is Zaha fit after his shoeing at the hands of the Terriers yesterday and does your opinion change if he isn't?
the stats with or without him are very striking (which they would be, fine player)
Saw some pretty strong 'opinions' about Huddersfield's tactics on how to deal with Zaha on a friends social media yesterday. He is indeed a fine player and hopefully fit enough to give Mr Southgate some cause for thought when deciding on his final 23.
I generally go with the 'Back Palace when Zaha/Sakho both start and leave alone when they don't' so maybe just pause on this bet till we see how the Zaha situation plays out in the next couple of days?
I only just realised the Liverpool game is two weeks away, so a lot can change until then. With Zaha the post match comments from Hodgson seemed as if he is fine and taking him off was precautionary and as Matt alluded to, there was no point him in him continuing to be kicked for the final mins. I think the positive effect of Zaha is obvious but that of Sakho, less so. Hodgson himself saying, "I haven't been given any indication that he's picked up any kind of injury". Normally a good sign.
He is very calm and likes to play the ball out of the back which builds attacks much more commonly and gives the team a sense of ease and assurance. He also doesn't like a sideways pass which is really refreshing. If he sees a through ball on, or a little dink chip forward after receiving the ball from the keeper, he will go for it. Always pretty brazen from him. That does bring with it around one solid mistake a match, like there was at Huddersfield with Mounie clean through but for a bad touch to let Sakho back in, but its still easily a profitable trade off imo. Also something about his gangliness and overall awkwardness that endears me to him. Bolasie had that in a different way, and I am a sucker for enjoying that.
Sakho's presence settles the whole team, and we look so much better. Zaha then pops up and takes on the mantle further forward. I still do think he should be on the wing so he could have more of an effect in midfield building plays, and the two pronged wing attack of him and Townsend would frighten, also it would allow Benteke to fall into a more accustomed system alone up top, that had him have 15 goals last season versus his 2, this. In the current system though obviously we can get by fine on that Huddersfield performance, but its just a note.
Sorlorth could be the shock inclusion to partner Zaha up top for Liverpool and i think many a Palace fan would like to see how that would fare.
Tomkins has also been superb recently and i can see him forming a great partnership with Sakho if both can stay off the injury table, but they are both unfortunately ticking time bombs.
The 2 week wait does give Loftus-Cheek more time to get fit, but hardly any gametime, means i doubt he gets thrown in, but will probably be sub. Regardless our midfield was great against Huddersfield. Milojevic has impressed for a while.
tbh Tighty i don't know when to pull the trigger on it. I would back it myself at 2.6+ and think the outright win at 7.0+ is good as well. Zaha i don't think is an injury concern at all from post match comments, so I don't think that should stop you from betting.
Hutch, good insight imo, as now I believe under Hodgson you need to assure Zaha and Sakho are both starting, before considering value. That might change if we get a striker in form to shift the onus away from those two.
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