" Wilfried Zaha's attitude "(Cost in the region of £15mill)

Alan Shearer questions Wilfried Zaha's attitude after Cardiff City thrashed 4-0 by Sunderland at Stadium of Light
Monday Apr 28th, 2014

By Alex Bywater

The BBC pundit is still yet to be convinced by the former Crystal Palace man who is on loan from Manchester United

Wilfried Zaha's performance against Sunderland has been criticised by Alan Shearer

Cardiff City's 4-0 defeat to Sunderland on Sunday has left the club bottom of the Premier League pile, the Bluebirds' players producing arguably their worst performance of the season at the Stadium of Light.

With Juan Cala sent off, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men were easily brushed aside by the Black Cats. But in a Cardiff side full of poor performances, there was one man for whom special criticism was reserved.

Manchester United loanee Wilfried Zaha has divided opinion since joining the club in January and replaced Don Cowie at half time in the north east.

But his performance came in for intense criticism from BBC pundit and former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer.

Speaking on Match of the Day 2 on Sunday evening, Shearer said: “I'd be slightly concerned with what I saw from Wilfried Zaha. He had to do more for me when he came on.

“His team desperately needed a shift from him but he didn't track back, there was a lack of work rate and he had to get closer to the ball. He was walking around and there wasn't really 100 per cent effort there.”


After signing for Manchester United from Crystal Palace for a deal worth £15 million, Zaha made little impression at Old Trafford under the ill-fated reign of David Moyes. He was loaned to Cardiff City in January but has failed to settle in south Wales, making little impact as the Bluebirds battle relegation.

Zaha has scored one goal and created just a single assist in his time at the Cardiff City Stadium and was again a peripheral figure as Gus Poyet's Sunderland eased past the Bluebirds.

Ironically, it was a man who has benefited hugely from the loan system who proved the difference between the sides. A brace from Connor Wickam, who's spent time at Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United this season, guided the Black Cats to victory, his performance in marked contrast to that of Zaha.

“Zaha's had a big move and coming on at half time with his side down to 10 men, I don't know if he's thinking he's going to be in for a tough 45 minutes,” added Shearer.

“He had opportunities to get the ball and run at defenders but he gets knocked off the ball too easily for my liking. I hope it's just a lack of confidence with him at the moment.”

“That would worry me because he's had a big move to one of the biggest clubs in the world for big money and Manchester United have had a disastrous season and he couldn't get in their side. They've sent him on loan and he can't get in Cardiff's side either.”


For a man who was Sir Alex Ferguson's last signing before retirement, there's no doubt Zaha is a talent. The 21-year-old has already won two England caps and impressed for his country's Under 21 side.

He guided Crystal Palace to promotion via the play-offs last season, his performances attracting the interest of the Premier League champions.

Ian Holloway, his manager at Selhurst Park, said earlier this year: “Wilf has got the world at his feet.

“At the age of 21, he has more natural talent than any footballer I have played with or managed during a lifetime in the game. What he has got to prove now is that he also has the temperament.”



That temperament was not in evidence at the Stadium of Light, with Zaha's performance summing up another poor day at the office for the Bluebirds.

Shearer's fellow pundit Mark Lawrenson added: “You have to earn the right to be in the team and at the moment, Zaha is not earning it.”

He's been a terrible flop.

He's been a terrible flop.

Alex, I totally agree and wrong attitude.

The sad thing is you see the moments of sheer brilliance like vs Southampton, Norwich, ect. Needs to be consistent.

The sad thing is you see the moments of sheer brilliance like vs Southampton, Norwich, ect. Needs to be consistent.

I totally agree with that as well.

Been disappointing, but K Jones definitely is much worse.

Been disappointing, but K Jones definitely is much worse.

Without a doubt I have to agree on that as well and Jones wages are £37,500 a week

sadly wilf is not alone in not playing to stay up.......but just my honest opinion..

I made a thread after the wba game how bad he has been and is and now people finally see .... Massive let down

Actually I think Steve Davies has said that Zaha was not really Ole's signing, it was Tan and Tan's Son who had signed him,whether Ole wanted him or not?

Steve?

A lot of the Palace fans reckon he can't stand us and never wanted to be here....I don't believe that myself but even if he didn't want to be here, then I would have still expected him to perform better for the sake of his own career.He hasn't done himself any favours with the way he has performed (hasn't performed more like) here. There's something not quite right and I don't think he'll ever reach his potential unless he really changes his attitude.... Coming back to the Palace fans, a lot of them want the club to take him back....in my opinion Tony Pulis won't touch him-no way is he a TP type player.

Last edited by Daft Dave on Mon Apr 28, 2014 3:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Actually I think Steve Davies has said that Zaha was not really Ole's signing, it was Tan and Tan's Son who had signed him,whether Ole wanted him or not?

Steve?

Hope ole doesn't follow up and sign him as he said he'd be interested in him, I'd get rid of him,Jones,Ktc,Taylor, Medel may not be up for the fight in championship as I sometimes question his fitness, maybe a few others

Been disappointing, but K Jones definitely is much worse.

Without a doubt I have to agree on that as well and Jones wages are £37,500 a week

Just to put Jones's wages in perspective. I was listening to a sports journo talking the other evening about young players at Premiership clubs lacking motivation and he described how he knows of one 18 year old trainee, knowhere near the first team, yet has just signed professional terms at £35k a week Jones, however poor he has been for us, is an established Premiership striker

Only player aside from Daehli who made an effort for me yesterday. Pissed off with the score you could clearly see that before half time. And he come on shaking his head were as other players were not too bothered. He actually tried attacking the defense. Yes, he's not always like this. But he actually tried to attack them.

Been disappointing, but K Jones definitely is much worse.

Without a doubt I have to agree on that as well and Jones wages are £37,500 a week

Just to put Jones's wages in perspective. I was listening to a sports journo talking the other evening about young players at Premiership clubs lacking motivation and he described how he knows of one 18 year old trainee, knowhere near the first team, yet has just signed professional terms at £35k a week Jones, however poor he has been for us, is an established Premiership striker

Its shocking players wages today and as young as that even worse.

Been disappointing, but K Jones definitely is much worse.

I just cant believe his lack of work and he has no passion . He needs motivating big time. Maybe motivation is not OGSs strongpoint ?:bluescarf:

Actually I think Steve Davies has said that Zaha was not really Ole's signing, it was Tan and Tan's Son who had signed him,whether Ole wanted him or not?

Steve?

i stand by it annis i believe that any manger that had come in to the club would have seen zaha in the squad regardless.

Actually I think Steve Davies has said that Zaha was not really Ole's signing, it was Tan and Tan's Son who had signed him,whether Ole wanted him or not?

Steve?

i stand by it annis i believe that any manger that had come in to the club would have seen zaha in the squad regardless.

Lets be honest, any manager outside the top 6 given the opportunity to sign Zaha on loan and the potential that we all thought he had to win a game, even on his own, would have said yes to the Chairman to sign him. It hasn't worked out for some reason, probably the players attitude, more than likely.

The sad thing is you see the moments of sheer brilliance like vs Southampton, Norwich, ect. Needs to be consistent.

He is talented but not as brilliant as people have been saying. His first touch is not that good and his ball control is not good enough for him to try dribbling 3-4 players in tight spaces on this level hence why he keeps loosing the ball so much.His main strength is pace and power, if you can have him running in space and not try to be Ronaldo then he could be efficient. If you compare him with another young player thats been said to suffer from attitude problems, Ravel, Zaha is vastly overrated. He doesn't show half of the maturity (on pitch), technique or football brain that Ravel has.

Been disappointing, but K Jones definitely is much worse.

Without a doubt I have to agree on that as well and Jones wages are £37,500 a week

There has to be something suspicious with that signing (well the anti Malky brigade keep banging on about the Cornelius transfer, so why not question the Jones signing?)

Actually I think Steve Davies has said that Zaha was not really Ole's signing, it was Tan and Tan's Son who had signed him,whether Ole wanted him or not?

Steve?

i stand by it annis i believe that any manger that had come in to the club would have seen zaha in the squad regardless.

Lets be honest, any manager outside the top 6 given the opportunity to sign Zaha on loan and the potential that we all thought he had to win a game, even on his own, would have said yes to the Chairman to sign him. It hasn't worked out for some reason, probably the players attitude, more than likely.

It's a bit like Conner Wickham had his big move thought he was the king, last to training first to leave and it just didn't happen for him, then sent out to a few clubs on loan now back in the fold of sunderland and one of their best players, Zaha will come good once he gets his price tag out of his head and he has to work hard to be great player

Been disappointing, but K Jones definitely is much worse.

Without a doubt I have to agree on that as well and Jones wages are £37,500 a week

There has to be something suspicious with that signing (well the anti Malky brigade keep banging on about the Cornelius transfer, so why not question the Jones signing?)

Odd comparison.Jones didn't cost 8 mill. He cost nothing, straight swap, we took over his wages from Stoke.

Been disappointing, but K Jones definitely is much worse.

Without a doubt I have to agree on that as well and Jones wages are £37,500 a week

Just to put Jones's wages in perspective. I was listening to a sports journo talking the other evening about young players at Premiership clubs lacking motivation and he described how he knows of one 18 year old trainee, knowhere near the first team, yet has just signed professional terms at £35k a week Jones, however poor he has been for us, is an established Premiership striker

The player is Chelsea's Ruben Loftus-Cheek who from what I've heard, will definitely turn into a superstar. But giving him that wage at such a young age drastically increases his chances of throwing his career away and is silly.

gotta agree with all above really, hes been so underwhelming and disappointing for me and this is what i hate about the loan system, sometimes you end up with a player who's heart is not in it. for every good touch, he has a handful of terrible attempts at dribbling past an entire team and absolute dog shite at tracking and helping out his team mates. really not sure where hell be next year but wont be surprised if its back at palace. he's been the real let down for me of the window given his reputation. daehli has worked his arse off, and for calas couple of errors hes shown passion where others have lacked, and fabio despite haviong a few shit games is growing into the role and team and as we saw has a bit of fight in him still.

Keep marshall,Noone , caulker, Fabio and Dæhli . Get rid of the rest. Just deadwood.

Another player who is not in love with the game... he is just very good at it.

As paying football fans we are passionate about the game and don't understand what goes through their heads.

Motivation at this level is within you. This is why I liked the idea of the malky dossiers after seeing so many DJ big time Charlies. Not sure what happened with brayford though

I think last years team would beat this years team........

Been disappointing, but K Jones definitely is much worse.

Without a doubt I have to agree on that as well and Jones wages are £37,500 a week

There has to be something suspicious with that signing (well the anti Malky brigade keep banging on about the Cornelius transfer, so why not question the Jones signing?)

Wow you are are incredibly odd. Cornelius cost £8m whereas Jones cost NOTHING and he has scored plenty of goals at this level in the past. Also it was a straight swap for Odemwingie who I imagine was around the same wage as Jones and guess who signed PO? Why don't you question that?

Zaha is just another young potential star who will never be great. Too much money and wrong attitude. Overrated in the first place.

Been disappointing, but K Jones definitely is much worse.

Without a doubt I have to agree on that as well and Jones wages are £37,500 a week

There has to be something suspicious with that signing (well the anti Malky brigade keep banging on about the Cornelius transfer, so why not question the Jones signing?)

Wow you are are incredibly odd. Cornelius cost £8m whereas Jones cost NOTHING and he has scored plenty of goals at this level in the past. Also it was a straight swap for Odemwingie who I imagine was around the same wage as Jones and guess who signed PO? Why don't you question that?

Agree. Comparing an 8 mil 45 k a wk cart horse, to a free 37k a wk cart horse, who atleast has scored goals in the prem is mind boggling.

Staying on thread, Zaha is the biggest bag of piss since Andreas cornelius. He should be ashamed of the effort he has put it, totally let Ole down, I hope he never gets an england call up again.

Been disappointing, but K Jones definitely is much worse.

Without a doubt I have to agree on that as well and Jones wages are £37,500 a week

There has to be something suspicious with that signing (well the anti Malky brigade keep banging on about the Cornelius transfer, so why not question the Jones signing?)

Wow you are are incredibly odd. Cornelius cost £8m whereas Jones cost NOTHING and he has scored plenty of goals at this level in the past. Also it was a straight swap for Odemwingie who I imagine was around the same wage as Jones and guess who signed PO? Why don't you question that?

Totally agree.