Sexy gifs, cheers.
Wilfried Zaha - Sold to Crystal Palace
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For a twenty year playing in the biggest match of his career, that's an excellent performance.
Btw this thread is amazing:
http://www.cpfc.org/forums/showthread.php?t=243685
Never before I've seen a 20yr old being called a legend by nearly everyone. Shows the impact Zaha had on Palace.
Very difficult to not get excited over this guy.
didn't realise he created so many clear chances in that game, as I was watching it on and fof at work. Palace were so wasteful. One overhit cross aside, he was very creative. some really great passing in tight areas, and a really nice long ball over the top there.
He totally owns that Ronaldo-style chop. Love seeing players do that trick at pace.
He totally owns that Ronaldo-style chop. Love seeing players do that trick at pace.
I'm definitely excited about him coming here, but really, we can't expect too much or overly hype him up next season. i've seen a few people on here get giddy and come to the conclusion that he'll be our main winger next season and source of creativity from the wings, which is ridiculously over the top for a 20 year old who was playing at Championship level the season before. I assume it's another case of Cleverley syndrome (who I don't think is as talented as Zaha, before someone picks up on that comparison), where by the area he plays in was so lacking last season that people are resorting to kidding themselves into thinking that he's going to solve the issues there.
It was the first time I'd really watched Wilf at the weekend since Palace knocked us out of the cup. He was impressive in patches, and also overcooked it a bit at times too. Overall I'd say he has bags of potential and I am pleased we have him.
Do people expect him to be part of our first team plans next season, or stay out on loan?
I thought he had a hugely frustrating game against Watford. He was always dangerous but a player of his talent should be, whereas he frequently beat his man but held onto the ball too long after and lost it, overhit crosses wildly and was rather greedy the longer the game went on, again losing the ball. He had dozens of opportunities to lay off to his full-back to get a ball into the box but got tackled instead. The commentators began to feel it, but then he was fouled for the penalty and he was the hero of the day. Fair play, football is defined by single moments very often, but Watford's full-backs were terrible and his memorable moment happened at the right time.
Considering the criticism Ronaldo got in his early days, I think Zaha might be too raw and frustrate for us in the same way. Particularly in the Premier League, where discipline and maintaining possession are more important than in the Championship.
I thought he had a hugely frustrating game against Watford. He was always dangerous but a player of his talent should be, whereas he frequently beat his man but held onto the ball too long after and lost it, overhit crosses wildly and was rather greedy the longer the game went on, again losing the ball. He had dozens of opportunities to lay off to his full-back to get a ball into the box but got tackled instead. The commentators began to feel it, but then he was fouled for the penalty and he was the hero of the day. Fair play, football is defined by single moments very often, but Watford's full-backs were terrible and his memorable moment happened at the right time.
Considering the criticism Ronaldo got in his early days, I think Zaha might be too raw and frustrate for us in the same way. Particularly in the Premier League, where discipline and maintaining possession are more important than in the Championship.
First team, no question. He wasn't really at his best against Watford, it's not a good game to use to judge him. He was beating his man as always, but normally his final product is very reliable. Plus Palace were absolutely awful at actually getting the ball to him. At one point in the second half it was getting a bit embarrassing. He was constantly in space but every time a teammate got near him they'd inexplicably mishit a pass or fall over their own feet. It's no wonder he was getting so frustrated.
He has everything needed, every box is ticked with Zaha. Great pace, wonderful ability, strong, athletic, and his confidence shines through when your watching him. His final ball needs improving at times, but that can be worked on, and he will benefit in that respect with the likes of Giggs in the side.
Best thing about Zaha for me is his bravery, and his confidence. No matter where on the pitch he is, no matter how much space he is, he is confident enough in his own ability to take the ball, and he has the quality to make something happen with it. If he works hard, and learns off the likes of Giggs, Ferdinand etc.., he will do well, and as pointed out, I think he will do well next season.
Best thing about Zaha for me is his bravery, and his confidence. No matter where on the pitch he is, no matter how much space he is, he is confident enough in his own ability to take the ball, and he has the quality to make something happen with it. If he works hard, and learns off the likes of Giggs, Ferdinand etc.., he will do well, and as pointed out, I think he will do well next season.
He could be a great impact player for us, dont think he should be starting games straight away but with 20 mins to go and needing a goal, he could come on and tear teams apart in his own right.
Just imagining Nani and Zaha in the same team
Just imagining Nani and Zaha in the same team
This is hilarious though. It is a very "United fan" thing to consider players "frustratingly inconsistent".
Only in United is it better to be too bad to dribble than to dribble the first man and over-hit a cross.
Dribbling past players is something that you usually have or you don't, not many players will learn how to consistently dribble past their players after they make their first team debut for us.
I can't think of a single player who did that, but further back in time its possible that someone learnt dribbling while being here. Bale is the only player I can really remember who learnt dribbling while being a starter in the first team.
However consistency in crosses/finishing/passing is something very regular to learn, it is almost inevitable that a player with good dribbling will also get a more refined last-touch with experience. It is also almost certain that if a player becomes a starter without good dribbling ability he will never learn dribbling either.
So logically we should be very supportive to the few dribblers we do get because what they have "left to learn" is so likely to come from confidence and experience.
Ronaldo/Nani/Giggs are all players who were very raw diamonds when they started playing for us. 2 of them are pure legends in football and one has shown that when he is given confidence to be a weekly starter, he will produce brilliant results as well.
So I think it is very important that we appreciate that they have the ability to dribble rather than trying to complain because they are not perfect.
If any other team in the world had a player like Nani/Zaha they would be supporting them through thick and thin because they knew what heights they can reach. We would also be salivating over them and the transfer forum would be flooded with people who wants them.
It's also just bollocks. Zaha has a very consistent final product for a flair youngster. It's one of the things that makes him so dangerous. He has that quality that Valencia, on form, has - to always find a man in the box at any cost.
Cling Bak is basing that judgement purely on the Watford game, which was a somewhat atypical performance from Zaha.
Cling Bak is basing that judgement purely on the Watford game, which was a somewhat atypical performance from Zaha.
No wonder he held onto the ball as much as he did considering his teammates were hopeless. I'd expect him to be a bit more willing to move it on to a teammate when they're van Persie, Carrick etc.
That thread really is amazing to read.
They all seem so certain he is destined for greatness at United.
I am sold.
Not very impressed - in some of those gifs, he just stands still for ages.
I have to admit that I underestimated him. I didn't realise how physically strong he is. He isn't fully grown yet and that will be a major attribute for him. Nor did I give him enough credit for his creative passing.
I would go as far to say that he ready to make an impact straight away next season. He seems to fancy himself and put in big performances in the two biggest games of his career so far. Holloway can not have!
It's worth noting that even from a game where his final product was uncharacteristically erratic, those gifs alone contain a beautiful example of each of three different categories of offensive pass:
1. A long pass over the top (5th gif)
2. A cut back from the by-line to a man in a shooting position (6th gif)
3. A through-ball bisecting a packed defence (9th gif)
1. A long pass over the top (5th gif)
2. A cut back from the by-line to a man in a shooting position (6th gif)
3. A through-ball bisecting a packed defence (9th gif)
Enable gif's in your browser settings buddy.
*thatwasthejoke.jpg*I hate to say it because these comparisons could hinder him but the similarities are striking with a young Ronnie. Of course for 100 young potential Ronnies you only get one real deal.
I think Zaha and Nani will form an incredible pairing. The ratio of assists/goals from them will be near 1:1, meaning RVP/Rooney will have a lot of pressure taken of their shoulders.
Zaha and Nani are not perfect, but compared to what Valencia and Young provides they are certain starters. As long as they work well defensively we will have a very strong team for the next season.
Zaha and Nani are not perfect, but compared to what Valencia and Young provides they are certain starters. As long as they work well defensively we will have a very strong team for the next season.
you're mad if you think Zaha will be ahead of Valencia in the pecking order.
Are Palace yet another set of fans that think of us as a specially hated opponent? If so, why? Lots of that sort of talk in that 'thanks Zaha' thread.
Why? Moyes has never had the desire to have a player like Valencia as he wants the width to be provided by the wing-backs. Valencia fills the criteria for a wing-back under Moyes better than he does an inside forward/Narrow winger.
I think Valencia will get games behind Rafael though as Phil Jones doesn't really fit the offensive requirements of a RB which Moyes has.
He reminds me of Nani constantly tricking defenders at tying them in knots. He looks to be more of a team player though and crosses the ball often. If his crosses are decent we could have a very creative winger on our hands in the coming years. Very excited about this developing.
I think we would be mad to loan him out. People say erratic final ball but he still was their most creative player. The age factor don't matter. If he can produce that level of performance in the premiership, he'll get games and it should be at United. We've seen so many loans go wrong. There's no benefit to it. He's ready to challenge for a place. It's up to the other wingers to keep him on the bench
I didn't say I didn't want him to dribble, or that he didn't have talent or even that he couldn't learn. I questioned whether he could be in our first team next season.
If he does need to learn all of those things, which you seem to suggest he does, then he probably would struggle doing so whilst being thrown into big games at the same time. I questioned if he needed another loan spell.
Believe me, I am not a pessimist and of course I'd rather have him than not. He is a very exciting player. I actually think people's judgement about how he played against Watford was a bit warped. I'm friends with several Palace fans and they thought he was the best thing ever in that game, whereas I think they're just happy with anyone who can perform a stepover!
Well, true. Wilbraham was loving kicking it straight into Almunia's hands.
I think he needs to be a starter as those kind of traits are mainly based around confidence. It is very likely that Zaha comes here and suddenly loses the good end-product he had at Palace if he starts losing self-confidence and comfort level.
All top teams in Europe has these flairy, "inconsistent" players in their teams, I think Nani and Zaha starting is a necessity for us to challenge not just now but long-term.
They are always a bitch to get in the team as it takes so long to give them confidence for them to reach that comfort-zone - but in the end a player like Robben is the difference between winning the champions league or not.
I hope he can play the same style of football at utd that he did at Palace.
Love watching flairy players, and great to see a young English lad doing the business rather than a Portuguese / Spanish player.
Love watching flairy players, and great to see a young English lad doing the business rather than a Portuguese / Spanish player.
Who was the last young English player who was so exciting at this age? Rooney, Gazza??
I don't know, but if anything I'd expect United to get a couple of Palace fans to think of United as their "2nd team" considering their hero will be playing for us from now on.
Could he be The One?
uh, Wilshere?
Jones
This thread is a lark.
Go back a few weeks ago and the thread was inundated with folk saying he's not good enough for us (even on the night he scored twice versus Brighton). Fast forward two weeks and he's the most exciting English player since Rooney!
The truth lies somewhere in between, really. I wouldn't be adverse to loaning him to Palace for the entire season next season as regular Premier League football will bring him on a tonne.
Go back a few weeks ago and the thread was inundated with folk saying he's not good enough for us (even on the night he scored twice versus Brighton). Fast forward two weeks and he's the most exciting English player since Rooney!
The truth lies somewhere in between, really. I wouldn't be adverse to loaning him to Palace for the entire season next season as regular Premier League football will bring him on a tonne.
feck no. United will really benefit from having him. He probably won't want to go back either, he will want that to be his last match. Out in a blaze of glory.
Maybe. Probably but Wiltshire has had the benefit of premier league football to showcase himself.
Shaun Wright-Phillips
Ashley Young
Aaron Lennon
Tom Ince
nope
nope
nope
nope
Why would he want to go back to Palace?? As of now there is nothing he can do next season that could improve his reputation there and all he could do IMO is tarnish it. He finished perfectly for them and he should leave it at that.
I hope he doesn't go out on loan and I don't think he will, but we would find a better club for him that Palace IMO.
Quite.
Zaha was being horribly underrated on here, by people who clearly hadn't watched much of him. But it might have gone a little far in the other direction. Ironically, after a performance which was by no means his best.
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