De Boer slams ‘ridiculous’ Palace for return to ‘kick and rush’

Ian Watson

Ronald De Boer has hot out at Crystal Palace for their treatment of his twin brother Frank, who was sacked last month after only 77 days in charge.

The Eagles appointed Frank De Boer in the summer following Sam Allardyce’s exit at the end of last season. But a poor start that left Palace without a point or a goal after four games led to De Boer’s exit.

“As a brother and if I am objective, I think it is true that he was unfairly treated,” Ronald De Boer told Goal.

“If you saw his last games, the level went up. They understood each other better.

“They wanted to change from ‘kick and rush’ to a passing game. If you hire my brother you know you are going to have a different type of football and it takes time.

“If you want to go from A to Z, it doesn’t happen overnight. It goes up and down until you reach your goal. The Palace owners should have known this. You can’t get results straight away. It takes time.

“Against Burnley was probably their best game. They missed so many chances and gave a goal away. And then at the moment you think we are going in the direction we want to go, he is sacked. 77 days? What is this? It is ridiculous.”

Roy Hodgson was appointed as De Boer’s replacement but Ronald has sympathy for his brother’s successor.

“It is sad for Hodgson also,” he said.

“You are going back to where you started. You want to have a change [of style] and now you are back to where you began. It is bad management.”