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Wilfried Zaha

THFCSPURS19

The Speaker of the Transfer Rumours Forum
Jan 6, 2013
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:cry: He has absolutely no finesse or intelligence. He’s never in control of where the ball goes in his dribbling and his passing and shooting are really unrefined and often wild. In addition, he runs like a duck. I watched a lot of him from u20 (edit: u21 maybe) level (where Redmond was a much more effective player, zaha was just a bag of ‘tricks’ that would get you from one random point on the pitch to another) as I used to follow Carroll and a bit of Pritchard I think, at that level. I know I’ll get flayed for this but think he’s the kind of player that impresses people who think Ronaldo>>>>Messi. He slows the game down a lot too, and prefers doing ten step overs then running the ball away from the goal to just dropping a shoulder and progressing play.
Yeah this pretty much sounds to me like you haven’t watched him since the U21 games.
 

Ron Burgundy

SC Supporter
Jun 19, 2008
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Just don’t think he’d take our team up much

Skilful, quick and powerful, good when the game is stretched - Good player, but not what we need
 

rossdapep

Well-Known Member
Aug 25, 2011
21,906
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Just don’t think he’d take our team up much

Skilful, quick and powerful, good when the game is stretched - Good player, but not what we need
These are also good traits to have against packed defences.

I personally think he would add an air of unpredictability to our attack, which we are lacking. This may create more openings for Kane, et al.
 

johnbowel

Active Member
Jan 21, 2015
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Yeah this pretty much sounds to me like you haven’t watched him since the U21 games.

I’ve watched him a fair bit over the years since, and saw about ten-fifteen of his games last season because we were being so strongly linked. You? Don’t mean this facetiously but most people who talk about how much he’s changed, clearly didn’t.



I hope vids are allowed, if not will take down, and apologies.
 
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THFCSPURS19

The Speaker of the Transfer Rumours Forum
Jan 6, 2013
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I’ve watched him a fair bit over the years since, and saw about ten-fifteen of his games last season because we were being so strongly linked. You? Don’t mean this facetiously but most people who talk about how much he’s changed, clearly didn’t.
Zaha was similar to Bolasie in that he was a 'bag of tricks' and ultimately mostly ineffective. But since then his decision-making has improved drastically and he is one of a few players in the PL who can fuck teams up by himself (I still don't think we have a player like that). Sure his goals and assists record isn't as good as Son's but he's playing with worse players and tbh 9 PL goals isn't bad.
 

johnbowel

Active Member
Jan 21, 2015
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Zaha was similar to Bolasie in that he was a 'bag of tricks' and ultimately mostly ineffective. But since then his decision-making has improved drastically and he is one of a few players in the PL who can fuck teams up by himself (I still don't think we have a player like that). Sure his goals and assists record isn't as good as Son's but he's playing with worse players and tbh 9 PL goals isn't bad.

I don’t agree, though it’s all opinions and observations. I saw the game I linked above and quite a few others where he was the same. He runs the ball out of play, loses track of or overruns it when trying to pull off tricks, smashes the ball blindly into the box, rarely looks up or has any awareness of what’s happening around him, and gives it to the opposition a lot. The moment he has to stop dribbling, his natural inclination is that his responsibility is over, get rid of ball anywhere near area. If you get time to watch the vid, I’d be interested to know what you think. I just really dislike him as a footballer and think he has very very little ability. I also think his dribbling is really overrated given it’s his only skill. I’m sure he’s a really good freestyler but there’s a disconnection between how he dribbles and its use in his situation on the pitch. It’s like he’s not able to read or bait defenders, just press r1 and swivel the control stick or something.

I could be completely wrong but i think there’s a worrying strand running through How interested we’ve been in sissoko, Barkley, and zaha, as well as another target this window, although i think the latter has a bit more about them, I guess. :(

Edit: his figures last season are ok yeah, in terms of goals. That’s not my issue with him, though he didonly score as a centre forward, and I think has poor stats every other season in terms of productivity? Josh King did well one season, in those terms and no one seemed to want him (I actually really liked Josh King at youth level as I saw him a couple of times against our kids and he looked fantastic so what do i know ha)
 
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THFCSPURS19

The Speaker of the Transfer Rumours Forum
Jan 6, 2013
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I don’t agree, though it’s all opinions and observations. I saw the game I linked above and quite a few others where he was the same. He runs the ball out of play, loses track of or overruns it when trying to pull off tricks, smashes the ball blindly into the box, rarely looks up or has any awareness of what’s happening around him, and gives it to the opposition a lot. The moment he has to stop dribbling, his natural inclination is that his responsibility is over, get rid of ball anywhere near area. If you get time to watch the vid, I’d be interested to know what you think. I just really dislike him as a footballer and think he has very very little ability. I also think his dribbling is really overrated given it’s his only skill. I’m sure he’s a really good freestyler but there’s a disconnection between how he dribbles and its use in his situation on the pitch. It’s like he’s not able to read or bait defenders, just press r1 and swivel the control stick or something.

I could be completely wrong but i think there’s a worrying strand running through How interested we’ve been in sissoko, Barkley, and zaha, as well as another target this window, although i think the latter has a bit more about them, I guess. :(

Edit: his figures last season are ok yeah, in terms of goals. That’s not my issue with him, though he didonly score as a centre forward, and I think has poor stats every other season in terms of productivity? Josh King did well one season, in those terms and no one seemed to want him (I actually really liked Josh King at youth level as I saw him a couple of times against our kids and he looked fantastic ha)
I can understand why some people wouldn't want us to sign him, but your post makes it out like he's complete wank. If that were the case, why were Palace unable to win a single game without him playing? Why is he adored by Palace fans?

With regards to the Liverpool match, whilst his crossing was crap in this particular game, he still regularly beat the full-back and got into very good positions - and the fact he was crossing shows that he knew it was the best option instead of trying more tricks as you suggest he always does.
 

ParlyCicton

In Poch we trust.
Jul 13, 2016
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Well fergie saw something in him when he was a kid plus palace would of gone down if it wasn't for him. For me I think he would be a statement signing.
 

johnbowel

Active Member
Jan 21, 2015
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I can understand why some people wouldn't want us to sign him, but your post makes it out like he's complete wank. If that were the case, why were Palace unable to win a single game without him playing? Why is he adored by Palace fans?

With regards to the Liverpool match, whilst his crossing was crap in this particular game, he still regularly beat the full-back and got into very good positions - and the fact he was crossing shows that he knew it was the best option instead of trying more tricks as you suggest he always does.

The first is a good point, and I’m not going to try to cover it up to fit a narrative or anything. I really do think he’s a woeful player, from watching him a fair bit, but maybe I’ll turn out to be completely wrong.

I don’t think he did beat players in a threatening way. He loses the ball frequently, and when he beats the full back, it’s only so that he just about manages to get a cross in, and his crosses are all absolutely terrible, nowhere near anyone. He does try to cross, you’re right, but I don’t think that demonstrates anything admirable. It’s what the most old school of old school wingers did. Get to the byline, hammer ball in box.

I suppose what it comes down to, is I think people are massively overstating the improvements in his decision making given how appalling this was initially, and letting it obscure what I think is an extremely limited game, and skillset.
 
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Mornstar

Well-Known Member
Jun 2, 2005
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What does he have that we're missing?
The ability to unlock a defence sitting deep and producing a moment of magic out of nothing. Contrary to what some of the posters have written, Zaha has added an end product to his game recently. He singlehandedly carried the crystal palace side to safety last season and showed a consistency to his game that was previously missing. I think he can be a match winner and an asset to any side (and I mean any side) in the PL.
 

tiger666

Large Member
Jan 4, 2005
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The ability to unlock a defence sitting deep and producing a moment of magic out of nothing. Contrary to what some of the posters have written, Zaha has added an end product to his game recently. He singlehandedly carried the crystal palace side to safety last season and showed a consistency to his game that was previously missing. I think he can be a match winner and an asset to any side (and I mean any side) in the PL.

Yeah but as I said earlier, isn't that why we bought Lucas Moura?
 

THFCSPURS19

The Speaker of the Transfer Rumours Forum
Jan 6, 2013
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https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/wilfried-zaha-rejects-125k-per-12871184

Wilfried Zaha rejects £125k-per-week Crystal Palace contract to hand Tottenham fresh transfer boost

Palace are desperate to keep hold of main man Zaha and are due to return with an improved new offer

Tottenham have received fresh encouragement in their long running pursuit of Wilfried Zaha.

Spurs have not given up on landing the Crystal Palace star, 25.

And Zaha has rejected the Eagles offer of a new £125,000-per-week contract that would make him their top earner, giving the north Londoners renewed hope.

The development will interest Chelsea too as they are also keen on Zaha though have their managerial decision and the future of some of their existing squad to resolve first.

Palace are desperate to keep hold of main man Zaha and are due to return with an improved new offer.

But the former Manchester United winger's eagerness to test himself at a Champions League club again is a setback to their hopes of persuading him to stay.

Spurs believe they could land Zaha for significantly less than Palace’s valuation of their main man.

Palace had put Zaha in a similar price bracket to Riyad Mahrez who was rated at around £75m by Leicester but is poised to join Manchester City for £60m. Spurs value Zaha at £50m.

Increasing his options out wide is one of Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino's priorities and Zaha remains

Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino is determined to increase his options out wide and long-term target Zaha remains at the top of his wish list.

Zaha's current Palace deal, worth around £100,000-per week and signed last May, runs until 2022.
 

Mornstar

Well-Known Member
Jun 2, 2005
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Yeah but as I said earlier, isn't that why we bought Lucas Moura?
Moura did not show the same consistency or end product for PSG, hence why he was deemed surplus to requirements. I believe we signed Moura as someone with potential and unless he moves up a few gears, i dont see him being a first team regular any time soon
 

yankspurs

Enic Out
Aug 22, 2013
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The ability to unlock a defence sitting deep and producing a moment of magic out of nothing. Contrary to what some of the posters have written, Zaha has added an end product to his game recently. He singlehandedly carried the crystal palace side to safety last season and showed a consistency to his game that was previously missing. I think he can be a match winner and an asset to any side (and I mean any side) in the PL.
A) We bought Lucas Moura for this exact reason
B) Zaha did not stop being inconsistent last season. He’s still very inconsistent. Yes, he’s Palace’s entire team and single handedly saved them last year but he is still inconsistent. Gained a bit more consistency, yes but not nearly enough. Having watched him a bunch over the last few years, its abundantly clear that while he jad something we were missing previously, he was way too inconsistent to be a success for us as he wouldnt get much game time to gain form and consistency. At the moment though, he does not have anything we are missing. He’s now the shiny new toy every one wants because its a new pacey signing but dont realize we dont need him.
 

dtxspurs

Welcome to the Good Life
Dec 28, 2017
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Cant agree with that. Moura's stats at PSG, goals, assists, chances created etc dwarf Zaha's at Palace.
Still don't think people realize Lucas scored 19 goals his last season at PSG. He only stopped playing cause they bought freaking Neymar and Mbappe. I swear it's cause of his hair.
 

Hengy1

Well-Known Member
Aug 7, 2014
2,744
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I’d be okay with it although I want Martial the most.

Some people do really underrate Zaha imo
 

fatpiranha

dismember
Jun 9, 2003
8,337
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If people are basing their opinion of Zaha on having watched him prior to this season then it is understandable of they have a less than positive view . Understandable but wrong.

Last season Zaha matured and transformed his game. He had always been fast and skillful, but horribly wasteful as well with little end product. I would have been against us spending serious money on the old Zaha. Last season under Hodgson however he developed into a player who could be almost impossible to play against on his day. I think Poch would improve him even further. I don't even think he is a riskier purchase than the likes of Martial or Pulisic. Whichever one we get i'll be happy (y).
 
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