Crystal Palace talisman Wilfried Zaha was at it again yesterday as his curling strike was enough to seal all three points in an away victory over Huddersfield Town.

After the game the Ivory Coast internationalist fumed at what he thought was rough treatment from the opposition:

“I feel like before anyone gets a red I’d have to get my leg broken or something. That’s why I lose my head,”

“Why am I getting different treatment from other players?”

“It makes you not want to go on a run because someone will come through the back of you, and it doesn’t allow you to express yourself.”

I feel for Zaha hear, as I do believe that exciting forward players don’t get the protection that they sometimes need. You could see on occasions that a defender will be late and leave a foot in as Zaha skips away from them. This happened again against The Terriers and a frustrated Wilfried decided to react and seek his own retribution, which saw the forward receive a booking from the referee.

I don’t agree with Zaha when it comes to him being treated differently to other creative talents. Mohamed Salah gets rough treatment from opponents as does Chelsea attacker Eden Hazard. It’s what happens to players that the opposition teams fear.

For me, Wilfried Zaha needs to look at how Hazard deals with tough challenges and the boos from away supporters.

The Belgian maestro ends most campaigns being one of the most fouled players in the Premier League, yet instead of reacting or getting frustrated Eden almost seems to relish the attention he gets.

When discussing what happens when he gets fouled the Belgium international forward has said:

‘I don’t see the point in reacting,’

‘True, it’s a human response but it is the way I have been brought up. I have been used to taking the knocks. The more I take, the happier I am.’

‘It always makes me want to outdo them but in a football way and I don’t want to make their life a misery by kicking them. I want to hurt the opponent but in terms of the football.’

That’s the thing, you need to punish your tormentors by getting the goals and assists that really hurt them. To be fair, Zaha did that but he also got booked for his foul which came from frustration as I’ve previously said.

It’s actually a compliment that an opposing team and manager pinpoints you as the danger man that can ruin their dreams.

Zaha is a superb talent, who has the skill-set that can kill most teams in the English top flight.

He’s scored three goals already this term and that’s brilliant but he’s also got as many yellow cards and that may worry Eagles boss Roy Hodgson as Crystal Palace can’t afford to see their star man in the stands because of a silly suspension.

By all means point out to the ref that you’ve been on the end of some poor challenges but don’t go out looking for revenge by making reckless tackles yourself.

Wilfried Zaha has the talent that could send Palace into a top half finish and that’s what he should be concentrating all his efforts on!

 

Posted on September 16th, 2018 by scott
Filed under: Article