Why? Ronaldo at eighteen wasn't anywhere near being the best player in the world, he was very raw, often frustrating and put in and mixed bag of performances, some excellent, others not so good. Even at that age you could see his natural talent, flair and potential shining through though and don't think it's doing anyone an injustice to say the same of Zaha who imo plays a lot like the teenage Ronaldo and shares many of the same attributes. Why is it mad to point this out? Nobody's saying that Zaha will go on to be a good as the modern day Ronaldo.
Wilfried Zaha - Sold to Crystal Palace
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Why? Ronaldo at eighteen wasn't anywhere near being the best player in the world, he was very raw, often frustrating and put in and mixed bag of performances, some excellent, others not so good. Even at that age you could see his natural talent, flair and potential shining through though and don't think it's doing anyone an injustice to say the same of Zaha who imo plays a lot like the teenage Ronaldo and shares many of the same attributes. Why is it mad to point this out? Nobody's saying that Zaha will go on to be a good as the modern day Ronaldo.
I wouldn't say by far but definitely the one with the most potential alongside Shaw at Southampton
A different planet technically
He wasn't at all. He had faster feet than Zaha but his passing often let him down and he was physically rather weak meaning that when tricks failed him he was easily knocked off the ball. If by 'technically' you mean that his step overs were more eloquent then, yes, he was better in that regard, but Ronaldo's overall game in his first season at United left a lot to be desired.
If he was, it was not by much.
Cider's name 
Not quite different planet. I remember Ronaldo at 18, he was better than Zaha at 20. Ronaldo at 20 was a lot better than Zaha at 20 (although zaha much better team player!), but its completely unfair to compare the two.
Zaha is clearly very technically gifted, thats something you are born with and he has it. We need to encourage it and work on his composure and final touch, just like we did with Ronaldo
Zaha is clearly very technically gifted, thats something you are born with and he has it. We need to encourage it and work on his composure and final touch, just like we did with Ronaldo
I remember him being branded a one trick pony. He certainly improved massively in a relatively short space of time though.
He was physically weaker yes, but he was just a lot better technically, there's just no denying in that. I don't know if it was because Zaha was nervous but he surely didnt always look like he really controlled what he was doing. He has some real strange movement.
I'm not arguing he isnt a great talent. He really is, and he still is very young, but I don't think he has the technical ability of a young Ronaldo
I'm not sure what you mean by technical ability really.
90210 
I think he will get similar game time to Sterling from last season but spread out more evenly throughout the course of the season. Valencia and Nani should be first choice and Young and Zaha should challenge to get in ahead of them. Valencia and Nani have been our main wingers (albeit inconsistently) for a while and it should be Zaha and Youngs job to prove that they deserve to go ahead of them as the season progresses. Would not make sense to throw Zaha straight into the team.
I think the same as about everybody else. First touch, dribbling, close control, but also shooting technique.
If Zaha plays Sunday he will tear Wigan apart on that Wembley pitch. Mark my words.
Re-writing history some of you lot. I doubt that you all would have said Ronaldo was as technically gifted as you're now saying he was if you were asked that question 10 years ago.
Having seen quite a bit a of him last season I can unequivocally say that's a rubbish way to describe his performances. Sure there were examples of him overdoing it but by and large he found a good balance between the more ambitious stuff and keeping it simple, to the point where he won himself the POTY award and got his team promoted despite being double marked just about every week.
Nope. The moment he tear us and especially Sheasy a new one it was obvious how much technical ability he has.
I think they're very similar. When Ronaldo signed, it was clearly he took the bull latterly by the horns and went through a stage where he went step over crazy. Zahas had different experiences, but it's up to him. If he applies himself properly he can be technically as good. The thing that'll set them apart is their finishing. For me, Ronaldo is the best striker period. In terms of variation, he's quality. Hopefully Zaha, can be as productive because he's certainly going to create a lot of chances if he believes in himself.
Zaha is nearly as good as Ronaldo was at similar age, but Ronaldo did make a huge improvement since.
Not even close imo. Think thats taking things way too far. Zaha is 21 in a couple of months...
No.
Relax people, no saying he is as good, the word 'nearly' could have many interpretation.
just no.
It was obvious even when he was inconsistent Ronaldo would be one of the worlds top players. He went on to be even better than that.
Zaha is a pomising young winger. If he turns out as good as Valencia I will be delighted.
I'd say their playing style are a lot similar, we'll have to see if Zaha first season at United will increase the comparison with Ronaldo of then in terms of performances.
I love Valencia, but I'm fairly sure that Zaha will surpass him. I'm not one of those people that's forgotten Valencia at his best either, I just rate Zaha as a very promising prospect. Buckets of potential.
Not even close. Zaha is 20 right now, Ronaldo was 18 when he first came to United and he pretty much right away became part of the starting 11. Ronaldo was Zaha's age in 05/06 so I'm sure we can all agree it's not even close. No disrespect to Zaha but I don't think anyone thinks he'll become the best player in the world like we thought with Ronaldo.
I think he means when they first joined the club rather than the exact same age.
Zaha looks every bit as good as the teenage Ronaldo imo.
People are looking through rose tinted specs as far as Ronaldo's early years go simply because of the player he became.
It depends what Ronaldo we're comparing. Ronaldo at 21 was just about to become the best player in the world, and was just going into those infamous Euros as one of our best players. Zaha is obviously not at that level.
As for the technical ability discussion, Ronaldo's ball manipulation, control/first touch and ability on the turn were superior to Zaha's at this point I'd say. Ronaldo at 18 was an infuriating player at times and there was nothing like the confidence you'd think from most that he'd become so good, but it's not really saying too much to compare that Ronaldo with a 20 year old Zaha given how massive a 2 year difference is at that age.
As for the technical ability discussion, Ronaldo's ball manipulation, control/first touch and ability on the turn were superior to Zaha's at this point I'd say. Ronaldo at 18 was an infuriating player at times and there was nothing like the confidence you'd think from most that he'd become so good, but it's not really saying too much to compare that Ronaldo with a 20 year old Zaha given how massive a 2 year difference is at that age.
Sterling is quality as well.
Im happy we did not send him out on loan. I want him and Nani to be our first choice wingers this season.
Great assaulting winger, indeed.
I must say, that having watched all of our pre-season games, I've been left fairly unimpressed by Zaha so far personally. He seems a trier, although everything he does seems a bit messy, from dribbling to passing - and almost everything in the final third seems to not quite come off. Yes, it's often close, and he puts his hands on his head as if to say 'ooooh, nearly', but the fact is the pass is nearly always underhit, scuffed, the simple finish is sliced etc.
Now I am passing no judgement on him, as in my observation he appears nervous, and his game looked a lot smoother at Palace. I know he will improve in time, especially when he stops playing with as much anxiety as he is doing. Just thought that, with the amount of praise his performances have been receiving, I haven't been as overwhelmed myself.
Now I am passing no judgement on him, as in my observation he appears nervous, and his game looked a lot smoother at Palace. I know he will improve in time, especially when he stops playing with as much anxiety as he is doing. Just thought that, with the amount of praise his performances have been receiving, I haven't been as overwhelmed myself.
Not sure how that's relevant.
I think maybe your expectations are set a little too high then.
He still made things happen when he came on last night, and he was literally a whisker away from scoring a very nice goal aswell.
Sure he didn't set the game alight last night but then coming into a match with 20 minutes or so isn't easy to get into the rhythm of the game.
Anyway there is plenty more still to come from him, I expect him to only get better and better.
My expectations are not that high at all. I expect him to take time, and I still believe that is what will happen, as opposed to the instant impact others seem to feel he has made and that he should already be our number one winger. I think if our more senior wingers used the ball in the same manner all pre-season, they would be criticised.
True, but then I think people are a lot more relaxed and expectant of somebody like Zaha, they know he is a newbie and may make errors.
People get pissed off with experienced players because they should be better. If Zaha still keeps making the same mistakes in 6 years time then people will no doubt be on his back.
Zaha has been one of our best players pre-season. Not sure how you could have come away from all those games unimpressed
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