The Red Devils experienced Sir Alex Ferguson’s last breath of success this season, however, the United fans will be delighted to know that the future looks bright after catching a glimpse of what is to come next season. Crystal Palace’s fifth place finish in the npower Championship gave their star man, Wilfred Zaha, an opportunity to impress the whole nation, and impress is what he did.
Sublime performances against Brighton and most notably Watford, put Premier League defenders on high alert, but the red side of Manchester gleamed with optimism. However, opinions have been cast upon the Ivorian born winger that he is not yet ready for the Premier League, and that his routine jaw-dropping showings in the Championship have been down to the lack in quality and pace of the defenders. Nevertheless, to most open-minded people, this is not the case.
If anything, ‘Wilf’ is made for the Premier League. Standing at 5ft 11in, he is not the tallest of players, but is arguably the optimum height for someone in his position to accelerate away from oncoming defenders. Moreover, despite his slender physique he has the power to hold off defenders, an attribute which separates good wingers from world-class wingers. Running on and off the ball he has a lissome, graceful style and can glide past players with ease. But aside from his top class physical qualities, he boasts technical qualities and an eccentric style of play, which is performed so gracefully and efficiently that it so often leaves his opponents with nothing else to do other than to watch in awe. These skills were on show against Brighton and Watford as he repeatedly spear-headed attacks by fizzing down the wing, cutting inside, whipping a cross or playing an incisive pass into a teammate.
Once again the doubters will argue that many people have prospered at this level and have failed to flourish in the Premier League, and Zaha is just another youngster who will not live up to the hype.