioned Jeffrey Schlupp in his answer.
London News Online quote Hodgson as saying: ‘Once again it’s [about] competition. Jeff Schlupp isn’t exactly anything other than a very good attacking left-sided midfield player, so I had to make choices there. I’ve not been able to fit both in the team together.’
While his explanation holds some logic at least, his comments on Schlupp do not, and could be perceived as a slight dig at the ex-Leicester man.
Hodgson states that he thinks the Ghana international is nothing but a ‘very good’ left-midfielder, despite the fact that he can actually play in a number of positions.
Schlupp – who cost Palace £12 million – has played in eight different positions throughout his career according to Transfermarkt.
The Hamburg-born man has made appearances at left-back, left-midfield and as a left-forward.
Transfermarkt also shows that Schlupp has played as a centre-forward and a second-striker, while he’s also played in centre-midfield, right-midfield and even at centre-back.
For such a versatile player to be reduced to nothing more than a ‘very good’ left-midfielder isn’t the greatest thing for Hodgson to say.
What does that suggest he thinks of Schlupp in other positions?
Versatility is an excellent trait to have, and we wouldn’t be surprised if the 27-year-old felt saddened by his manager’s comments.
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