• Existing user of old message board?

    Your username will have transferred over to this new message board, but your password will need to be reset. Visit our convert your account page, to transfer your old password over.

Wilfried Zaha return

BromleyMonkey said:
I’ve always said with these over paid players these days, when they look at their bank balance are they really that bothered about bits of metal and silver with winner on them gathering dust in some sort of cabinet thingy in the corner of a room somewhere in one of their mansions
Click to expand...
Agreed, unfortunately he won’t be remembered fondly outside our small corner in South London.

His sulky demeanor made him unpopular with opposing fans and his departure for free tarnished his legacy here somewhat!

He still is one of the best players I have seen in a Palace shirt but hoping there are many more to follow.
 
For me, who has been going to games since 1974, he is the best Palace player I have ever seen. In his prime, and for a good few years, he was a footballing genius for us. Like most geniuses he had another side to him that did not endear him to everyone. Who doesn't get a bit sulky as they lose their youth and vigour? I can speak with authority on that subject.

If we had a Palace hall of fame, he should be the first in it. We should celebrate the positives which far outweighs the negatives. Maybe his career choices weren't the best but we may never see his like again at Selhurst.

I would certainly welcome him back if the deal was right.
 
Plumpton eagle said:
For me, who has been going to games since 1974, he is the best Palace player I have ever seen. In his prime, and for a good few years, he was a footballing genius for us. Like most geniuses he had another side to him that did not endear him to everyone. Who doesn't get a bit sulky as they lose their youth and vigour? I can speak with authority on that subject.

If we had a Palace hall of fame, he should be the first in it. We should celebrate the positives which far outweighs the negatives. Maybe his career choices weren't the best but we may never see his like again at Selhurst.

I would certainly welcome him back if the deal was right.
Click to expand...
Agree we should celebrate him, at times it felt like he was single handedly saving palace. Don’t see him coming back though and looks like his best days are behind on the pitch. The pace and physicality of premier league probably mean he is no longer suited
 
Jim_Cannon said:
Agree we should celebrate him, at times it felt like he was single handedly saving palace. Don’t see him coming back though and looks like his best days are behind on the pitch. The pace and physicality of premier league probably mean he is no longer suited
Click to expand...
Do not remotely want him back! He had his day with us - twice. He would not fit in now and let’ s just remember him for the great player he was. As for Hall of Fame - I would put Wright, Jackson and and Don Rodger’s in front of him.
 
totoshkin said:
Do not remotely want him back! He had his day with us - twice. He would not fit in now and let’ s just remember him for the great player he was. As for Hall of Fame - I would put Wright, Jackson and and Don Rodger’s in front of him.
Click to expand...
I would put Lombardo and probably Nigel Martyn up there as well.

Lombardo as he was at the time not only a world beater but he did stay around even when things went a bit pear shaped.

Blazey as he came in when we were at a very low ebb and probably early us more points by way of saves than quite a few of our strikers!
 
Plumpton eagle said:
For me, who has been going to games since 1974, he is the best Palace player I have ever seen. In his prime, and for a good few years, he was a footballing genius for us. Like most geniuses he had another side to him that did not endear him to everyone. Who doesn't get a bit sulky as they lose their youth and vigour? I can speak with authority on that subject.

If we had a Palace hall of fame, he should be the first in it. We should celebrate the positives which far outweighs the negatives. Maybe his career choices weren't the best but we may never see his like again at Selhurst.

I would certainly welcome him back if the deal was right.
Click to expand...
Don Rogers, John Jackson , Attilio Lombardo, Andy Johnson Nigel Martyn and several.others qualify for that honour before Zaha!!!
 
the silurian said:
Don Rogers, John Jackson , Attilio Lombardo, Andy Johnson Nigel Martyn and several.others qualify for that honour before Zaha!!!
Click to expand...
Most of those, with the possible exception of Jackson and Martin, were great for us for one or two seasons. Wilf excelled for us across probably four to five seasons. He was the main man and there became a sense that we could not win without him. I don't think that was ever said or thought about any of the others, great as they were.

But it is all about opinions and it says a lot about the older guys that we still remember them so fondly.
 
There's no chance he'll be back. I find it a bit sad that he's become a shadow of the player he was. Once he hit 30, which is hardly old, his magic had gone. I'll always remember that season when we started with 7 straight defeats and hadn't scored a single goal. Roy got the credit for the revival, but it was far more to do with Wilf IMO.

Now he's at Charlotte N Carolina. The Northern area of the city is crime ridden. The affluent and safer area is the South East. Perhaps he considers that a good place to live for him and his family. In the interview he looked and sounded defensive and not happy. I think he's a bit of a lost soul now. He has the wealth to live well. I hope he finds a role which brings contentment. It won't be as a player.
 
BromleyMonkey said:
Champions league? somewhere different? nice weather? he knew with Olise and Eze he wasn’t our Bertie big bollox anymore? Take your pick or maybe all of the above
Click to expand...
I think he thought he'd be the biggest fish in that particular pond. He knew none of the elite wanted him anyway. It must have been a savage blow to his ego that he failed.
 
Plumpton eagle said:
Most of those, with the possible exception of Jackson and Martin, were great for us for one or two seasons. Wilf excelled for us across probably four to five seasons. He was the main man and there became a sense that we could not win without him. I don't think that was ever said or thought about any of the others, great as they were.

But it is all about opinions and it says a lot about the older guys that we still remember them so fondly.
Click to expand...
i'm not knocking Wilf but i think he only had 2 or maybe 3 top seasons, and of course was massively rewarded for those efforts when he signed a £130k a week 5 year contract.

After excelling in our promotion season and getting his move to Man U he came back in 2014/15.

His performances were erratic and he was not a regular starter. The same with 2015/16 although he got stronger as the season went on and played well in the cup semi and final.

With Bolaise leaving he did start pushing on in 2016/17 but for me it was 2017/18 and 2018/19 when he was almost unplayable. Those are the 2 years i will remember most fondly.

in 19/20 with his move to Arsenal and Everton blocked he sulked all season and only scored 4 goals. I think his attitude and performances that season put off all the big clubs. I think Palace were careful never to publicly criticise him that season.

That summer Roy switched to 442 and gave him a free role upfront. Whilst he did get a little better in 20/2021 and scored more goals he was becoming a bit of a luxury player.

After that he did move back to the left and with penalties continued scoring but had clearly lost a yard or two.

I wish the guy well but for me let's take the red and blue tinted glasses off a little too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Holmesdale Online Shop

Back
Top