Andros Townsend praises Roy Hodgson’s influence at Crystal Palace – on and off the pitch
BY ANDREW McSTEEN
When Crystal Palace forward Andros Townsend was born in July 1991, a 44-year-old Roy Hodgson was coaching Swiss side Neuchâtel Xamax, his sixth managerial appointment.
Fast-forward to 2020 and Hodgson is now Townsend’s manager in SE25, with the Eagles’ forward enjoying a second spell under the coach who gave him his England debut in 2013 and he is quick to talk about his influence, which he hopes will continue.
“I’ve known the manager a lot longer than he’s been at Palace,” said Townsend to talkSPORT earlier this week. “He gave me my first 11 England caps and the best part of 100 Premier League games, so I owe him a lot [as a player] but I have to say him in terms of a man too. If I’m out of the team and struggling for fitness or form he’d always put an arm around me – sometimes, a five-minute conversation can do a world of good for a player.
“I hear that he’s going to sign a new Palace contract and that will be incredible.”
With experience under Hodgson at different periods in his managerial career, Townsend is well-placed to talk about how the manager works with his players, but the Palace winger is clear to point out that Hodgson means business and is clear about what he expects.
“He’s been in the game for 40 or 50 years and knows exactly when he wants,” said Townsend. “He knows exactly how he wants to play and, honestly, he works tirelessly on the training pitch. He’s at the forefront – taking the drills, shouting, kicking balls, throwing balls. It’s incredible to see for someone his age and long may it continue.
“Now, compared to England, it’s the same methods, the same ideas,” continued Townsend. “It’s just on a more day-to-day, basic level. I think he’s probably done the same throughout his whole career; he tells you in no uncertain terms how he wants you to do it.”
So, has there ever been a ‘hairdryer moment’ from Hodgson which Townsend has experienced?
“One or two over the years, but he’s calculated,” added Townsend, who scored on his England at Wembley Stadium against Montenegro in 2013. “He knows when to hammer players, when they need a little bit of an arm around them. You could come off at half-time 1-0 down at home, getting booed and he could be like ‘we’re doing alright, just keep doing the same things.’
“He knows how to get the best reactions out of players as he’s been there and done that. He knows when players need a certain bit of encouragement and when they need a kick up the backside.”
Townsend has needed encouragement in what has been a frustrating season, limited by injury. It is a disappointing follow-up to 2018/19 when he played nearly 50 times and was nominated for a FIFA Puskas Award for his wonder-strike against Manchester City.
With just one game under his belt for Palace since early December, and not having appeared for England since late 2016, the Leytonstone-born forward has not written off ever representing his nation again but is focussed on things closer to home.
“I think it would be silly for me as a sportsman to close off [playing for England again] completely,” said Townsend. “But the direction the England team is heading at the moment I would have to do something amazing to even get back into consideration – but stranger things have happened.
“At the minute, after being out for three months and not even being in the Palace team, it would be silly for me to even think about anything other than getting back into the Palace team.”
