Palace Say " Zaha is still a Palace player at heart "

GEOFF THOMAS: Wilfried Zaha is still Crystal Palace through and through
By Croydon Advertiser

Saturday April 05, 2014

As a player, his heart and soul is probably still at Palace because he hasn't been away for that long.

He's a local lad and it would be a bonus for everybody if he came back.


FANS' FAVOURITE: Geoff Thomas thinks Wilfried Zaha would be welcomed back to Crystal Palace with open arms

Eagles legend and former Palace skipper Geoff Thomas gives us his views in a weekly column ...

I DON'T think Wilfried Zaha probably envisaged playing for Cardiff City so soon in his career after leaving Palace last May.

The lure of going to Manchester United at the time was too much for him, but we've seen a few players leave Palace too early over the years and then disappear in big squads.

Sometimes it derails your career for a couple years but he is still on a learning curve and I'm sure he's experiencing something new at Cardiff.

It's a battle there and a difficult time for them, and I think he would have thought he'd have a starring role at Manchester United come this time of the season.

It was the right time for him to leave Palace last year but you could see he still had plenty to learn.

He had the quality on the ball but sometimes you feel you need guidance and somebody you can trust to point you in the right direction.

He's on a loan at Cardiff, and I think if you're professional, which I'm sure he is, you just go out there on Saturday and you perform for the shirt you're playing in.

I think he'll find it bizarre playing against Palace, as he'll be looking to save Cardiff and then trying to cause damage to the club he had a good career at.

But he's a professional footballer so you go out there and perform the best you can, no matter who you're playing for.

I don't think he'll celebrate if he were to score, but then again I remember I got criticised once for celebrating after scoring against Palace when I was at Wolves.

But I had been out for two years with injury and it was my first full game back and I just had to put my hands up in the air because it was more relief of getting back out on the pitch.

I am not someone who will criticise a player for celebrating against their former club, as long as they don't go over the top.

But there is no doubt Wilfried was a tremendous servant for the club. He will get a great reception from the Palace fans, I'm sure. Everything he did for us last season and then the play-offs against Brighton and Watford.

He was somebody special and he changed games.

I heard Steve Parish would be interested in bringing him back next season if we stay up. Well I think that would be a great idea for both parties.

As a player, his heart and soul is probably still at Palace because he hasn't been away for that long.

He's a local lad and it would be a bonus for everybody if he came back.

i thought geoff thomas died

wonder what they will think when he rips them to shreds later

Honestly think he should start today

Theyre trying to make an issue out of this. Hes not exactly first name on the team sheet every week.

The way they have kept on about all week they sound scared of him. i hope he scores or sets up the winner ( for us ) today

I hope we dont use him i think they have got in his head

I hope we dont use him i think they have got in his head

How can you say that?

I hope we dont use him i think they have got in his head

How can you say that?

because his confidence is shot and hes vulnerable

I hope we dont use him i think they have got in his head

How can you say that?

because his confidence is shot and hes vulnerable

It dont help that our fans expect the next pele everytime we sign someone

Zaha is a Palace player now - gave no effort, negative body language, constantly static and straight down the tunnel when he was taken off

Hope he never wears a Cardiff Shirt ever again

felt like he was a palace player today, he made some decent runs but his crossing is rubblish he looks clueless at times and cannot track back and defend, moyes was right to send him on loan waste of 10 mill

After today's performance they're not wrong !

GEOFF THOMAS: Wilfried Zaha is still Crystal Palace through and through
By Croydon Advertiser

Saturday April 05, 2014

As a player, his heart and soul is probably still at Palace because he hasn't been away for that long.

He's a local lad and it would be a bonus for everybody if he came back.


FANS' FAVOURITE: Geoff Thomas thinks Wilfried Zaha would be welcomed back to Crystal Palace with open arms

Eagles legend and former Palace skipper Geoff Thomas gives us his views in a weekly column ...

I DON'T think Wilfried Zaha probably envisaged playing for Cardiff City so soon in his career after leaving Palace last May.

The lure of going to Manchester United at the time was too much for him, but we've seen a few players leave Palace too early over the years and then disappear in big squads.

Sometimes it derails your career for a couple years but he is still on a learning curve and I'm sure he's experiencing something new at Cardiff.

It's a battle there and a difficult time for them, and I think he would have thought he'd have a starring role at Manchester United come this time of the season.

It was the right time for him to leave Palace last year but you could see he still had plenty to learn.

He had the quality on the ball but sometimes you feel you need guidance and somebody you can trust to point you in the right direction.

He's on a loan at Cardiff, and I think if you're professional, which I'm sure he is, you just go out there on Saturday and you perform for the shirt you're playing in.

I think he'll find it bizarre playing against Palace, as he'll be looking to save Cardiff and then trying to cause damage to the club he had a good career at.

But he's a professional footballer so you go out there and perform the best you can, no matter who you're playing for.

I don't think he'll celebrate if he were to score, but then again I remember I got criticised once for celebrating after scoring against Palace when I was at Wolves.

But I had been out for two years with injury and it was my first full game back and I just had to put my hands up in the air because it was more relief of getting back out on the pitch.

I am not someone who will criticise a player for celebrating against their former club, as long as they don't go over the top.

But there is no doubt Wilfried was a tremendous servant for the club. He will get a great reception from the Palace fans, I'm sure. Everything he did for us last season and then the play-offs against Brighton and Watford.

He was somebody special and he changed games.

I heard Steve Parish would be interested in bringing him back next season if we stay up. Well I think that would be a great idea for both parties.

As a player, his heart and soul is probably still at Palace because he hasn't been away for that long.

He's a local lad and it would be a bonus for everybody if he came back.

You can f*cking have him

Wouldn't be surprised if he went back on the team bus with them the way he played today.

Wouldn't be surprised if he went back on the team bus with them the way he played today.

This ^^^^

I hope we dont use him i think they have got in his head

How can you say that?

because his confidence is shot and hes vulnerable

It dont help that our fans expect the next pele everytime we sign someone

Looks like I called this one right

Amazed he started today, it wasn't like he was kicked out at Palace, he had nothing to prove to them.
Refused to do the and yet he applauded the Palace fans when they clapped him about to take a corner?

10 against 12 today hope he never plays for us again.

I hope we dont use him i think they have got in his head

How can you say that?

because his confidence is shot and hes vulnerable

You were spot on

I think the blame lies with Solskjaer for his performance. Hear me out lol!

Before the game the Palace chairman was asked the routine "Would you like Zaha back?" question. To which he replied "Sure" - wtf else is he going to say? "No, he sucks balls" - Palace have been asked about Zaha pretty much all season.

Ole totally overreacted to that statement. "We have had Wilfried coming on, making an impact and, surprise surprise, Palace want to sign him this week." Then something about the Palace chairman manufacturing this to unsettle Zaha etc. He also said something along the lines of he wasn't sure he was Tony Pulis's type of player - which sounded like a sly dig at Pulis's style of play. Ole has been a pretty cool customer since arriving - this is the first time I've seen him talk like this.

Then there are the stories about how he's told Zaha to celebrate when he scores... I feel like telling him dude, how about actually scoring first. He said to the press also that Zaha was going to start - I honestly don't think many people were expecting Zaha to start this game as he hasn't started since the 4-0 loss to Hull. I seriously doubt Zaha expected to start at least.

If anyone heaped pressure on Zaha, I think it was Ole. He was doing ... alright as an impact player, coming on to save the day suits his mindset down to the ground I think - he definitely needs a rocket up his arse. Easy to say it after the fact but I believed he should have subbed Zaha on, told him to go out there and remind Palace of who you are. Probably better than throwing him in the starting lineup against the club who raised him and having discussions on his celebration routine.

Zaha is a Palace player now - gave no effort, negative body language, constantly static and straight down the tunnel when he was taken off

Hope he never wears a Cardiff Shirt ever again

agree with you there

I think you lot have to look a lot further than Zaha. You have much bigger problems.

I was at the game on Saturday and have been to many Cardiff v Palace games and on Saturday that was the worst I have seen your team. Even when you were not that good at least your players showed some bollocks. On Saturday there was no fight or determination from your team and that is what will send you down

I think you lot have to look a lot further than Zaha. You have much bigger problems.

I was at the game on Saturday and have been to many Cardiff v Palace games and on Saturday that was the worst I have seen your team. Even when you were not that good at least your players showed some bollocks. On Saturday there was no fight or determination from your team and that is what will send you down

No shit Sherlock.

I think you lot have to look a lot further than Zaha. You have much bigger problems.

I was at the game on Saturday and have been to many Cardiff v Palace games and on Saturday that was the worst I have seen your team. Even when you were not that good at least your players showed some bollocks. On Saturday there was no fight or determination from your team and that is what will send you down

No shit Sherlock.

You all crack on blaming one loan player though and don't even think about trying to create an atmosphere at you souless stadium

I think you lot have to look a lot further than Zaha. You have much bigger problems.

I was at the game on Saturday and have been to many Cardiff v Palace games and on Saturday that was the worst I have seen your team. Even when you were not that good at least your players showed some bollocks. On Saturday there was no fight or determination from your team and that is what will send you down

No shit Sherlock.

You all crack on blaming one loan player though and don't even think about trying to create an atmosphere at you souless stadium

Read the board you blind c**t hes not the only one getting the blame but given how unproffesional he was on Saturday then hes rightly getting some stick.

Give his place to a youth player, cant be any worse.

Send him back to United.

Give his place to a youth player, cant be any worse.

Send him back to United.

He will be gone from United soon enough.

All these rumours about him shagging Moyes daughter and thats why hes out of favour. Load of bollocks he simply isnt nowhere near the level required to succeed at United.

Typical young footballer whos done f**k all in the game yet but thinks hes a superstar. Massive chip on his shoulder.

Last edited by CF47 BLUEBIRD on Mon Apr 07, 2014 3:23 pm, edited 2 times in total.

I think you lot have to look a lot further than Zaha. You have much bigger problems.

I was at the game on Saturday and have been to many Cardiff v Palace games and on Saturday that was the worst I have seen your team. Even when you were not that good at least your players showed some bollocks. On Saturday there was no fight or determination from your team and that is what will send you down

No shit Sherlock.

You all crack on blaming one loan player though and don't even think about trying to create an atmosphere at you souless stadium

He's f*cking dire,if palace want him back I'd give him a life up there,one of the worst players I've seen in a city shirt,and being a cardiff fan for over thirty years,I ve seen plenty,as for our soulless stadium I couldn't agree more,shocking on and off the pitch

Give his place to a youth player, cant be any worse.

Send him back to United.

He will be gone from United soon enough.

All these rumours about him shagging Moyes daughter and thats why hes out of favour. Load of bollocks he simply isnt nowhere near the level required to succeed at United.

Typical young footballer whos done f**k all in the game yet but thinks hes a superstar. Massive chip on his shoulder.

It seems to happen far too much these days.