Wilfried Zaha

[dondo]

Well they do refuse to sell. The issue is that our plan b is seemingly Zaha and Grealish. That is the definition of horrible recruitment. And our fans accept that shit while other clubs laugh at us.

Behave, how is Zaha shit?

 

[dtxspurs]

I agree that we need a CM who can thread those type of passes and dictate a more progressive style of play from midfield.

But I still think we could use a more explosive forward option. Attacking with pace and energy is definitely what disrupts defenses. Yes we need the right passes coupled with good movement but bursting forward and pushing defenses back really disrupts them.

Patient build up play, probing patiently seems to becoming harder and harder to break teams down. Arsenal spring to mind in that sense.

Arsenal have just been so horrible at putting a team together. My thought is always that the ball will always move faster than the player can. I want to pass the ball, I don't want to dribble the ball. We have enough dribblers.

Like I said I think he's a good player it just seems unnecessary to me.

 

[neilp]

I agree that we need a CM who can thread those type of passes and dictate a more progressive style of play from midfield.

But I still think we could use a more explosive forward option. Attacking with pace and energy is definitely what disrupts defenses. Yes we need the right passes coupled with good movement but bursting forward and pushing defenses back really disrupts them.

Patient build up play, probing patiently seems to becoming harder and harder to break teams down. Arsenal spring to mind in that sense.

Two thirds of the teams in the league play very defensive football trying to frustrate play, and hope for a chance of a goal at the other end.

We need players who are more unpredictable and can unlock these defenders.

 

[dtxspurs]

Two thirds of the teams in the league play very defensive football trying to frustrate play, and hope for a chance of a goal at the other end.

We need players who are more unpredictable and can unlock these defenders.

You know who beats the hell out of those teams? City. You know who out of the top teams struggles with the bad teams more than anyone? Liverpool, who are fast as hell and wingers who can dribble like crazy.

 

[am_yisrael_chai]

Yeah, given the choice Martial for me as well.

However, if that's not possible Zaha is a very good alternative.

He still brings qualities we lack - pace and unpredictable movement scares the shit out of defences and would leave space for Kane, Dele and Eriksen to weave their magic.

Personally think he'd really enhance our attacking dynamic and those deep lying defenses would find it a lot more difficult to shut us down with him in the side.

All about the big picture, not just focusing solely on the individual.

I don’t get it, how does pace help against a deep lying defence ?

 

[neilp]

You know who beats the hell out of those teams? City. You know who out of the top teams struggles with the bad teams more than anyone? Liverpool, who are fast as hell and wingers who can dribble like crazy.

Yes but Liverpool are a bit shit though.

 

[Haddock]

Well they do refuse to sell. The issue is that our plan b is seemingly Zaha and Grealish. That is the definition of horrible recruitment. And our fans accept that shit while other clubs laugh at us.

Zaha has been the stand out player in the PL this season outside the top teams. I wouldn't laugh if Liverpool signed him. Quite the opposite.

 

[dtxspurs]

I don’t get it, how does pace help against a deep lying defence ?

You can run to their line across the 18 yard box faster?

 

[diamond lights]

Would love to sign Martial but if I had to chose who would bring more to us next season then I would go for Zaha.
Absolutely brilliant last season. Look at the Palace record with and without him.

 

[doctor stefan Freud]

You know who beats the hell out of those teams? City. You know who out of the top teams struggles with the bad teams more than anyone? Liverpool, who are fast as hell and wingers who can dribble like crazy.

Great post. Pass. Move. Pass. Move. Is a better way of getting pass the bus

 

[JayB]

I don’t get it, how does pace help against a deep lying defence ?

In Zaha's case it would be his ability to successfully take on defenders and drag the opposing defense out of its shape, moreso than his pace, that would help open up more space for our other attackers to operate in. Lucas is really the only other player in the first team squad who has this in his locker (Son can manage a stepover here and there but not in the same way).

I do agree with @dtxspurs that it is imperative that we bring in a CM who helps us move the ball more quickly and get it into the final third before the opposition is set, but there's room for improvement in both regards.

 

[spacessships]

Based on historical dealings I think it's possible that

1) Zaha is option B to Martial
2) Zaha is smokescreen to apply pressure on Utd
3) Option 1+2 are both true

BUT

regardless of whatever speculation may be true or not true, I am surprised, again based on historical dealings, that this is all happening in the first week of June. Obviously the window dates are different this year AND there's a World Cup, but I still think it's very unusual to see this much activity from us this early in the window.

Like our targets or not, signs points to things being ACTUALLY different this window: we ARE moving earlier, Levy IS working to get Poch's signings in where possible, and thus it makes sense Poch is pleased.

 

[Matthew]

This thread has bumped a bit!

 

[Mr Pink]

Arsenal have just been so horrible at putting a team together. My thought is always that the ball will always move faster than the player can. I want to pass the ball, I don't want to dribble the ball. We have enough dribblers.

Like I said I think he's a good player it just seems unnecessary to me.

Look at how City and Liverpool attack, pace and lots of clever movement.

We need a bit more invention from midfield and another forward option who offers that pace and unpredictable movement. Poch clearly thinks so as well.

 

[Mr Pink]

You know who beats the hell out of those teams? City. You know who out of the top teams struggles with the bad teams more than anyone? Liverpool, who are fast as hell and wingers who can dribble like crazy.

City have the guile from Silva/De Bruyne and attack very quickly with Sterling, Ageuro and Sane - they're rapid.

 

[SpartanSpur]

Had completely shut this down as a possibility as there was talk of a new deal recently. Did ask my Palace mate at work why he hadn't signed yet actually and he didn't know. So that kinda ties in with the ITK and rumours.

If we could get him for £50m or less it would be a cracking deal. He's primed to go. Many pundits see Mahrez and Zaha as the two best players outside the top 6 and I agree. Anyone who thinks us signing him wouldn't be a statement hasn't paid attention for the last 18-24 months. We certainly wouldn't be laughed at!

He's put that Palace side on his back, matured and gained that consistency he lacked. Did finish the season in the ST role also.

Is he as sexy as a Fekir or Martial? no, but he's easily the most likely to hit the ground running of the three also, and would be a good foil for Kane, Eriksen and Dele. Plus Poch is a big fan.

 

[Mr Pink]

I don’t get it, how does pace help against a deep lying defence ?

Not just pace, clever passing and movement. But the ability to beat a defender is obviously an advantage against a deep lying defence if there's some quality thereafter.

I think defenders panick more against pacey players and a more likely to make a mistake as well. But its not pace for just pace, it's pace with quality...or any rapid speed merchant would be worth a punt.

 

[jay2040]

I don’t get it, how does pace help against a deep lying defence ?

Potentially track back quicker when the ball is lost!

 

[am_yisrael_chai]

In Zaha's case it would be his ability to successfully take on defenders and drag the opposing defense out of its shape, moreso than his pace, that would help open up more space for our other attackers to operate in. Lucas is really the only other player in the first team squad who has this in his locker (Son can manage a stepover here and there but not in the same way).

I do agree with @dtxspurs that it is imperative that we bring in a CM who helps us move the ball more quickly and get it into the final third before the opposition is set, but there's room for improvement in both regards.

How Zaha plays for Palace does not translate to how he would perform for a top 6 team. Why ? Because Palace are rarely on the front foot so he gets to hit teams on the break. A good parallel would be Darren Bent, good at Charlton, garbage at Spurs, good again at Sunderland. A player who played well for teams that sat deep and was useless for a team that had the ball most of the time.

I’m not saying it is a certainty Zaha would bomb at Spurs but I think there is a reasonable probability.

 

[werty]

Would make Lucas the most pointless signing in a while. Again, I'd rather the money went elsewhere.