No Zaha, no hope... both he and Palace are the victims of this football skullthuggery
WILFRIED ZAHA was right to ask refs for more protection and call out the cloggers who kick him every week.
He is currently the most important player to his club anywhere in world football.
A big statement perhaps, but can Juventus win matches without Cristiano Ronaldo? Yes. Can Barcelona win without Lionel Messi? Yes. Can Paris Saint-germain win without Neymar? Yes.
But can Crystal Palace prosper in the Premier League when Zaha is missing?
On the evidence of the last 43 games, they can’t even scramble a point.
Before you rush to your keyboards, I’m not saying Zaha is better than Ronaldo, Messi or Neymar. But without him, Palace’s results are terrible.
As discussed on my Radio 5 Live breakfast show, I’m pleased Zaha spoke out about his treatment after scoring the winner at Huddersfield last week because it’s time his grievances were addressed.
Ahead of his side’s game at Selhurst Park today, Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez said he was “surprised” by Zaha’s comments and that the FA “has to deal with them”.
Sorry, Rafa, but I totally disagree.
And if you are among the rival fans who call him a “diver” or a “cheat”, consider the following facts.
conly Eden Hazard has been fouled more often than Zaha since 2013 in the Premier League, followed by Raheem Sterling, Alexis Sanchez and Sadio Mane – who all see a lot more of the ball because they play for bigger clubs.
c From the start of last season, Zaha has been awarded free-kicks for fouls by opponents 87 times – behind only Richarlison, Hazard, Jordan Ayew and Dele Alli, who all played more games.
c Although no player has been booked more times ( four) for simulation since the start of the 2015-16 campaign, Zaha has never been suspended for it.
c In the 2016-17 season, Zaha (121) was the fourth most-fouled player in Europe’s top five leagues – just five behind Neymar (126).
cand Palace have averaged 1.5 points per game in the 33 matches Zaha has played since last August, compared with zero – zilch, nil, nothing – in the 10 he has missed.
As one of the most skilful, exciting, dynamic players in the Premier League, I don’t blame him for expressing his frustration and surely we can all agree on the fundamental part of his argument.
Does Zaha have to get his leg broken or suffer a serious injury before anyone will listen to him? Let’s look at the other side of the bugbear which follows him like a shadow – the accusation that he is a diver.
If anyone can show me conclusive pictures of Zaha throwing himself to the floor with no contact from an opponent, I would like to see them.
Yes, there are those four yellow cards for simulation on his record – but at least one of those, at Watford last season, was proved to be wrong.
Then there is the argument that he goes down too easily. But when you are driving into the box, running at full tilt, with opponents struggling to keep up, it doesn’t take a lot of contact to knock you off-balance.
And let’s not leave any room for doubt. He has been on the receiving end of one or two very poor challenges this season, notably from Etienne Capoue at Watford.
It seems a bit strange that only three of the 11 fouls on Zaha this season have resulted in yellow cards for his opponents, yet the Palace winger has been booked three times himself.
So why do opposition fans boo him? What is their agenda?
In a way, it’s probably a compliment because it means they are fearful of his pace, skill, dribbling and his eye for goal.
Nearly all the pantomime villains in football who get booed are good players – because they are usually the ones who do the most damage. But I don’t see why Zaha should be expected to dust himself down, get on with it and accept the rough and tumble of English football offers more protection to some players than others.
Let’s get one thing straight. EVERY player should be protected from harmful challenges, whether you are a speedy, skilful forward or a lumbering centre-half.
Referees have to treat each incident and control each game on its merits – and I’m sure they always do.
People may accuse me of being a hypocrite because, as a player, part of my game was to rile opponents.
If I was still playing now, I would probably try to wind up Zaha so he got himself booked by exacting retribution.
But as a pundit, I have a duty to call it as I see it.
All Zaha is asking for is a fair deal – and right now, I’m in his corner.