Crystal Palace are apparently closing in on naming a new manager, and they’re going for experience.
65-year-old Neil Warnock is said to be the man taking over from Tony Pulis, who walked out on Palace on the eve of the new Premier League season and the Eagles have since lost both of their opening matches.
[RELATED: Pulis leaves Palace]
Warnock has already been in charge of the Eagles from 2007-10 and has also managed Queens Park Rangers, Sheffield United, Notts County and Leeds United, as well as several other teams in the lower leagues of English soccer. He only has one full season of PL experience, plus half a season with QPR before being fired, under his belt and many will see this choice as a strange one.
According to the BBC, Warnock has beaten out former West Brom boss Steve Clarke to the position and will be given plenty of money to spend in the next few days to bolster the Eagles squad.“Crystal Palace are set to appoint Neil Warnock as their new manager.
“The 65-year-old, who was in charge of Palace between 2007 and 2010, has been preferred to former West Brom boss Steve Clarke.
“It is understood Palace chairman and co-owner Steve Parish felt Warnock was the best option for what the club need now and building for the future. Warnock has money to spend an discussions will continue over the make up of his backroom staff.”
Warnock is a very outspoken character and the no-nonsense Yorkshireman tells it how it is. He is loud, brash and assertive but is certainly respected in the soccer world. With Palace’s brand of soccer and the players they have at their disposal, Warnock would be a good fit as he plays direct soccer and keeps things simple in a 4-4-2 formation. The Eagles made Malkay Mackay their first choice for the job but a scandal quickly descended on him to make that impossible, while former Spurs boss Tim Sherwood ruled himself out of the running.
It might not be the hire many Palace fans were hoping for, but Warnock may galvanize a rudderless ship quickly and his energy and experience could come in handy to pull things together in South London. Warnock has been in charge of over 1,300 games in England as a manger. The next 36 matches in the PL could be his biggest yet, if he’s given the role.
