The thing about Wilf is, it's not just about his ability. It's the fact he does what he did tonight at that particular moment, when it really matters, in a team that, lets face it, was crap tonight.

It's one thing them getting a red card and everyone expecting us to go and nick something from the game. But to actually take the game by the scruff of the neck in the way he did is a whole different animal.

The best players in the world see blood, capitalise on it and then have both the ability and footballing arrogance to pull it off in that way. Just brilliant.

That's also the reason why I bang on to death about him so much being on the left hand side if he's to play wide. He's so good he will always shine at some point in any position. But sentiment aside, he should be compared to the Sanchez's & Hazards etc of this world. When he takes that touch inside and you know he can still twist you back out, its just a defenders absolute nightmare and they simply cannot handle him.

Tonight's performance from him at the end reminded me of one of the first games I really saw what he was about. Preston at home, right in front of me in Block B on that left wing, turning defenders inside out and setting us up to win the game all on his own. Was a complete throwback.

For me, he's a world class player, he hiccups when you try and discipline his game too much but whatever he does in the rest of his career, if he's given the freedom to really express himself, I've got no doubt he will continue to shine throughout. I'd like to think I'm never biased about Palace and I just say it how it is. But Wilf really is a special player.

We're the Arthur over ere!

I agree. I know people don't necessarily like him up top but I think it's more a case of just taking the shackles off. As irresponsible as it sounds, we should just leave him free to get in positions he feels he can impact the game most. If it's down the centre and he's having a quiet one, he can drift off outside and give a couple of full backs nightmares too.

We should build the team around him. He's too good of a player not to.

We're the Arthur over ere!

Yeah I would've had a lot to say about the performance had we lost tonight. But when youve got Wilf in your team, there's always a chance.

We're the Arthur over ere!

The shove on him first half was a bigger penalty than either on Saturday.

Either that or just put him back out wide but let him roam. Inside forward role that most skillful players in the world normally take up. The reason I think he plays there is because Roy wants his wide players to defend. In an ideal world we'd go 433 with Townsend and Wilf cutting in from both sides and switching if getting no joy.

I do think this 4-4-2 can be flexible though. With Townsend pushing up during attacks to form more of a 3, Wilf drifting slightly wider and Loftus cheek dropping into the centre to balance it out.

I agree with others who point out Wilf is a winger by trade. But pushed wide right, forced to track runs back and tasked with just taking players to the byline and whipping balls all in night, I've just never thought it's what he does best. Too creative and skillful and was wasted there under Pardew for me, where he predominantly had Bolasie in more of a free role out left and only swapped it every now and then.

He's a winger, but needs license wherever Roy plays him. I don't mind him in that free role behind Benteke simply because I think it gives him more freedom to pop up all over the final 3rd.

We're the Arthur over ere!

I think Hodgson was given a clear brief from above to the effect that he was to pick the kind of player that the powers that be wanted to see in England shirts.

It wasn't the only curious selection decision he made, he picked the likes of Sturridge and Wilshere despite their having spent most of the previous season making entertaining smalltalk with physiotherapists. He on his own wouldn't have been that stupid.

But WTF Harry Kane was doing taking corners I don't understand. Perhaps he wrestled the ball off Oxtail-Chamberpot and refused to give it up? In all seriousness though I would ask Rooney the question as well. He was the captain and must have known it was lunacy.

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The Ferret
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