We all know Sam Allardyce loves getting players on loan, so it was
only a matter of time before we were linked with every loan player in
the country. This week’s featured link comes courtesy of most of the
major newspapers, who have all reported that we are hot on the hunt for
another striker – and that our interest is now geared towards Wilfried Zaha (with the Mirror describing our rumoured bid as ‘audacious.’)
Zaha is a 20 year old winger and striker who made his senior debut
for Crystal Palace in 2010. He has played for Crystal Palace since then,
making 143 appearances and scoring 18 goals. He was signed by Manchester United
in January 2013, and immediately loaned back to Palace so he could see
out their successful promotion season (including scoring the goal in the
play-off final that promoted them.)
The word on the street is that Zaha is available to be loaned out yet
again, but will not return to his former club. Zaha was one of Alex
Fergusson’s last signings, and it is not yet clear how he will fit into
the plans of new manager David Moyes. It would also be beneficial for
Zaha to gain some experience playing in the Premier League as he’s never
before played in a top flight game. Going on loan to another club would
be a good way for him to ensure he’s playing regular first time
football, as he’s unlikely to jump straight into Man United’s first
team.
He’s certainly a talented player. Watching Zaha in the Play-Off final
was a show case of the player’s charms; he was the only bright spark in
a rather dire football match in which neither team looked up to playing
in the Premier League (I was half hoping the ref would just stop play,
and keep both teams in the Championship, but alas- it wasn’t to be.)
We could use his pace and ball skills- although he has just been part
of the disappointing England U-21 side which crashed out of the U-21
Euros (gives Hodgson something to look forward to in a few years time,
no?)
I wouldn’t be against us bringing Zaha in, but I’m surprised we’d be
linked with a player who’s scored less and has less Premier League
experience than a similar player who’s wages we are already paying. The
barely-mentioned Modibo Maiga has featured in 16 games for West Ham and scored 4 goals- which gives him a much higher goals per games ratio than Zaha has on his CV.
I’m also not sure how exactly Zaha would fit into our current style
of play. He’s certainly an enigmatic and smart player, but I’m not
completely convinced about the potential paring of him with
he-who-has-been-over-named-and-might-not-sign-anyway. Zaha really came
into his own at Palace when he was moved from winger to striker, but I
have a feeling that a certain giant Geordie might be part of a lone
striker system yet again this year- which would put Zaha further out on
the wing and slightly out of his preferred position (although he would
still be an attacking winger, which he is capable of being.)
The man can play, and can certainly score goals. What he lacks in top
flight experience he makes up for in talent, so for that reason, I
wouldn’t mind Big Sam bringing him in as the second striker David Gold
stated we needed. However, we will have to be prepared to train up and
give experience to a player who will not stay with us. He will benefit
from playing with us, but then he will leave and head back to his 5 ½
year contract at Man Utd. For that reason, I would rather see us invest
the time and team building into someone we know will be an investment,
instead of a stop-gap striker.
Call me crazy, but I’d rather see us invest the time and effort in
making Maiga a mainstay in the first team. Now that’s audacious.
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