Wilf has just said he is trying not to dribble anymore. Madness.

Very odd comment, trying to do less of the thing you are good at?! But not a surprise seeing him play, and desire to be more direct.

I suspect this stems from an agent saying telling him that the way to get bought by the big boys is to get his individual stats us. e.g. now taking pens

Its such a massive shame as I don't think he is a better player now.

Watching Saint-Maximin reminds me of the Zaha of old

Vieira wants all the players to work as a team and not simply play to earn their individual kudos. It seems that Wilf has been told of the need to be more of a team player. The question is whether, after being the darling of Palace fans for so many years, and the 'main man' during the Hodgson era ('get it to Wilf and let him do his stuff' mentality seemed to be prominent), is Wilf able and willing to become a cog in a wheel so-to-speak?

Vieira clearly wants Palace players to develop the Man City mentality of keeping the ball and probing until a colleague makes the killer run or move and give him the ball - let's not forget Vieira finished playing career at Citeh and started his coaching career there.

If Wilf knuckles down as a team player during the remaining games of the season, then he has a future at Palace if he wants it. If he continues to go it alone and ignore players in better positions as he has often done this season then will the club try and move him on in the summer?

For me, Wilf still has much to offer and I hope he buys into what Vieira wants from him, but it will require him to be less selfish.

Edited by doombear (15 Feb 2022 12.26pm)

Just read that PV has asked Wilf to be more consistent. I am wondering if it’s time to get him off the wage bill. He didn’t have a great AFCON and was his petulant self at times. He wasn’t first choice in at best an average Ivory Coast team and we seem to have moved on from being totally reliant on him anymore. I want to see the old Wilf more than anyone but wonder if he’s realised that the world no longer revolves around him. It appears he’s missed the big move he desired so much and how much of that is due to attitude rather than his ability. I would love to be proved wrong and he feeds me a sh:urger to choke on but I think we should consider letting him go now. Our younger players should be loving playing with him and not getting the death stare. JMO

Maybe he got put off the idea by passing to Benteke.

I agree with you I think Wilf is part of the reason why Benteke has scored so few goals in last few years. His strength is in the air and very rarely has Wilf provided those sorts of crossses.

Wilf is not a striker his conversion rate on chances is far too poor. He is a winger and he needs to play to our central striker's strengths and put away the knock ons from the central striker.