Wilfried Zaha

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Eyepopper said:
How the hell do you know who is or isn't interested in him?

Would Chelsea and Arsenal making bids make you perceive him as being good?

Young English winger? Yes please.
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I don't think that he is good enough for United regardless of who bids for him.

I am going off the newspaper reports that detailed how we are the only club left in the race, this being before any other club bid for him in the first place. It is speculation of course but I am skeptical of where the sources for the story came from, it read like it came from an interested selling party.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/s...n-crystal-palaces-wilfried-zaha-16259684.html

'Young English winger, yes please', are you basing that on England's recent record of producing top wingers?

I can't understand why we are so keen to add more and more English players when English football is not currently producing hardly any elite talent. I don't see how it can be conducive to making us into the number one team in Europe again.

We already have an abundance of English players in the squad and plenty of young English talent. There would be no issue complying with the homegrown player rules for us. I would prefer us to sign some more technically adept continental talent, specifically in attacking positions.
 
If you wish you can start calling him a young Ivory Coast winger if it makes him better.
 
Jimy_Hills_Chin said:
I don't think that he is good enough for United regardless of who bids for him.

I am going off the newspaper reports that detailed how we are the only club left in the race, this being before any other club bid for him in the first place. It is speculation of course but I am skeptical of where the sources for the story came from, it read like it came from an interested selling party.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/s...n-crystal-palaces-wilfried-zaha-16259684.html

'Young English winger, yes please', are you basing that on England's recent record of producing top wingers?

I can't understand why we are so keen to add more and more English players when English football is not currently producing hardly any elite talent. I don't see how it can be conducive to making us into the number one team in Europe again.

We already have an abundance of English players in the squad and plenty of young English talent. There would be no issue complying with the homegrown player rules for us. I would prefer us to sign some more technically adept continental talent, specifically in attacking positions.
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So, we shouldn't be in for him because there's no great history of England producing good wingers?

We just shipped out Brady, a young up & coming wide player, now we're signing one who our scouts obviously think has more promise.

We have 3 wingers in the first team with a big question over one of the and another in terrible form. We need another option there.

He's being signed for his potential, not as a finished product.

Being English he's also probably less likely of dreaming of playing abroad.
 
Liverpool pulled out of a deal for Ronaldo because they thought he was too expensive at 4m, three weeks later we signed him for 12m. Clearly it was a wrong decision as no one else was interested in him.
 
KM said:
Liverpool pulled out of a deal for Ronaldo because they thought he was too expensive at 4m, three weeks later we signed him for 12m. Clearly it was a wrong decision as no one else was interested in him.
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You seem to have a fondness for spurious reasoning. Cristiano Ronaldo was blatantly a sensational talent at age 17, to the point where all our team encouraged the boss to sign him after playing against him once. Can you say the same about Zaha at 20?

That Liverpool decided that the fee was too much for a 17 year is their poor decision, their poor policy, one of many that they have made over the past 25 years. It is not analogous to several clubs watching a player at close quarters over a number of years and then deciding not to move for him.
 
Bit rich of you talking about Spurious reasoning, given the reason you're against Zaha signing is that we seem to have no competition for him(even though Wenger likes him).
 
KM said:
Bit rich of you talking about Spurious reasoning, given the reason you're against Zaha signing is that we seem to have no competition for him(even though Wenger likes him).
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It's not that we have no competition for him, no one knows if we do, it's because the press haven't linked him with anyone else (even though Sky said arsenal were prepared to bid for him yesterday).

Well, that and because he's not an 'inho' it seems.
 
KM said:
Bit rich of you talking about Spurious reasoning, given the reason you're against Zaha signing is that we seem to have no competition for him(even though Wenger likes him).
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That isn't the reason in itself, it only reinforces my perception in my mind. Having watch him play on a number of occasions, I just don't think that he is that good.

Of course I could be wrong and I hope that I am if he signs. I am just a fan after all, though not one of his abilities.

You forgot that Mancini 'admires' him too, and Spurs, and Chelsea!
 
Jimy_Hills_Chin said:
I don't think that he is good enough for United regardless of who bids for him.

I am going off the newspaper reports that detailed how we are the only club left in the race, this being before any other club bid for him in the first place. It is speculation of course but I am skeptical of where the sources for the story came from, it read like it came from an interested selling party.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/s...n-crystal-palaces-wilfried-zaha-16259684.html

'Young English winger, yes please', are you basing that on England's recent record of producing top wingers?

I can't understand why we are so keen to add more and more English players when English football is not currently producing hardly any elite talent. I don't see how it can be conducive to making us into the number one team in Europe again.

We already have an abundance of English players in the squad and plenty of young English talent. There would be no issue complying with the homegrown player rules for us. I would prefer us to sign some more technically adept continental talent, specifically in attacking positions.
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Why should we believe this report from the Belfast Telegraph over the Sky Sports report that Arsenal were preparing a bid for him or the report in a newspaper about a week ago that Tottenham only pulled out as they believed that a deal involving United was already as good as done.

The part about Arsenal not going for him reads as more of an opinion piece than a report with any actual evidence.

the factors weighing against an Arsenal move include the general consensus at the north London club that Theo Walcott will stay – even though he has not yet received a new contract. Arsenal also have Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who plays in the same position.
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The only reasoning given as far as I can see is that Walcott seems close to signing a new contract with Arsenal (completely ignoring the fact he's been playing up front as of late) and the fact they also have Chamberlain who can also play there. I could just as easily write that it now seems Nani will be staying with United and Valencia and Young can also play in that position, therefore United are not interested.

That article also only seems to back up the story that Spurs pulling out may have been nothing to do with how much they want the player. The transfer of Bostock may well have damaged any chance Tottenham had of doing a deal with Palace and if Palace believed Spurs and United were willing to offer similar amounts palace might have been looking to make the deal with United.

If that's the only source you've drawn your conclusion from I'd have to say it's a pretty weak one. Even then if it did turn out no one else was challenging us for his signature. If the relevant people at United feel that Zaha is a player who could develop into a valuable player and they're happy with the price, that will do me.
 
Agree with Jimmy Hills Chin as far as being sceptical about Zaha's talent goes. Not in terms of what clubs are involved, but I am a little concerned that he isn't the sort of talent that warrants paying x millions for from the Championship. I'm wary that the signing will be a bit Ashley Young-ish in that he looks more a good talent in a weaker team than a top talent that would shine anywhere.

As ever though, I'm sure the scouting staff have seen a lot more of him than I have and that they've seen something that makes them think it'd be a quality signing. Just one of those feelings and I'd be happy to be proved wrong.
 
KingEric7 said:
Agree with Jimmy Hills Chin as far as being sceptical about Zaha's talent goes. Not in terms of what clubs are involved, but I am a little concerned that he isn't the sort of talent that warrants paying x millions for from the Championship. I'm wary that the signing will be a bit Ashley Young-ish in that he looks more a good talent in a weaker team than a top talent that would shine anywhere.

As ever though, I'm sure the scouting staff have seen a lot more of him than I have and that they've seen something that makes them think it'd be a quality signing. Just one of those feelings and I'd be happy to be proved wrong.
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This could be said about almost every player we sign who tend to come from weaker sides. It's all about developing that mentality to nurture his raw ability. Sometimes we get it right, other times players fail to adapt. Big feature of any signing really.

The thing which sets him and his ability aside is his youth and his physical attributes. Ashley Young was signed much closer to his peak years and he's been stop-start throughout with us.

Only thing which puts me off is the price for a player who hasn't played in a top division. We're talking between 12 and 15m, it's insane but the premiums are there to deter, but obviously for the bigger clubs money isn't always a problem.
 
ISSYNAZAR said:
This could be said about almost every player we sign who tend to come from weaker sides. It's all about developing that mentality to nurture his raw ability. Sometimes we get it right, other times players fail to adapt. Big feature of any signing really.

The thing which sets him and his ability aside is his youth and his physical attributes. Ashley Young was signed much closer to his peak years and he's been stop-start throughout with us.

Only thing which puts me off is the price for a player who hasn't played in a top division. We're talking between 12 and 15m, it's insane but the premiums are there to deter, but obviously for the bigger clubs money isn't always a problem.
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No doubt. Like I say, it's just a feeling and not a well informed opinion based on a whole season's worth of games of watching him (a few games, against us also and Championship highlights). With some players though, even with watching a few games and highlights, you get an impression that they just have 'it'. Nani for example despite any initial frustrations clearly had 'it', but with Zaha it seems less obvious.

Not that he needs to be as talented as Nani to be top class here, obviously (it just seems a fair enough comparison to consider given age and position). We've had players less talented go on to be far more influential, and there may well be a lot more to come from him that the coaching staff have already seen first-hand (he may well be top drawer). He could also conceivably kick on massively like Valencia did when he arrived for all I know.

I think the general point here though is that there is a perceived uncertainty from a fan's point of view when you feel like that about a player, mostly because progression seems more dependant on the player really making a significant step up in some way and/or having a fantastic mentality and willingness to improve. This is something Fergie has said in the past that is heavily researched though so hopefully it turns out well.
 


Looks a good player in this video. Good finishing and also seems like a strong lad. The title is a bit retarded though.
 
Jimy_Hills_Chin said:
I don't think that he is good enough for United regardless of who bids for him.

I am going off the newspaper reports that detailed how we are the only club left in the race, this being before any other club bid for him in the first place. It is speculation of course but I am skeptical of where the sources for the story came from, it read like it came from an interested selling party.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/s...n-crystal-palaces-wilfried-zaha-16259684.html

'Young English winger, yes please', are you basing that on England's recent record of producing top wingers?

I can't understand why we are so keen to add more and more English players when English football is not currently producing hardly any elite talent. I don't see how it can be conducive to making us into the number one team in Europe again.

We already have an abundance of English players in the squad and plenty of young English talent. There would be no issue complying with the homegrown player rules for us. I would prefer us to sign some more technically adept continental talent, specifically in attacking positions.
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Whether this deal actually goes through or not I don't know - whether the club are even as interested in him as they are being led to believe, I also don't know. But if they are, I'm sure they've watched him extensively, particularly given how easy it would be. Seemingly they would then consider him good enough.

People are constantly banging on about foreign players - but they have their risks.

Firstly, they're usually a lot more expensive, secondly they come from leagues often not comparable to the PL in terms of physicality and standard of play and thirdly, they have to move to a new country and "settle in".

I have no problem where talented young players come from, if they're good enough. This kid looks a bit raw, but clearly talented and the club have a record in developing talented youngsters.

Id be interested to know ehether you've actually ever seen him play, before you made your judgment on him?
 
RedRover said:
Whether this deal actually goes through or not I don't know - whether the club are even as interested in him as they are being led to believe, I also don't know. But if they are, I'm sure they've watched him extensively, particularly given how easy it would be. Seemingly they would then consider him good enough.

People are constantly banging on about foreign players - but they have their risks.

Firstly, they're usually a lot more expensive, secondly they come from leagues often not comparable to the PL in terms of physicality and standard of play and thirdly, they have to move to a new country and "settle in".

I have no problem where talented young players come from, if they're good enough. This kid looks a bit raw, but clearly talented and the club have a record in developing talented youngsters.

Id be interested to know ehether you've actually ever seen him play, before you made your judgment on him?
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What fecking world have you been living in?

Foreign talent more expensive than English? Really?
 
All I know about Zaha is that my Palace-supporting mate won't shut the feck up about him.

He says he's destined for the very top but it's hard to tell how objective he's being. Remember him coming out with similar comments when Moses first broke into the Palace team.
 
RedRover said:
Id be interested to know ehether you've actually ever seen him play, before you made your judgment on him?
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I wouldn't be passing opinion if I had not seen him play. I have watched him on a number of occasions. It is interesting that so many on here seem to have completely forgotten about when he played against us.
 
Wenger on him

Wenger also confirms interest in Zaha. 'Whenever you call about any player, Man United or Milan are also interested.'
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Urgh isn't he said to be a Arsenal fan ? Milan though, i doubt it.
 
David Gill has confirmed Manchester United's interest in Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha but insists he will not join the club this month.

Zaha has been linked with all the Premier League's top clubs since emerging from the Crystal Palace academy to become a full England international this season.

According to recent reports, United have stolen a march on the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham by offering a lucrative deal which involves loaning Zaha back to Palace for the rest of the Championship season.

Gill would not confirm that, but the Old Trafford chief executive told Sky Sports News: "He is one of the players that we are looking at.

"That is all I will say at the moment. I've been in football long enough to say that is not done until it's done. He's one of the players we are looking at, but it is far from done."

Palace boss Ian Holloway has stipulated that any deal for Zaha this month must include provision for the 20-year-old to finish the season at Selhurst Park.

And Gill made it clear he would accommodate that demand, saying: "Even if we did do something with Wilfried, that would be for the summer."

http://www.football365.com/news/21554/8401089/Gill-Admits-United-Are-Interested-In-Wilfried-Zaha
 
very good. I lost hope for his transfer but it looks on!
 
He looks too underwhelming from what I have seen of him though, hope I am wrong.
 
I reckon it's in the works as we speak. It would be unprofessional of United to say "No we're not doing anything now, but we'll definitely want to nab Zaha from Crystal Palace in the Summer". I reckon we'll sign him this window, but send him back on loan for the remainder of the season.
 
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