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Crystal Palace 0-2 Southampton 01/09/18: 3 Key Takeaways

By Nikos Lemanis

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 01: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg of Southampton celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Southampton FC at Selhurst Park on September 1, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 01: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg of Southampton celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Southampton FC at Selhurst Park on September 1, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images) /
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SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 25: Wesley Hoedt of Southampton tackles Demarai Gray of Leicester City during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Leicester City at St Mary’s Stadium on August 25, 2018 in Southampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 25: Wesley Hoedt of Southampton tackles Demarai Gray of Leicester City during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Leicester City at St Mary’s Stadium on August 25, 2018 in Southampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) /

Hoedt deserves our backing

Robert Pires, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Patrice Evra, Roberto Firmino, Erik Lamela. What do these players (and a lot of others) have in common?

The answer is that they all had a disappointing first season in the Premier League, then went on to be important and effective players for their sides.

After his assured performance alongside Vestergaard on Saturday, fans need to get behind Wesley Hoedt and give him the chance to add his name to the list above.

Hoedt was a regular starter in the Eredivisie then Serie A from the age of 20. He has competed against the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Stefan de Vrij and a host of promising, young centre backs to win six caps for the Netherlands over the past 18 months. He obviously has talent and potential.

On Saturday he showed that he can be solid and reliable at the back as well as a nuisance in the box at attacking set pieces. And it shouldn’t be overlooked that it was Hoedt that started the move that led to the second goal. Calmly bringing the ball out of the box, he spotted Targett’s run down the left and released him with an excellent pass.

He is only 24, and will doubtlessly continue to improve and develop. Hopefully the performance on Saturday will give him the confidence to kick on and do just that.