Like last season just gone? He was poor. All those back passes as soon as he received the ball. Often only one man on him. Then the occasions when pva is free on an overlap, Wilf ignores him and loses the ball into his marker. Or the January period when he protected himself. Football has changed. Keeping problem people doesn’t work any more, especially at their value and the opportunity cost in having them still around.

Hrolf, he sulked like I said he would and you disagreed. Now you’re saying he won’t again. I wasn’t completely right because I said sell at £60-65 mil, but we only received the Arsenal bid of £45 mil spread over 750 transfer windows. We won’t ever hear of anything near £65mil now. What has made me laugh though are the people ssyiwe should’ve sold, but conveniently forgetting the only bid from Arsenal. Parish would’ve looked a right tw&t and been lynched by fans, and more than a few flying pies at half time.

COYP

The only benefit to hanging onto zaha is if we get bought out by mega spenders while he still puts in 5 or 6 out of 10 performances. That was your strategy last season and I don’t see much happening there. His worth financially and on the pitch continues to fall while we struggle to overhaul the squad. The whole football world see this.

What is your current price you’d accept and refuse for a player losing interest in putting in these limp performances? It was £100 mil last summer.

Edited by Rudi Hedman (12 Aug 2020 12.02pm)

COYP

Crunch time. Have a player on the books who doesn't want to be here, and if retained will end up on the bench through non committal performances and yet still be on an outrageous salary, or, get rid to the best offer, which will probably be around the £30m mark, and move on. One has to wonder about dressing room harmony.

I think this could be a bit of deja vu.

Poor decision making, poor end product, inconsistent...lets sell him to Everton for £40m if they come back in...Wilf can do a "Bolasie" and get found out and then shipped out.

It’s a bizarre situation - he is too good for the clubs that might be willing to fork out, but the clubs he should be going to can’t afford him. If he goes to Everton or Newcastle he loses face as they aren’t sufficient a step up. I wonder whether a loan with option/obligation to buy is an option. Eg Arsenal cough up 5 mil and cover wages for him but have to pay 50 if he plays 25+ games and they make Europe. In return we get a mates rate loan/signing as well. Leaves us a little exposed in short term, but a decent loan/signing helps to cover and we get a bit of cash and a lot of wage budget room.

Hmmm...yes forgot about that! It’s my age!