I haven’t posted on this topic until now..!!

I was furious after his sending off against Spurs - up until that moment we were at least holding our own - if not arguably the better, more likely team..!!

Zaha’s sending off changed all that and from thereon in we were on the back foot..!!

Zaha is so infuriating at 29 he seems to me more petulant than when he was younger - at a stage in his career when you’d expect him to be taking the mantle as a more senior player and leading by example - he seems to be going the other way..!!

I do honestly wonder whether some of the/his frustration is around that he is no longer “King of the Palace” - younger players are now better than him and there’s no doubt he’s lost a yard of pace.

Additionally I believe he’s now realised that he’s big money move to a “Champions League” club ain’t going to happen. Why is that the case - well Wilf you only need to watch your performance against Spurs - then stand in front of a mirror - then you’ll know the answer - you’ve got to grow up..!!

But and this a big but and why I took a mental walk around the block on this - he is still a Palace legend and in my time up there alongside Sansom and Wright as the best players I’ve seen in a Palace shirt..!!

LBH - without Zaha we would have been relegated a good few seasons ago..!!

So for me Zaha is at a crossroad in his career - he either buys into the Viera revolution and accepts he is no longer “kingpin” - but enjoys playing in a much progressive team and grasps the opportunity to lead by example - or he continues in this petulant manner until such time Viera says enough is enough and sells to the highest bidder - where if he continues in the same vane he’s career will just drift into obscurity..!!

For me Zaha has still a lot of credit in the bank - and a fully focused Zaha is still one of the first names on the team sheet from our fully fit squad - but for that to remain he has got to do something he hasn’t done to date - grow up..!!

Only time will tell..

COYP

Some short memories and overreaction to a player that playes on a knife edge and has fire in his belly. The first booking was never a yellow and the second was undeniably foolish and probably a yellow in this day and age so he was issued it and sent off. However...

He has been magnificent for this club and anyone that thinks we are better off without him is mad.even if he has lost a tiny amount of pac he is still our most dangerous player most weeks and one of our best finishers. He gets us fans that actually attend (rather than typing in forums throught the games) off of our seats most weeks and I can honestly say that he is consistently the most exciting player that I have seen in my life to play in the red and blue.

Short short memories. Appreciate the floored genius that we have, whilst we have him because we will miss him when he has gone and he will always be in our greatest ever 11's for decades to come.

[quote=r&bthru&thru;3685886]

I do tend to agree with this. His petulance is an issue and is what lets him down. I think most of us did believe that he would grow out of it but it seems that ship has sailed and he is what he is. It speaks volumes that someone like Jack Grealish suffers similar fouls/attention as Wilf but deals with it much better. He got his big move for a price his club felt reflected his value whilst Wilf has not. I feel this is probably the crux of the issue for Wilf. For years we relied on him and in the most part he delivered. For him the time for him to go was 2 or 3 years ago but it never quite materialised and I think the club did do the right thing by keeping hold of him. Yes his wages were high but we went years with not having to invest too much in players partially because we had Wilf. It could be argued that without him we would not have been able to buy many of the players we now applaud as the good signings we have made.

I think it is worth noting that as our style of play has changed Wilf's impact has been affected. We are no longer a sit back and hit on the counter attack team we used to be. This gave Wilf space behind the opponent back line to run into and engage players in a one on one duel with them running back to goal he excelled in. We now play higher up the pitch and his space and opportunities to run at players is reduced, this coincides with his reduction in pace as he gets older. It is just a case of him having to evolve his style of play, as all players do with age. As the rest of our team/squad has got better the gap between them and him has reduced and is why he stands out less now. This is a good thing. However he is still a threat that opponents have to take into account.

As I said earlier his big move to a top club has passed. If he does leave now it will not be for a top 4 club and it will be interesting to see how he handles that. I can only see him going to a club with ambitions possibly if the likes of Newcastle do splash cash etc.

No longer the force in our team he was but still a good first team player who I hope we don't forget what he has done for us as his ability declines.

Edited by Mwncisee (29 Dec 2021 8.57am)

[quote=r&bthru&thru;3685886]

Some short memories and overreaction to a player that playes on a knife edge and has fire in his belly. The first booking was never a yellow and the second was undeniably foolish and probably a yellow in this day and age so he was issued it and sent off. However...

He has been magnificent for this club and anyone that thinks we are better off without him is mad.even if he has lost a tiny amount of pac he is still our most dangerous player most weeks and one of our best finishers. He gets us fans that actually attend (rather than typing in forums throught the games) off of our seats most weeks and I can honestly say that he is consistently the most exciting player that I have seen in my life to play in the red and blue.

Short short memories. Appreciate the floored genius that we have, whilst we have him because we will miss him when he has gone and he will always be in our greatest ever 11's for decades to come.

No short memories at all. We are all aware of what a fit, interested Zaha brings to the team. However there is no excuse for his petulant behaviour which rubs up referees the wrong way and paints a target on his back. The potential to be sent off every game through playing on a knifes edge should not be seen as a strength. It is his weakness and it is why his career has gone no further.

I also see you are another of the I’m a better fan than you brigade as well which is pathetic schoolboy chatter. If I was you I’d get back in the classroom and learn the difference between floored and flawed.

You tit! I have no need to return to school, I do very well in life and couldn't give a toss if I have made an error when typing on a phone and not proof reading before submitting. As for the assumption that I am part of a fictional brigade that is wide of the mark. Do I back my own knowledge ... yes, do I look down on less knowledgeable ... No.

If wilf was not floored we would not of been watching him play in red and blue for so long. It is what it is.

Wilf plays on the edge and is always likely to react to the abuse he gets and get booked. It’s part of what makes him a special talent but as others have said at 29 he should understand when he needs to reign things in. A smart Wilf would have known that John Moss is trigger happy and loves to wave his cards so don’t give him the opportunity to book you early doors. Even a not very bright Wilf should know that when you’re on a yellow you have to be very careful. It was obvious he was going to get himself sent off and I was hoping he’d be subbed at half time before it happened.

He’s either particularly dim, totally unable to control his behaviour, or frankly doesn’t give a toss. Either way there’s no room for passengers in this side. Pressing football requires hard work and discipline!