Tuesday 12 September 2017 13:57, UK
Charlie Nicholas has labelled Crystal Palace "a joke" after the club sacked Frank de Boer after just 77 days in charge at Selhurst Park.
The Dutchman, who succeeded Sam Allardyce in June, lost all four of his Premier League games without scoring - the worst start of any top-flight club in 93 years.
However, Nicholas thinks De Boer, who won four Eredvisie titles with Ajax, has been made a scapegoat by the club, singling out Palace chairman Steve Parish for criticism.
"De Boer inherited a mess, that's why Sam wanted out, and they've made him a scapegoat," Nicholas told Sky Sports.
"You look at Steve Parish and wonder what is he contributing? Why did Big Sam leave them?
"I put no blame on De Boer," he added. "Of course he wants to play a different style but so does every manager.
"It's an absolute joke that this happens and Palace are a joke to treat somebody with a good reputation like this.
"Parish should hang his head in shame. I just find it absolutely deplorable."
Roy Hodgson looks set to replace De Boer at Selhurst Park with former Palace boss Allardyce ruling himself out of a return to the club on Monday Night Football.
However, Nicholas thinks Palace should have had more patience with the Dutchman as he got used to life in the Premier League.
"This isn't new," the Soccer Saturday pundit said. "We had Brian Clough's 44 days at Leeds when the Leeds players were strong but you can't tell me the players at Crystal Palace have turned round and said he can't do the job.
"The decision makers should be absolutely embarrassed and should come out and apologise to the manager and the fans, but they won't. Parish is too busy trying to impress investors by making decisions.
"Did Bournemouth go out and sack Eddie Howe? We know the game has gone mad with the money in the game and I think it's just passing the buck and Parish knowing he will have to answer questions if he doesn't make a decision.
"I'd love to see what they've broken down from four games to judge why the club wasn't going in the right direction. They've fallen out with everyone and it just continues to be a joke."
Charlie has selected David de Gea, Eric Bailly, Willian, Arturo Vidal and Edinson Cavani in his team for Sky Bet Dribble, the new one-day Fantasy Football game.
